Eagles’ spirited comeback keeps Barons winless

South Bay fans have wondered just how good the Olympian Eagles are. They got a chance to find out last Friday as the Eagles squared off against one of the region’s traditional top performers at Southwestern College.

The answer? Pretty darn good.

Olympian, which reeled off an 11-0 start last season while playing what some fans in the area criticized as a generally soft schedule, left few doubters after recording a spirited come-from-behind 23-21 non-league victory over host Bonita Vista. The Barons dropped to 0-4 while playing one of the region’s toughest preseason slates.

Trailing 14-6 on two touchdowns by the Barons’ pass-catching sensation Greg McGhee, the Eagles (2-1) went to work in earnest by scoring 17 unanswered points to take a 23-14 lead.

Bonita Vista scored a late touchdown on an 80-yard pass from McGhee to Chris Moore but the Barons could not mount another threat.

Olympian, which is noted for its running attack, got on the scoreboard via a 44-yard pass from Cobrin Humphrey to Asante Gibson in the second quarter. The Eagle TD was sandwiched between scoring passes from BV quarterback Joel Gutierez to McGhee of 37 and 51 yards.

The visitors scored the only two touchdowns of the third quarter. Alex Cornist (12 carries, 99 yards) broke loose for a 52-yard scoring run and Gibson bettered that on an ensuing 62-yard breakaway jaunt. Gibson then scored on a two-point conversion run to push the Eagles ahead 20-14.

Jovan Gonzalez opened the final quarter with a 38-yard field goal to extend Olympian’s lead to nine points.

Olympian rushed 32 times for 262 yards and tacked on 69 yards in passing offense.

Dre Gibson rushed nine times for 50 yards and also returned one kick-off 48 yards. Asante Gibson rushed four times for 103 yards.

The Eagles continue their challenging 2010 preseason schedule by hosting undefeated Madison (3-0) this Friday while the Barons will search for their first win of the season by traveling to British Colombia.

Madison defeated Bonita Vista, 37-14, earlier this season and is coming off a 30-7 non-league victory against Kearny.