Sierra Canyon celebrates back-to-back championships.
By Duane Barker
(Granada Hills) – Bobby Cole scored on a two yard on a two point conversion in double overtime to give Sierra Canyon a 36-35 win over Corona Del Mar to win the CIF Division 4 championship.
The road to get to the Cole two point conversion was a long battle on a cold, windy night at John Elway Stadium on the campus of Granada Hills High School.
The wind was causing havoc early making it difficult taking snaps in the pistol formation for Johnny Hawkins and the Trailblazers and causing two turnovers. The Sierra Canyon defense stepped up and got a stop after the first turnover and pouncing on a loose ball on a fumble by the Sea Kings Chase Garbers.
Sophomore Johnny Hawkins guides the Trailblazers to the title.
The Trailblazers took advantage of the turnover and marched 73 yards on three plays to take the lead with 3:45 left in the first quarter. Cole highlighted the drive with a 59 yard bolt to paydirt.
The defenses took control for the rest of the first quarter and well into the second until Sierra Canyon broke through again to take a 14-0 lead. JJ Hernandez caught a bullet over the middle from Hawkins from 11 yards out with a Sea King defender draped all over him.
Chase Garbers scores in O.T. for the Sea Kings first lead.
Cal commit Garbers led Corona Del Mar on a scoring drive as time was winding down in the first half. The nine play, 69 yard drive was finished off by Garbers who called his own number on a one yard plunge.
Sierra Canyon held on to their seven point advantage until late in the third period until the Sea Kings knotted the score at 14 on a five yard run by JT Murphy. Murphy was a workhorse for Corona Del Mar carrying the ball 26 times for 239 yards and the score.
With less than a minute left in the third the Trailblazers answer the Sea King score with one of their own to push their lead back to seven. Hernandez fought through a double team and a pass interference call to haul in a pass from Hawkins for a 34 yard score.
Corona Del Mar tied the game up on their ensuing drive as the teams battled into the final frame. Garbers got his second touchdown of the night on a two yard run capping a five play, 65 yard drive.
The two teams went toe-to-toe like two heavyweight champions do in the fourth quarter with neither team being able to get an advantage.
The Sea Kings had a chance to take their first lead in the game with 1:41 left in the game. A 13 play drive stalled at the Sierra Canyon seven yard line. Corona Del Mar head coach Dan O’Shea sent out field goal kicker Max Casper to attempt at 24 yard field goal. With the winds blowing the kick sailed wide right.
Each team had another possession as time faded away in regulation but neither got close to putting points on the board so it was on to overtime.
The Trailblazers got the ball first in overtime and used three plays to get a touchdown. Sam Shadorf caught his only two passes on the night in the first overtime. The first catch to convert a first down and the second on a 13 yard touchdown from Hawkins.
Down 28-21 it was the Sea Kings turn. Anything less than a touchdown would mean a Sierra Canyon victory. Four plays later John Humphries hauled in a 13 yard pass from Garbers for the score. Casper booted through the extra point and it was time for the second overtime.
Corona Del Mar was first up in the second overtime. The Sea Kings needed five plays but they navigated the 25 yards for a score and their first lead of the contest. It was Garbers again on the ground from one yard out. Casper added the extra point for the 35-28 advantage.
Knowing they needed a touchdown to remain alive, the Trailblazers offense marched onto the field and blazed through the 25 yards on two plays. Hawkings found Michael Myrick on the edge who broke a tackle and took it to the house.
Instead of sending on Blake Buss to kick the extra point, Sierra Canyon head coach Jon Ellinghouse left his offense on the field. Hawkins tried to pull the Sea King defense offside with a hard count. When it didn’t work Ellinghouse called for the time out.
When the two teams returned to the field, it was obvious what was coming. The Sierra Canyon offense came back onto the field. Hawkins took the snap, turned and handed the ball to Cole who hammered his way across the goaline for the two point conversion and the CIF Divison IV Title.
Bobby Cole powers his way to the two point conversion and the title.
After the game coach Ellinghouse commented on his decision to go for two. ” We had a lot of players going both ways and they were gassed. I felt like it was time for us to make our last stand and we went for it.”
Sierra Canyon’s Hawkins and Corona Del Mar’s Garbers were stellar in the the game. The sophomore Hawkins completed 18 of 30 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns. Gabers hit on 20 of 35 for 188 yards and two touchowns passing and added 82 yards and three scores on the ground.
In the receiving department the Trailblazers’ Hernandez led all receivers with seven catches for 109 yards and two scores. Leading the receiving corps for the Sea Kings was Humphries who hauled in six for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Cole finished the night grinding up 104 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown and the championship winning two point conversion.
Sierra Canyon will now await to see if they receive an invitation to the CIF State Bowl Playoffs and things are looking like they will!
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