MidValleySports.Com

By Adam Monte

(La Canada)—In a back and forth battle with playoff implications, the Harvard-Westlake Wolverines pulled out a 27-21 victory over the St. Francis Golden Knights on Thursday night when Noah Rothman completed a 48-yard “Hail Mary” touchdown pass to Alex Barnum as time expired.

After a turnover on downs and overtime on the brink, the Wolverines had the ball with 1.7 seconds left the on the clock at the Golden Knights 48. They went with the pass to the end zone and Barnum made the play for the win.

Rothman finished 11 of 23 for 209 yards and two touchdowns passing and another rushing as Harvard-Westlake improved to 2-0 in the Angelus League (5-2 overall). St. Francis is now 0-2 in league (4-3 overall).

While the Golden Knights came out strong behind quarterback Miles Bryant, who guided them to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on touchdown passes to wide receivers Tre Polamalu, and Jace Harrick, the offense struggled throughout the game.

Bryant (12 of 19 for 139 yards & 53 yards rushing) was sacked five times and under constant pressure.

Down 14-0 the Wolverines responded with a 5-yard touchdown run by Rothman late in the first. Then on the first play of the third quarter he went 95-yards to Barnum to tie the game at 14.

St. Francis retook the lead after a bad snap on a punt gave the Golden Knights the ball at Harvard-Westlake 20 yard line. Two plays later Bryant hit Daniel Scott for an 18-yard score to make it 21-14.

The Wolverines were not done. After pinning St. Francis at its own two on a punt, the Golden Knights coughed the ball up and Harvard-Westlake recovered with less than five minutes to play.

Phillip Thomas then pushed the ball across the goal line to tie the game at 21 and set up the Rothman to Barnum heroics.