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FOLSOM, Calif. - It looked like a done deal. It appeared the defending state champions, despite all its fumbles and penalties, were going to survive.
Grant High School of Sacramento had to go just one yard - less even - and the Pacers had four downs to do it.
But the Pacers couldn't get a push against a rugged, ridged and absolutely determined and aptly named Rocklin squad.
Grant lost in the in the most remarkable fashion, 21-19 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II semifinal game at Folsom High Saturday night.
The Pacers missed a 21-yard field goal on the last play of the game after Rocklin stopped them on three consecutive plays from the 1-yard line.
Rocklin also stopped Grant's 26-game win streak, believed to be the longest in the state.
A blocked punt by Faigame Lopa set up a short field with Grant taking over at the Rocklin 29 with 3:24 remaining.
Devontae Butler (33 carries, 214 yards) carried five straight times to get to the 1-yard line, making it 1st-and-goal with less than a minute to play.
But Rocklin (13-0) stuck the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Butler three straight times for no gain, the last time Grant coach Mike Alberghini let the clock go down to two seconds left before calling timeout.
The field goal exchange was clean and the kick was barely wide left, setting off a wild celebration. It was so close both teams were celebrating at first - until after a long pause, the referees waved off, no good.
"That's the greatest goal line stand and greatest victory in the history of Rocklin high school," Rocklin coach Greg Benzel said.
Grant (12-1), ranked 16th in the country according the Xcellent 25 human rankings, lost four fumbles and came back from a 21-6 deficit following touchdown runs of 1 and 65 yards but Butler in the second half, the second with 35 seconds left in the third quarter, to close to 21-19.
Rocklin's Jackson Cummings had 154 total yards.
Photo by Anthony Brunsman
But no one could score in a penatly-filled fourth quarter.
"I'm proud of the way we played all year and proud of the way we came back in the second half," Alberghini said.
Asked about the field goal: "The kid has been good all year and he just barely missed it. So what?"
After Grant took a 6-0 lead on a 2-yard TD run by Butler, Rocklin scored three unanswered touchdowns in the final 12:38 of the half on two touchdown passes by Jimmy Laughrea and a 1-yard TD run by Jackson Cummings.
Leaughrea finished 16 of 32 for 229 yards and two scores and Cummings ended with 23 attempts for 103 yards.
Both teams were whistled for 11 penalties, Rocklin for 74 yards and Grant 95 yards.
This was the second straight remarkable game and finish on the same field. On Friday, Del Oro came back from a 42-14 deficit to beat Folsom 43-42 when a last-second 22-yard field goal missed on the last play of the game.
