Dos Pueblos had it all going on Homecoming night.
But one missed assignment on an extra point left the Chargers heartbroken in Friday’s Channel League shootout with Ventura.
The Cougars’ Sheldon Krall blocked Cory Micheel’s kick after a third-quarter touchdown and that made the difference in a 28-27 DP loss at Scott O’Leary Stadium.
“That one hurt,” DP coach Jeff Uyesaka said. “You know why it hurt so much? It’s because we played so well and we played against a good team. I think we kind of surprised ourselves. We were just going out there to earn some respect from Ventura and our guys found themselves in a position where, ‘Hey, we’re not only being respected but we have a chance to win.’ “
But Krall’s play was the backbreaker.
He rushed up the middle and blocked the extra-point try after the Chargers had retaken the lead, 27-21, on a beautiful 25-yard pass from quarterback Zack Boytis to a streaking wide receiver Branden Tangel at 6:55 of the third quarter.
“I just wanted to do something big because we needed something,” said Krall about his difference-making play. “I timed the ball well, because I needed to make a play.”
“We just missed our block,” Uyesaka said of how Krall got through. “We didn’t block the guy in front of us. It was a heck of a time to miss a block, but that’s high school football.”
Ventura would later put together an 85-yard drive and score the tying touchdown on a 5-yard fly sweep by Anthony Lopez with 2:32 left in the game. Ben Mann converted his PAT for the winning point.
Dos Pueblos got two more possessions to pull out the win, but the Chargers couldn’t come up with a big play.
Ventura coach Brad Steward said it was a typical Ventura-DP shootout.
“Two years ago when we came up here it was an overtime game,” he said. “So it’s not unusual for Ventura and DP to go down to the wire.”
The Chargers had a tough time trying to contain Ventura running back C.J. Souter. The 5-7 senior rushed for 182 yards on 31 carries and scored one touchdown on a 2-yard run in the first quarter. He had a 30-yard scoring run nullified by a holding penalty.
“He’s a special runner. He doesn’t go down,” said Uyesaka of Souter.
The Cougars scored on their first possession of the game, driving 76 yards in nine plays. Souter, who caught a 24-yard pass on the drive, scored on a 2-yard run.
Ventura tried to surprise DP with an onsides kick but a Cougar touched the ball before it traveled 10 yards, leaving the Chargers with good field position at the Ventura 49.
DP quarterback Zack Boytis went to the air and hit Diego Rivera for an 18-yard gain and then completed a 30-yarder to Micheel for the tying touchdown with 4:36 left in the quarter.
The teams were just warming up.
Ventura came right back and drove 80 yards to go up 14-7. Souter had a 37-yard scamper to set up Walter Harper’s 2-yard TD run.
Dos Pueblos tied the score on a crazy option play. Boytis made a high pitch to running back Michael Spiritosanto, who managed to pull it down and bolt 45 yards down the left sideline to tie the score at 14-14 with 2:31 remaining in the first quarter.
Spiritosanto played a strong game, rushing for 103 yards on 13 carries.
“He’s a workhorse,” said Uyesaka.
The Cougars were on the move again as quarterback Keihan Gibb hit Joe Mendoza on a 20-yard pass play. But Souter fumbled on the next play and DP’s’ Eric Arroyo recoverd at the Charger 44.
Boytis used a nice play-action fake and found Aaron Thomas all alone for an 18-yard TD pass to put the Chargers up 21-14 at halftime. Boytis completed 13-of-26 for 177 yards, but had three passes picked off by the Cougars.
The Cougars got even on their first possession of the second half. Anthony Lopez’s 35-yard kickoff return and a 25-yard run on a fly sweep put them in business. Gibb finished the drive with a 5-yard run.
Gibb rushed for 61 yards and completed 12 of 19 passes for 152 yards. He was intercepted twice.
“He’s a warrior,” Steward said of his QB. “I really like the way the kid plays. One time he tried to make more out of it than was there, but he’s a tough kid and a good competitor.”
Ventura (5-4, 3-1) plays Buena next Friday in a showdown for second place in the league. Dos Pueblos (3-6, 1-3) will play St. Bonaventure in the final Channel League game for the eight-time champion Seraphs.
VENTURA 28, DOS PUEBLOS 27
Ventura…14 0 7 7— 28
Dos Pueblos…14 7 6 0 — 27
First quarter
V — Souter 2 run, Mann kick, 5:45
DP — Micheel 30 pass from Boytis, Micheel kick, 4:36
V — Harper 1 run, Mann kick, 2:52
DP — Spiritosanto 45 run, Micheel kick, 2:31
Second quarter
DP — Thomas 18 pass from Boytis, Micheel kick, 1:14
Third quarter
V — Gibb 5 run, Mann kick, 9:54
DP — Tangel 25 pass from Boytis, kick blocked, 6:53
Fourth quarter
V — Lopez 5 run, Mann kick, 2:32
TEAM STATISTICS V, DP
First Downs…16, 17
Rushes-yards…46-286, 22-134
Passing yards…152, 177
Total yards…438, 311
Passes…12-19-2, 13-26-3
Fumbles-lost…1-1, 0-0
Punts-Avg…3-38.5, 2-40
Penalties…6-75 10-56
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: V— Souter 31-182, Gibb 11-61, Harper 1-2, Lopez 3-42. DP — Spiritosanto 13-103, Boytis 6-20, Rascon 1-2, Tangel 1-9, Thomas 1-0.
Passing: V — Gibb 12-19-2, 152. DP — Boytis 13-26-3, 177
Receiving: V — Mendoza 6-101, Souter 2-24, Gutierrez 2-16, Lopez 1-7, Evans 1-4. DP— Arroyo 7-65, Micheel 2-40, Thomas 2-30, Tangel 2-42.
