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A four-year journey, built on countless hours training during the offseason, came down to a 2-point conversion with 48 seconds remaining in Week 10.
That’s how Western football coach Dan Davidson viewed the challenge late in the fourth quarter against visiting Trabuco Hills last week.
Western needed a victory to even its overall record at .500 and reach a critical threshold for earning an at-large berth to the CIF Southern Section playoffs. Davidson elected to go for the 2-point conversion and the win rather than opting for overtime in the teams’ Delta League finale.
The Pioneers leaned on their seniors on a play called “Monster” and scored to edge Trabuco Hills 36-35.
On Sunday, Western (5-5) received the 16th and final spot in the Division 5 playoffs and a first-round game at Huntington Beach (6-4) on Friday.
“Yeah, it’s crazy that the entire year came down to one play,” Davidson said Monday. “It was more about putting (the season) on one play for guys I believe in.”
“We felt we needed to win to get in (the playoffs),” the coach added. “We’re extremely excited for our opportunity to play Huntington Beach.”
Western seized its chance. After senior JJ Amezcua caught a touchdown from sophomore QB Chance Thomas to cap a 99-yard scoring drive with no timeouts, Davidson said the Pioneers decided during a timeout taken by Trabuco Hills to run “Monster” for the 2-point conversion.
The play called for senior running back Malachi Alatorre to take the snap from the Wildcat formation.
Alatorre ran behind the blocks of senior fullback Eric Lopez and senior left tackle Joel Perez pulling to the right. The offensive line also featured seniors Carlos Chavarria, Angel Ramirez and Brandon Solloy and sophomore Ian Douglas.
In the huddle before the play, Davidson encouraged his players with his son Jeremy, the Pioneers’ defensive coordinator, nearby.
“That was a special moment,” he said.
KENNEDY OVERCOMES ADVERSITY
Kennedy (7-3) earned a share of its first league title since 2007 by tying for first in Lambda League with Beckman and Marina.
The Fighting Irish made the run after losing running back/linebacker Rider Street before the season to a knee injury.
“He is the heart and soul of team,” Kennedy coach Dan Urbanos said of the senior. “But we have a talented roster and many guys have stepped up and we’re maturing into a selfless team.”
Kennedy, which play at Quartz Hill (7-3) in Division 9 on Friday, has received step up performances from junior running back Isaac Talamantes and senior wide receiver/defensive back Deon Bynum among others.
Talamantes leads the squad in rushing with 708 yards and 11 TDs.
Bynum shares the team lead in receptions (26) and paces the receivers in yards (405) and TD catches (seven). He also has six interceptions.
“(Talamantes) has always been a tremendous player but is really starting to excel,” Urbanos said. “Bynum has had a monster season after missing much of last season.”
CYPRESS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED
Cypress coach Rick Feldman visited his mother Terry on Sunday for breakfast for a couple of reasons.
“I love my love mom,” he said, “and I didn’t think we were getting into the playoffs.”
But to Feldman’s surprise, the Centurions (2-8) received an at-large berth in Division 8 and a first-round game at St. Pius X-St. Matthias (1-9) on Friday.
Feldman said Cypress internally debated on whether to apply for an at-large berth after finishing the 0-5 in the Delta League. But the Centurions applied under the section rules and were pleasantly surprised.
“I’m always going to fight for my players and my team,” Feldman explained Monday. “What do I tell my players if we don’t apply and could have gotten in?”
The Centurions have showed desire despite their record.
Senior Matthew Baldonado, for example, is playing both ways through multiple injuries. Under-sized senior linebacker Tyler White has 100 tackles. Senior Chasen Sparks plays both ways and shares the captain duties with Baldonado and White.
“If (the playoffs rules) are going to give us a chance to play, we’re going to play,” Feldman said.
Cypress was one of four at-large selections in the CIF-SS with a sub.500 record, said section assistant commissioner Rich Shearer.
“The only way that works out is if in your group of teams, there’s not three choices of schools that are .500,” Shearer said. “You have to be very fortunate. It doesn’t happen very much.
“In Division 8, there’s 13 automatic qualifiers and we needed three at-larges,” he added. “There happened to be one that was .500 and that was Los Osos. There were only two other choices to be at-larges in the division before we started the next division. Cypress happened to be one of them.”
SHORT ROUTES
Western (19.6 power rating) appeared to edge Tesoro (19.4) for the last spot in Division 5. The Titans couldn’t start Division 6 because its status as at-large team. Automatic qualifiers are required to be No. 1 seeds.
“The key is get the automatic bid and not put your fate in the hands of an algorithm,” said Tesoro coach Mike Zangl, whose team applied for an at-large berth. …
Mission Viejo (10-0) has set a county record with its 25th consecutive playoff appearance. The Diablos play host to Corona Centennial (8-2) on Nov. 15 in the Division 1 quarterfinals. …
Mission Viejo junior wide receiver Vance Spafford has committed to Georgia. …
Retiring Foothill coach Doug Case enters his final postseason with 217 career victories, which ranks ninth in Orange County history, according to county football historian Dennis Bateman. Foothill (5-5) plays at Moorpark (8-2) in Division 5…
La Habra coach Frank Mazzotta, whose Highlanders (9-1) plays host to Mira Costa (5-5) in Division 3 on Friday, has climbed to No. 6 in all-time O.C. coaching victories with 240. …
Anaheim (8-2) and first-year coach Gus Martinez went 5-0 in the Tango League for the school’s first outright league crown since 1966 in the Sunset League. Quarterback Jason Garrett passed for a 128 yards and two TDs and rushed for 89 yards and a score in a 34-28 win against La Quinta in Week 10.
Anaheim plays host to Miller (8-2) in a Division 13 first round game Friday at Glover Stadium.
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