It was this close…Rancho Verde’s Luis Santiago booting the 37-yardd championship trey against CIF on Friday in the Division-3 finals. (Photo by Doug Brown)
By Joe Torosian, Alex Gonzalez & Rich Whittington
(La Canada)—The CIF Division III title wasn’t settled until the last night…the last quarter…the last drive…the last play…the last kick…the last second. And it was Luis Santiago’s last kick from 37-yards as time expired that gave Rancho Verde a 44-42 championship victory over the St. Francis Golden Knights at Friedman Field on Friday night.
In terms of thrills and edge of seat, white-knuckle, action this was a Jerry Bruckheimer movie. The teams traded blows from the start. The Mustangs would punch, the Golden Knights would counter-punch.
With 4:46 to play, St. Francis was facing a fourth and nine from its own 12. Trailing 35-28 and knowing a field goal would be of no help, Golden Knights HC, Jim Bonds decided to go for it. Quarterback Darius Perrantes connected with Blake Howard on a crossing-route at the goal line. Nico Boschetti added the point after and the game was tied.
The Mustangs went back to work. Sophomore quarterback, Brock White hit wide receiver, Kamryn Woodson on a dig-route. Woodson found his way to the sidelines and raced 64-yards to paydirt.
But the game turned when Santiago’s extra-point was blocked by St. Franks Greg Dulcich. The score was 41-35 in favor of Green Ranch, but now the Golden Knights saw their opportunity and went for it.
Perrantes struck to Dulcich for a 53-yard gain. Three plays later sophomore running back, Kevin Armstead left a trail of defenders as he spun and dove into the end zone with 1:01 to play. Boschetti drilled the point-after and for the first time St. Francis led 42-41.
Trailing for the first time and looking into the abyss the Mustangs began the season’s final drive at their own 36. Holt started with an incompletion and then went 11-yards to Jamar Simpson. Then 6-yards to Manny Allen, 16-yards to Woodson, and 10-yards to Simpson before an incomplete pass led to Santiago’s final boot.
Statistics
Passing
St. Francis:
Perrantes: 14-21-266-2Tds-Int…14/34yds 2Tds
Rancho Verde:
Brock White 16-36-544 yards 4 Touchdowns
Hmmm I never go on these things and talk bad about other programs but a lot of these haters always have something to say when Cathedral is mentioned LOL at the end of the day it’s just a bunch of 16-18 year olds playing a game. Stop hating on KIDS. by the way we own Upland in 7on7.. just need to catch up in pads now hahaha
Hate all you guys want but unless you are an Upland or Loyola fan or a handful of others then your team would not be able to beat Cathedral so? Kids are going to college for free and it must not sit well with some of these adults who thought their kid should’ve received a scholarship to Alabama or something.. Bryce Young just got offered from Alabama today btw, all love
Let me be the first to congratulate Cathedral for being the Division 3 CIF Champs. They beat St. Francis in league and RV barely beat SF so that makes Cathedral the champs. GO AWAY CATHEDRAL FANS, You guys are the most dillusionsal people in SoCal. Again, congrats on your 2018 Bonita passing tournament championship, oh no? Upland will be there!!!!! LMAO
@graveyard
This is my only name.
And yes I do hate..if u call seeing thru the phantom b.s. then Yup..I hate..u lost go home shut up sleep tight
@SGVL Fan lol you are such a hater, with your many different screen names
OK, enough with the “could have gone either way” B.S. Rancho Verde had the ball in field-goal position with only a few seconds left, and their kicker had the cool to pop it through. It’s not like the game ended on a freak play or a really bad call. If it would make the La Canada group happier, let’s have CIF make a special 2/3-sized plaque that says CHAMPION of almost winning, to celebrate what might have happened if all the rules and time frame of the game were ignored. Would that stroke everybody enough?
Pearson over at Cathedral is confirming that Alabama has offered Bryce Young. I also understand that Urban Meyer will enter the fray to get this QB, and has enlisted Rick Pitino to help lubricate the process.
The question is..was cathedral there to play for a championship…the answer is NO…so therefore they would not roll anyone…
You all are delusional. St. Francis was like one play away from beating Rancho Verde and Cathedral handled St. Francis. The Phantoms would’ve rolled through Division 3 which is why they are in Division 2
Yeah, it’s just you….Mater Dei has the fastest receivers around, the best money can buy.
Why does every thread on here have a Cathedral cry baby…accept the fact the Phantoms have 0 rings and move on
Is it just me, or does Rancho Verde have the fastest receivers around? Dang, can they fly!
Sour grapes man, Rancho Verde would roll Cathedral. Your coaches would definitely not know how to manage the game. Enjoy all your 7 on 7 titles this summer
Those who are tempted to give full credit to Rancho Verde’s kicker for making that 37-yarder as time expired should also give credit to the eleven guys who drove the ball down to that spot on the field with little time left. All that effort is NOT the result of luck, it’s NOT in the province of questionable officiating or any such thing: it’s simply solid, hard work. I have every reason to believe that Bonds had a kicker who could make a field goal if HIS team had put the ball in scoring position. Viewed this way, the Rancho Verde win was not a gift from the Gods, but something earned.
Well Payback is a Bitch for St. Francis. Jim Bonds voted for Cathedral to be moved up to D2 Because they thought they could win D3 . Congrats to Rancho Verde.
What a game!
Congrats to Rancho Verde tonight defeating St. Francis and the refs. Always a tall task to be able to win at Friedman Field