MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(La Verne) – Isaiah Arriaza’s pass fell incomplete on a two-point conversion attempt with no time remaining and Damien fell to Rancho Cucamonga 24-22 Friday night on the Spartans home field.

Damien had worked its way down to Rancho Cucamonga 16-yard line with under a minute left in the fourth quarter but a sack and a penalty moved the Spartans back to the 36 with just five seconds remaining. Down 24-16, Arriaza dropped back and fired a Hail Mary to the right corner of the endzone and Travon Garrison miraculously came down with it as the clock hit zeroes to make it 24-22.

All that was left was the two-point conversion, A penalty pushed Damien five yards back and then Arriaza’s pass fell incomplete as the Rancho Cucamonga celebration began.

The Spartans looked like they were done. They were down 24-9 entering the fourth quarter before rallying for two consecutive touchdowns. First Arriaza hit Gavin Williams with six-yard strike over the middle to make it 24-16 with 9:19 left.

Rancho Cucamonga then put together a drive down into Damien territory but the Cougars were stopped on the 18-yard line on fourth down.

The Spartans took over at the 18 and drove 82 yards for the score that led to the dramatic ending.

After Arriaza was intercepted in the endzone by Nate Mensah on Damien’s first possession, Rancho Cucamonga went up 10-0 early on 38-yard field goal by Romano Annecchini and a two-yard run by James Strong III with 2:31 left in the first quarter.

Damien got on the board a minute later when Malachi McFarland broke through the Cucamonga secondary for a 72-yard touchdown jaunt.

Strong answered McFarland’s run with a sprint of his own as he took a pass from Jacob Chambers and raced 76 yards for a score with 3:49 left in the second quarter to make it 17-6.

After forcing a Damien punt, the Cougars hit paydirt again when Chambers hit Tyree Wilson in the endzone for a 20-yard touchdown. Rancho Cucamonga took a 24-6 lead into the half.

Dillon MacKie kicked a 30-yard field goal for Damien in the third quarter that made it 24-9 heading into the fourth.

Then the rally fell short and the Spartans fell from the ranks of the unbeaten.

For Damien Arriaza threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. McFarland had eight carries for 85 yards and a touchdown. Williams had four catches for 79 yards and a score.

For the Cougars Strong had 100 yards and a touchdown rushing and 94 yards and a score receiving. Chambers threw for 134 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 83 yards on 12 carries.

The Spartans suffered their first defeat and are now 5-1 overall but 0-1 in the Baseline League. Rancho Cucamonga is 2-4 and 1-0.

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