SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VIII FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Laguna Hills Wins on Final Play

REDLANDS —  Fullback Mark Mitchell, who had fumbled the ball away at the Yucaipa 12-yard line on a previous drive, scored the winning touchdown with no time remaining to give Laguna Hills a 16-13 victory over previously undefeated Yucaipa in the Division VIII playoffs Thursday night at the University of Redlands.

However, it wasn’t Mitchell’s dive off left tackle that was special, but the way the Hawks (6-5) got to the end zone.

The Hawks got the ball back after Mitchell’s fumble with 1:58 left at their 48.

Five plays later, quarterback Mark Wells ran out of bounds at the Yucaipa six with 52 seconds left. Then Yucaipa’s perfect season collapsed under a hail of penalties.

Luis Fino was called for a face mask violation. Then cornerback Wes Samuelsen was called for pass interference in the end zone with seven seconds left.

On the next play, Samuelsen was called for holding on Wells’ keeper as time ran out. That set the stage for Mitchell’s plunge from the one with no time left.

Mitchell had scored on a one-yard run to cut a Yucaipa lead to 13-10 after starting tailback Marwan Saba was taken off the field with a dislocated elbow. Saba, who gained 165 yards in 23 carries, was submarined by Yucaipa’s Beau Smith with 10:51 left.

But until the final drive, Laguna Hills’ luck was all bad.

Marc Brodbeck missed a 39-yard field goal. Laguna Hills also had a first quarter 18-yard touchdown pass from Wells to Darrin Chapman called back because of a holding penalty.

Then Yucaipa (10-1)scored its second touchdown after a fluke pass play gave the Thunderbirds the ball at the Laguna Hills’ 15. The score was set up by a 32-yard pass from Bob Taylor to Sean Arend. Laguna Hills coach Steve Bresnahan argued that Arend was a “sleeper receiver” and had not stood within 15 yards of the huddle as the pass was being called.

Then, Taylor hit Todd Lemanski for a 15-yard touchdown pass to give Yucaipa a 13-3 lead.