The San Diego Mesa College football team couldn't have scripted a better start to the 2025 season. Sophomore Aleonte Logan returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, setting the tone for a 35-20 victory over East Los Angeles College at Merrill Douglas Stadium on Saturday night.

East LA College, coming off a 2–8 season plagued by injuries, showed that they are a team on the rebound under head coach Bobby Godinez, who previously led the Huskies from 2016–2023. The Huskies kept this game close, but field position and a costly turnover by the Huskies proved to be the difference in the game. 

Mesa College faced their own preseason questions, particularly at quarterback after 6'8" Jax Leatherwood transferred to Southeast Missouri State. Leatherwood threw for 2,472 yards and 26 touchdowns last year, but Mesa's track record and methodology of developing quarterbacks under head coach Gary Watkins paid off again. Sophomore Reggie Johnson, a Madison High School product, was excellent in his first start, completing 16 of 25 passes for 235 yards, two touchdowns to receiver Conor Lawlor, and adding a 12-yard rushing score.

The Huskies fought back from a 14–0 deficit in the first quarter, scoring on a safety, a 46-yard field goal, and a 12-yard touchdown pass to Logan Ebnet to trail 21–11 at halftime. They then opened the second half with an 11-play, 70-yard drive capped by a 23-yard field goal, pulling them within seven.

With momentum starting to shift toward the Huskies, Aleonte Logan stepped up again for Mesa. His 39-yard kickoff return gave the Olympians excellent field position, setting the stage for the offense. Quarterback Johnson then marched the offense down the field in eight plays, capping it off with a 12-yard touchdown run that pushed the lead to 28-14.

Field position proved to be a deciding factor in the win, and Logan was the difference-maker. He finished with 181 total return yards, averaging 45.3 yards per return, highlighted by his 92-yard touchdown in the opening kickoff.

Another pivotal moment came late in the third quarter. With East LA threatening, Mesa forced a fumble after a 12-yard completion, which was then recovered by Keali'i Sione at the Olympians' 21. Mesa capitalized with a clock-chewing, 13-play, 79-yard drive, capped by Johnson's second touchdown pass to Conor Lawlor, stretching the lead to 35–14, which would seal the outcome of the game.

Mesa's offense and special teams delivered, but penalties nearly overshadowed the positives. Mesa College were flagged 15 times for 130 yards, while East LA drew only three flags for 23 yards. Head coach Gary Watkins will most likely remind this team that penalties are unacceptable—especially personal fouls, which he often describes as selfish and costly.

Next, the Olympians hit the road to face Mt. San Antonio College, who opened their season with a 45-20 win over Cerritos. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.