For the second time in three years, top-seeded La Mirada failed to advance to the Semi-finals of the CIF Southern Section’s Southeast Division Playoffs, falling to Santa Fe 27-26, Friday night at Pioneer High’s Titan Stadium.
The Matadores (9-2). never lead in the contest, despite the efforts of quarterback Gerry Myres, who threw and ran for a touchdown in the loss. The win put the Chiefs (8-4) into the semi-finals for tbe first time since 2005, when they lost to Orange of the Golden West league.
The Chiefs held a 14-6 lead late in the first half when Myres cut the lead with a 17-yard pass to high leading receiver Dallis Shipp with 20.9 seconds left in the half. However, the Chiefs responded on tbe opening drive of the second half. Quarterback Christopher Mancilla, who took over for Christian Lara during last week’s win over Bonita, tossed a nine-yard strike to Daniel Alvarado to put the Chiefs up 21-13.
On the ensuing kick off, the Chiefs recovered the onside pop-up at the Matadores’ 44-yard line. The Chiefs were able to reach the Matadores’ red zone, but stalled and settled for a 35-yard field goal from kicker Eddie Mendez. The Matadores responded with a drive capped by a 34-yard run by Adam Carrasco that cut the lead to 24-20.
Mendez would increase the lead to 27-20 on a 26-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but the Matadores cut the lead again and Myres engineered a 13-play drive that went 70 yards, culminating in Myres calling his own number for a one-yard score. However, the extra point attempt by Devin Senn missed the uprights.
Although the Matadores got the ball back again with 1:29 left in the game, Myres threw three incomplete passes and the Chiefs got the ball back with 47.1 seconds left to seal the upset.
The Chiefs will journey to Downey High’s Allen Layne Stadium to face the Vikings for a berth in the Southeast Finals on December 1. The Vikings and Chiefs last played each other in 2010, where the Chiefs came away with a 24-21 victory. From 2003 to 2010, the Chiefs won seven of eight meetings in the series, with the teams playing to a 10-10 tie in 2004.
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