Stephen Anderson ignites Herald victory
(Cerritos) The Whittier Christian Heralds scored with :11.7 seconds left to play to erase a one point deficit and beat the Valley Christian Crusaders 31-24 Friday night in front of a packed house at Valley Christian’s home field putting the Heralds in the drivers seat in the Olympic league.
The final 19 play 89-yard drive to glory was led by the Herald’s Steven Anderson. “The Drive 2” as Whittier Christian linebacker Rudy Robles dubbed the performance had all the drama and intensity as “The Drive” made famous by another quarterback who wore number seven, John Elway.
Anderson completed passes to his two main targets of the night during the drive Cody Bronkar and Cameron Stanley but Daniel Chacon and Grant Escobar chipped in with key catches as well.
As the drive moved inside one minute, Whittier Christian HC Sergio Gradilla was faced with a decision at fourth and one at the Valley Christian 21. Gradilla put the ball in the hands of Escobar and his offensive line who plowed ahead for what clearly appeared to be a first down. After a tough spot from officials, the chains were dragged on to the field for a measurement. The chains were stretched and indeed Escobar had gained the first by the length of the ball.
Consecutive incomplete passes left the Heralds with third and 10 at the Crusader nine and only 34 seconds to play. Anderson dropped back to pass and floated the ball to the endzone in the direction of Bronkar. Contact occurred and Valley Christian’s David Coley was flagged for pass interference. The penalty gave Whittier Christian first and goal at the nine.
Gradilla as faced with another decision after a one yard run and and incomplete pass by Anderson with 17 seconds left to play and no time outs,. Kick the field goal now or let Anderson have one more shot at the endzone. Gradilla chose the latter and Anderson came through making history and hitting Stanley on a fade route for the score.
The decision was made to go for two and Anderson came through again calling his own number on a two yard run. Anderson’s stellar night saw him complete 24 of 43 passes for 292-yards and three touchdowns to go with 78-yards rushing and another score.
With 11 seconds left to play the drama was not quite over for the Heralds.
The Whittier Christian special teams had struggled most of the night in their kick coverage including allowing a 75-yard kick return for a touchdown by Valley Christian’s Chris Binford. This time the Heralds cover the knuckle ball kick leaving Ryan Fronke and the Crusaders only five ticks on the clock to go 71- yards. Fronke’s completed a pass to Brandon Bynum to start the drive but Bynum’s knee was ruled down as he caught the ball ending the game.
The game between the two Olympic league rivals didn’t appear at the beginning that it would turn out so close. Whittier Christian went ahead 14-0 in the first half on a touchdown pass from Anderson to Escobar and a one yard run by Anderson.
Down 14 the Crusaders needed something to get them back in the game. With a third and ten at their own 22, Fronke hooked up with Darrell Bush on a slant route. Bush did the rest going 78-yards to paydirt. Although Fronke struggled he stilled managed to complete 14 of 33 for 181-yards and the lone touchdown.
Stanley pushed the lead back to ten with a 24-yard field goal with a little more than four minutes left to play in the first half.
An 89-yard kick return on the ensuing kick off by Binford and a horse collar penalty set the Crusaders up deep in Herald territory a the three yard line. Four plays later Fronke muscled his way in from the one. The point after by Tyler Boer was good and Valley Christian was back in business down three going into half time.
Coming out of the locker rooms after the break the two teams traded blows and scores, Valley Christian tying the game at 17 on a 34-yard field goal by Boer and a touchdown for Whittier Christian on a 21yard strike from Anderson to Bronkar. However, Stanley missed the extra point leaving the Heralds with a six point advantage.
The Crusaders took advantage of the Heralds kick coverage on the ensuing kick off as Binford went 75-yards for the aforementioned score. Boer hit his extra point giving Valley their only lead on the night with 1:42 left to play in the third period.
The two teams continued to battle back and fourth for much of the final frame with neither gaining much ground.
As the clock ticked away in the fourth quarter, Valley Christian went on a ten play drive that started at their own 20. Fronke marched his team into Herald turf looking to put his team in the endzone and finish off Whittier Christian. Looking for the final dagger, Fronke dropped back to pass fired the ball down the middle of he field in the direction of Jacoby Dupuy. Fate was not on the side of the Crusaders as Grady Smith cut in front of Dupuy went high and snagged the ball out of the air.
Smith’s interception set up the game winning drive that will be the talk of the town in Whittier and La Habra for years to come.
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