MidValleySports.Com

The Cal Condor is ready for CIF

By Tony Solorzano

(Whittier)- A blocked extra point attempt clinched California High a playoff spot in the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division playoffs as they upset La Serna 14-13 Friday night at Whittier District Field.

The win solidified the final standings in the Del Rio as the Condors (7-3, 3-2) not only took second place from the Lancers (7-3, 3-2) and one of the league’s three playoff spots but also took possession of the Mustang Trophy in it’s first year back as the perpetual trophy in the rivalry known as “the Battle for the Boulevard.”

Cal opened the scoring in the first on their first possession of the game, taking advantage of a pass interference penalty against the Lancers and a 50-yard breakaway run by Aaron Garcia that put the ball on the Lancer seven-yard line. Quarterback Drew Castro hit Lawrence Gomez two plays later, from six yards out, giving the Condors the 7-0 lead with 6:21 left in the game.

In the second, the Lancers needed two possessions to tie the game before half time. On their first possession of the quarter, the Condor defense stopped Lancer rusher O.J. Medina on a fourth down play on their four-yard line, forcing the Lancers to turn the ball over on downs.

However, their second possession proved to be more successful as sophomore quarterback Frankie Palmer connected with Medina for a 39-yard pass, putting the Lancers inside the Condor Red Zone. Three plays later, Palmer called his own number as he faked a handoff and scrambled four yards to the corner of the end zone for the tying score with 1:46 left in the half.

The start of the second half was delayed for 20 minutes as junior running back Jacob Ramirez was injured on the opening kickoff for the third quarter. Although Ramirez was taken off the field on a stretcher, reports from the field said that he was conscious and had feeling in his extremities when he was taken off by paramedics.

In the third quarter, both teams traded possessions until the Condors got the ball back with 46 seconds left in the quarter after kicker Tavis Guerra attempted to pull off a fake punt on fourth and five but was stopped four yards short of the first down marker, giving the Condors the ball on the Lancer 39. Castro hit David Manzano for a 33-yard pass that put the ball on the Lancer three, thanks to a facemask penalty that tacked on three more yards. On the next play, Justin Dankert powered the ball through the line for the three-yard score with 20 seconds left in the quarter.

In the fourth, the Lancers took possession of the ball with 7:04 left in the game and no way for the Condors to stop the clock. Over the next 16 plays, the Lancers moved the ball 64 yards, while Palmer kept the drive alive twice with key passes on fourth down. With the drive stalled at mid-field on fourth-and-eight, Palmer connected with Medina for a 22-yard pass that put the ball on the Lancer 30.

Six plays later, after a false start penalty put the Lancers on the Condor 15  and another fourth-and-eight, Palmer connected with Justin Ballesteros for a 14-yard strike, but the Condor defense stopped him a yard shy of the goal. Medina took the ball and powered through the line for the one-yard score with 45.1 seconds left. On the point after, lineman Lance Hludzik pushed through the line and got his hand on Guerra’s point after attempt, swatting the ball out of the air and preserving the victory for the Condors.

Aaron Garcia led the Condor ground game, gaining 68 yards on nine carries while Gabriel Lozano added 50 yards on four carries. Castro connected four times for only 62 yards and gave up an interception to Ballesteros in the first quarter. Despite the loss, Medina led the Lancer offense with 98 yards on 24 carries and two catches for 61 yards and his one-yard rushing score. Palmer completed six passes for 94 yards and rushed for 29 yards and one touchdown.