Banning Fumbles Away a Win, 7-6 : Prep football: Washington returns Pilots’ fourth-quarter miscue for touchdown.

Much to its credit, the Banning High defense held true to form Thursday night against Washington, but the effort went for naught in a 7-6 loss in a Southern Pacific Conference game at Daniels Field in San Pedro.

With Banning clinging to a 6-0 fourth-quarter lead, Washington defensive back Jim McElroy picked up a fumble by Banning tailback Sean Turner.

McElroy pitched the ball to linebacker Doniel Webster, who ran untouched down the left sideline for a 17-yard touchdown with 3 minutes, 25 seconds to play.

James Torrence kicked the extra point to give Washington a 7-6 lead.

“We hit (Turner) hard and I just happened to be there for the pitch,” Webster said. “I can’t take all the credit.”

Banning took over at its 46-yard line after Webster’s touchdown and drove to the Washington 36 on a two-yard run by Melvin Blue with 33 seconds left. But a 53-yard field-goal attempt by Jaime Torres fell short with 14 seconds remaining.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Banning (3-3), which fell to 2-1 in conference. Washington is 3-3 and 1-2.

The victory is believed to be the Generals’ first victory over the Pilots in more than 20 years.

A fumble recovery by linebacker Jesus Gutierrez at the Washington five-yard line set up a three-yard touchdown run by Turner for a 6-0 Banning lead with 3:35 to play in the third quarter.

Torres’ extra-point attempt sailed wide left.

“The defense has played well enough to win all our games, but our offense is having its problems,” Gutierrez said. “Everybody on defense is mad at the offense. It’s frustrating because the defense plays so hard and the offense fumbles.”

The Banning defense has scored 20 points in the past three games and has not given up a point in the past two.

On Thursday night, free safety Eric Whitfield came up with his team’s fourth interception in three games.

Washington quarterback Amar Brisco completed only three of 11 attempts for 17 yards and the Generals were limited to 61 yards rushing.

Banning, which has not scored more than 17 points this season, did not do much better.

The Pilots managed only 110 yards in rushing, 80 yards coming from Turner in 17 carries. Quarterback London McBride completed only one of three passes for seven yards.

Banning did not attempt a pass on its last drive, running seven consecutive rushing plays.

“Our passing game isn’t the greatest,” Banning Coach Ed Paculba said. “We really have to get something going. It’s not too much of a guessing game. Either we run left or we run right. I saw a game like this coming. This loss hurts real bad.”