The Vaquero season was
going to end Saturday
against Citrus College at Moyse
Stadium regardless of the outcome.
But with nothing to gain
or lose, the team made the final
game one to remember.

With no time remaining in the
game and Glendale losing 48-
42, quarterback Steve Martinez
was in his usual position just
outside the pocket scrambling to
find a receiver; what he found
was Janos Sefozo alone in the
end zone and validation for the
tough season.

“No one really knew what
was going on in that final play,”
Sefozo said. “I saw him
(Martinez) scrambling, so I got
open and waited for the pass.
When he passed the ball it got
real silent and I knew I had to
catch that ball or it was over.”

Glendale erased a 13-point
fourth-quarter deficit and scored
with no time left on the 7-yard
touchdown pass. With the score
tied at 48-48, Glendale was
penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike
conduct and had to kick
a 35 yard extra point to snatch
the 49-48 win. Evgeni Mameev
got into position and before the
ball sailed through the goalpost
the Glendale players were in
jubilation.

“I knew it was good when I
kicked it,” Mameev said. “It
feels so good to finish the season
with a win like this.”

Glendale’s final drive began
on their own 29 yard line with
1:19 to play after Citrus was
unable to complete a 47-yard
field goal attempt. The drive
was capped by a 21-yard pass to
Kenneth McDaniel on fourth
and 10 with 16 seconds left.
Martinez then completed a 14-
yard pass to Terrance Watson
that set up the final play with
two seconds to play and the ball
at the 7-yard line.

“We did what we needed to
do,” Head Coach John Cicuto
said. “We were due for something
good to happen to us.”

Glendale lost on a final play
the week before to Santa
Monica and had extended their
losing streak to four games,
before the win against Citrus.

The game was the final chance
for 13 sophomores to wear the
Vaquero uniform and they made
it count. Chris Berroud rushed for
a career-high 202 yards and three
touchdowns on 18 carries, earning
Western State Conference
player of the week. Berroud
rushed for a total of 1,085 yards
on the season and 1,531 for his
career.

“This game was the perfect
way to go out,” Berroud said.
“I’m just so happy about the way
things turned out.”

Justin Tyler rushed for 102
yards and a touchdown in his final
game as a Vaquero. Fred Gamble,
Ricky Martin and Carlos
Velasquez each recorded 10 tackles
and proved pivotal in stopping
Citrus late in the game. Martinez
threw for 212 yards on 15 of 32
passing, including three touchdowns.

“We played our hearts out to
win this game and all I can really
say is wow,” Martinez said. “I
think I’ve lost 10 years of my life
from the stress of this season.”
Martinez said the ’04 team will
remain one of his favorite
because of the players’ hard work
and unity.

“I’ve been here some 30 years
and this has been one of the most
exciting seasons,” Cicuto said.

“You just have to go out onto the
field and give it everything
you’ve got and we did that
today.”