The Las Lomas Knights began the second half of their season against Dougherty Valley, winning easily on October 16. Next up for the Knights was the first-place team in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League, the Alhambra Bulldogs.
The two teams put on quite a show Friday night.
With under 30 seconds remaining in the game, Alhambra senior quarterback R.J. Cellini broke a 35-35 tie with a 12-yard touchdown scramble, as Alhambra stayed perfect in DFAL play, beating Las Lomas 41-35.
Las Lomas (2-5, 1-2) trailed 28-12 early in the third quarter, but never gave up. Senior quarterback Lucas Gorton threw three touchdown passes and two two-point conversions to senior wide receiver Chase Herring, who finished the night with six catches for 85 yards.
“We fought hard,” said Herring. “We have to keep our heads up.”
Alhambra (7-1, 4-0) took the lead in the fourth quarter on one of senior running back Richard Calhoun’s three touchdowns. Calhoun finished the night with 170 yards. With under four minutes remaining, Gorton tied the game
at 35 with a two yard run.
“I had a bad week against Dougherty Valley last week,” said Gorton. “This week, I focused on one play at a time.”
Knights junior running back Marquis Waters was once again spectacular, running for 172 yards and a jaw-dropping touchdown. Early in the second quarter, Waters took a handoff at the Alhambra 40 yard line and appeared to be stuffed by the Bulldogs’ defensive line. But he never touched the ground, and broke through after pushing the pile downfield, tying the game at seven. Waters said after the game that he used advice from his former teammate, current Oregon Ducks wide receiver Diante Jackson, to finish his run.
“I pulled a Diante Jackson,” said Waters. “He told me never to stop your feet, and I just didn’t.”
Las Lomas played without many of its starters due to injury or sickness, including junior Chris Evans and senior Zack Hart. In addition, senior Adam Rulifson left the game with a knee injury in the third quarter.
“This week, even though we were missing a bunch of guys, might have been the best week of practice in a while,” said Waters.
Next Friday, the Knights will play their sixth and final road game against 3-4 Miramonte.
