MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — In a game that went back and forth, and forth and back again,
Scripps Ranch (San Diego) coach Marlon Gardinera had just one thought Saturday afternoon at Saddleback College. "Just get us the ball back," he said. "Get the ball back."
The Falcons did, only after an improbable go-ahead touchdown by
Wilcox (Santa Clara) do-everything back
Luther Glenn, and then
Jax Leatherwood went to work.
The 6-foot-6, 215-pound junior quarterback engineered an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped with a 10-yard inside screen touchdown pass to
Dean Paley with 27 seconds left to pull out a simply wild 31-28 CIF Division 2-A championship victory.
What made it so wild was a a horrible half and horrible call against Wilcox, which seemed to have this game trending toward a lopsided Scripps Ranch victory. Though it drastically moved the opposite directions, the Falcons finished 13-1.
Instead, the Chargers (10-5) somehow got off the deck to score 28 unanswered second-half points, led by Glenn, who rushed for 146 yards and two scores and caught three passes for another 60 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown pass from
Armand Johnson (11 of 23, 190 yards).
Dean Paley scores the game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds left.
Photo by Louis Lopez
That catch-and-run by Glenn closed the gap to 24-21 with 8:50 remaining. After a three-and-out, Wilcox, utilizing its potent veer attack, marched right down field 64 yards in seven plays, finished off with the Glenn's second TD run, making it 28-24 with 2:17 left.
But Leatherwood (21 of 37, 337 yards, four touchdowns) completed six passes, the last after a timeout, a beautifully designed inside screen that Paley grabbed right at the 10, broke free from three defenders and zipped into the end zone.
Lamont Wilkerson II intercepted a Johnson pass to seal the deal and give Scripps Ranch its first state title. It was Wilcox's fifth turnover to none from Scripps Ranch, though Jeramiah Lewis intercepted a Leatherwood pass on the final drive, but it was wiped out by a holding call.
"With this group of players, this quarterback and this offense, we just needed to get the ball one more time," Gardinera said.
It was all Leatherwood to speedy
Conor Lawlor (7 catches, 199 yards) in the first half, connecting on touchdowns of 35, 62 and 76 yards. The third of those came after a big blow to Wilcox and a bad call nullified a touchdown.
Wilcox's Luther Glenn with a big gain and big hit from Reece Keahey.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Down 14-0, Glenn went over the left side 1-yard for what looked to be a touchdown. But the ball came free, Johnson went to to fall on it, but it squirted out of his hands and out the back of the end zone for a touchback.
Replays clearly showed Glenn was in the end zone long before the ball came loose.
Adding salt to the wound of the Chargers, was two plays later, Leatherwood found Lawlor for a short pass and the speedy receiver turned it into a 76-yard touchdowns, making it 21-0.
Added to the salt were two other lost fumbles after long drives in the first half.
Somehow, the Chargers regrouped at halftime and got a 21-yard touchdown run by Johnson and a 6-yard TD by Glenn to close to 21-13 with 2:29 left in the third.
A 25-yard field goal by
Thomas Rohrer gave Scripps Ranch a 24-13 edge with 9:39 left, but again, Wilcox wouldn't go away.
In the end, though, the Falcons pulled it out a game it allowed more yards (439-399), first downs (23-14) and time of possession (30:13-17:47).
Leatherwood finished a spectacular season with 3,884 passing yards and 52 touchdowns, five off the San Diego Section record.
This was a record third championship by teams from the SDS to win among the top five classifications, joining Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) and Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista).
Conor Lawlor races for one of his three touchdowns for Scripps Ranch.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Jax Leatherwood holds up championship hardware.
Photo by Louis Lopez
