3-A FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Orange Glen Wins, 14-6, as Helix’s Final Drive Just Misses

This is the kind of night it was for the Helix High School offense.

The Highlanders trails Orange Glen, 14-6, with six seconds remaining in their first-round playoff game at Helix. The Highlanders are at the Orange Glen 18, and quarterback Rob Ippolito fades back to throw the last pass of the game. The ball sails deep into the end zone as time runs out, Frank Nunez leaps in the air catches the ball and falls to the ground.

Both teams jump in celebration.

But Helix, it turned out, was celebrating the catch. Orange Glen was celebrating the victory.

The referee ruled Nunez caught the ball out of bounds, and Orange Glen (6-5), which had lost four consecutive games to finish fifth in the Palomar League, held on to defeat seventh-ranked Helix (7-2-1).

“All I was thinking about was what I was going to do for the tiebreaker,” said Orange Glen Coach Rob Gilster.

The last play of the game was not the only one wasted by the Grossmont 3-A League champion Highlanders. Here is only a partial list:

Botched snaps cost Helix a potential four points--an extra point and field goal.

A delay of game penalty contributed to another missed field goal midway through the fourth quarter when Helix had the ball on the Orange Glen 11, but after the penalty Domenic Lupo missed the 34-yard attempt.

This was just in the second half.

Orange Glen, meanwhile, took what Helix gave them. Which was just enough to score twice on touchdown runs by running back Ryan Strathearn, the last on a two-yard run with 1:43 remaining in the game. Strathearn, who ran for 162 yards on 27 carries, scored on a one-yard run in the first quarter.

The first half was a sign of what was to come for the Helix offense. On its first drive, Helix was stopped at the Orange Glen 43. On a fake punt attempt, Ippolito slipped, and Orange Glen took over on its 48.

The Highlanders, still carrying the momentum, mounted a drive starting on its own 14 on its second possession. Thirteen plays later, Helix had a second-and-seven from the Orange Glen 15. Two plays later, a high snap helped cause Lupo’s 32-yard field goal attempt to hit the left upright.

Orange Glen then took over the momentum and drove 80 yards on seven plays to set up Strathearn’s first score.

Helix’s offense was given another shot when Orange Glen quarterback, Daren Wilkinson, fumbled the snap, and Gary Walton recovered for Helix at the Patriot 28. But Helix proceeded to lost 16 yards in three plays and punted.

Helix finally scored on its final attempt of the half. The Highlanders started on its own 27 with 2:08 remaining. Seven plays later Ippolito threw a high-arching pass to Frank Nunez, who was standing alone in the middle of the end zone for the touchdown. The extra point snap was mishandled, and Lupo’s kick sailed wide left.

In other 3-A first round playoffs games:

Chula Vista 24, Vista 22--The second-ranked Spartans escaped with the victory when Vista missed a 27-yard field goal with five second remaining. Art Castro’s 22 yard field goal gave Chula Vista a 24-14 lead with 2:12 left. Vista’s Aaron Rounsifer scored on a one-yard pass with 1:08 to make it 24-22. After an onsides kick, Vista drove to the Chula Vista 9, and the field goal failed. Chula Vista’s Trenell Hicks scored on runs of 12 and 5 yards, and Derek Chapman was 11 of 16 for 114 yards and one touchdown. Vista quarterback Choo-Choo Walker rushed 12 times for 58 yards and one touchdown and was 16 of 30 for 221 yards and one touchdown.

San Dieguito 24, Monte Vista 10--In a losing effort, Monte Vista quarterback Deron Claiborne was 10 of 17 for 119 yards through the air and ran 10 times for 110 yards. San Dieguito improved to 8-3. Monte Vista finished 6-5.

Southwest 30, Mt. Miguel 9--David Sewell caught four passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard reception of a halfback option pass from Detrick Stanford for Southwest (7-3-1). Southwest quarterback Andy Quinn threw for 124 yards and two touchdowns and running back Junior Ochoa rushed for 101 yards on 19 carries. Mt. Miguel’s Earl Bryers ran 26 times for 161 yards. Mt. Miguel finished 5-5-1.

Rancho Buena Vista 51, Patrick Henry 27--O.J. Hall of RBV needed 81 yards to break the San Diego section record of 3,764 for most career yards set by Terry Rodgers of Sweetwater (1983-85). Hall carried the ball 26 times for 283 yards and three touchdowns raising his career total to 3,965. Markeith Ross was 18 for 239 with two touchdowns for RBV (8-3). Patrick Henry finished 4-7.