Yorba Linda Gets a Kick to Win Title

JJ Conrad celebrates the game winning kick and Yorba Linda’s CIF Championship.

By Tim Peterson

(Upland) – Jayden Flaig kicked a 42-yard field goal with four seconds left to give Yorba Linda a 9-6 win over Upland Friday night to win the CIF Division 3 championship.

Yorba Linda scored on its first possession of the game and its last possession to get the victory. In between the Mustangs turned the ball over three times and allowed an 86-yard touchdown pass by Upland that was called back due to a holding penalty. They survived all of that and escaped with the three-point victory to complete a perfect 14-0 season.

Yorba Linda took the opening possession and drove 64 yards on 8 plays with William Saucedo capping it with a one-yard run. The extra point was blocked.

Jayden Flaig nailed the game winning kick.

Yorba Linda turned it over on two of its next three possessions but Upland couldn’t take advantage as the Highlanders punted twice and were stopped on fourth down.

On the second turnover Teyondre Coleman picked off Yorba Linda quarterback Reyn Beal but the Highlanders went three and out.

Upland punted three times in the first half.

Upland finally broke through in the third quarter when Yorba Linda coughed it up. Jason Escovar was hit and fumbled at the Mustangs 11-yard line and Upland’s Tre King fell on it to set it up the Highlanders. Two plays later Rickey Allen scored on a12-yard run to even it up at 6 with 5:52 left in the third.

Upland had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the fourth quarter marching down to the Yorba Linda four-yard line, but the Highlanders were stopped on fourth and one.

Rickey Allen was the workhorse for Upland and scored the team’s only touchdown.

On their next series Noah Sandoval found Dominic Cox behind the Yorba Linda secondary for an apparent go ahead 86-yard touchdown pass with 8:18 left. But the score, and the biggest play of the night, was called back on a holding penalty.

Upland was forced to punt on its next possession and the Mustangs took over at their own 34 with 3:10 remaining. Seven plays and a pass interference penalty later and they were at the Upland 25. Flaig then came on and calmly booted the game winner with four ticks left.

Yorba Linda made the tackle on the ensuing kickoff to end it.

Saucedo rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown for the Mustangs and Beal completed 12 of 18 for 106 yards and the interception. Dylan Gardner had 4 receptions for 37 yards.

Allen was the workhorse for Upland with 22 carries for 69 yards and the lone touchdown. Cox had 7 catches for 74 yards and the big one for 86 yards that got away.

While Yorba Linda was celebrating a perfect season and a CIF championship, Upland finished 9-5 overall

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