By Tony Solorzano
(Whittier) – A blocked field goal attempt allowed Bonita to remain undefeated as they escaped Titan Stadium with a dramatic 13-12 win over Santa Fe High Friday night at Pioneer High.
Although the Bearcats (3-0) managed to overcome a 12-3 deficit to the Chiefs (1-1) in the last five minutes of the game, Santa Fe managed to get to the Bearcats’ six-yard line with time running out to attempt the 23-yard field goal, which would have given the Chiefs the win.
In the first quarter, Max Meza put the Chiefs on the board with 4:15 left in the quarter with a 37 yard field goal. Although the Bearcats had managed to get the ball back with time running out in the quarter, they started their drive on their own seven-yard line as time expired in the quarter. Things got worse for the Bearcats on the opening play of the second as Greg Spathias missed the snap and was sacked in the end zone by Jesus Medrano for the Safety.
Bonita kicker Brandt Davis got the Bearcats on the board with 4:45 left in the half, capping off a 16-play drive with a 40-yard field goal. However, things got worse for Spathias as he was picked off twice on their next two possessions. First, Alex Mirola picked off Spathias at the Bearcat 39, then on the next possession Ernesto Ledesma picked him off at the Bearcat 40, returing it all the way for the score, putting the Chiefs up12-3 at the Half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Bearcats began their comeback. Davis connected on a 36-yard field goal to cut the lead to 12-6. Then, Spathias engineered a seven-play drive where he hit six out of seven passes to move the ball 77 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, a nine-yard pass to Cameron Salce in the back of the end zone with 43 seconds left.
However, Mirola was not finished yet. On the kickoff, Davis attempted another onside kick but the ball bounced to the 20, where Mirola picked it up and ran down the far sideline, finally brought down at the bearcat 15-yard line with 34 second left. After three rushing plays and as flurry of time outs, the Chiefs were fourth-and-one on the Bearcat six-yard line. Meza lined up for the 23-yard attempt, but the Bearcat defense blocked Meza’s field goal and took over with four seconds left. In their celebration over the blocked field goal, the Bearcast were penalized for excessive celebration and closed the game with a knee on their 10-yard line.
Spathias went 17 for 31 for 199 yards and the touchdown but he was picked off twice in the second, while Justin Rincon only completed seven of 12 passes for an anemic 43 yards. Santa Fe had a total offense of 167 yards compared to 269 for the Bearcats.
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