PREP FOOTBALL SOUTHERN SECTION SEMIFINALS : Fontana Scores Twice in Final Minute, Defeats Edison, 48-35

Senior running back Samita Vaoifi of Fontana High School had a night of big runs, but he made his two biggest on a 75-yard drive late in the game that gave the Steelers the go-ahead touchdown in a 48-35 victory over Edison of Huntington Beach Saturday night at Fontana.

The game, played before an overflow crowd of 9,000, was a Southern Section Division I semifinal.

The Steelers had to come back from a 28-14 halftime deficit to gain a berth in next Friday’s final at Anaheim Stadium against San Gorgonio of San Bernardino.

Fontana, 13-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state, didn’t lead until there were 50 seconds left, when Vaoifi scored on a 14-yard run.

The touchdown came three plays after a spectacular 51-yard run by Vaoifi, who finished the night with 245 yards and four touchdowns in only 12 carries.

Fontana also scored on the game’s last play when William Ephriam returned an interception 75 yards.

Fontana’s win offset an outstanding performance by Edison (10-3) and quarterback Donnie Smith, who completed 22 of 38 passes for 288 yards.

The Chargers took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards in seven plays, using a no-huddle offense, with Smith completing four of five passes for 54 yards. Shane Sherman completed the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.

After Fontana was forced to punt, Smith directed a 75-yard drive by completing all five pass attempts, including a 15-yard touchdown to Mike Cunningham.

Down 14-0, Fontana scored on a 55-yard touchdown run by Vaoifi at the end of the first quarter.

Edison continued its spread-out passing attack in the second quarter with Smith scoring twice from inside the two-yard line. Smith finished the first half with 14 completions in 21 attempts for 201 yards.

Fontana, not known for its passing attack, caught Edison’s secondary napping with a 48-yard touchdown pass play from Nick Bennett to Alvin Blache to make the score 28-14 late in the first half.

Edison had 327 yards in offense in the first half alone, which is more than any team had in a game against Fontana this season. San Gorgonio had 320 yards when it lost to Citrus Belt League rival Fontana, 30-22, in the final game of the regular season.

Saturday night, Fontana and Edison combined for 920 yards in total offense.

The Steelers started the second half strong with touchdown runs of 17 and 52 yards by Vaoifi tying the game, 28-28.

After Fontana’s defense was effective in putting pressure on Smith and his receivers in the third quarter, Edison drove 81 yards in eight plays to take the lead, 35-28, to open the fourth quarter.

Sherman, who finished with 146 yards in 23 carries, capped the drive with a 26-yard touchdown run.

Fontana answered with its own 56-yard drive, which included two successful fourth-down plays. Bobby Sylvester finished the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run.

In the fourth quarter, Fontana was able was to stop Smith, and Vaoifi did much of the rest.