Controversial Play Key as Crespi Advances Past Los Al
Rahshaun Haylock
(CBS) - It was expected to be a shootout. It didn't quite live up to that hype, but the PAC-5 first round game between Crespi and Los Alamitos had plenty of drama. In what appears to be the play of the game looking back, the Griffins trailed the Celts 21-14 in the fourth quarter. Los Al running back Nick Richardson did what Nick Richardson does: he got away. The diminutive tailback scurried deep into Celts territory and appeared to be headed toward the endzone to pull his Griffins to within one. Sensational effort by Crespi defensive back Charles Washington put a halt to that. Washington chased down Richardson from behind and made the tackle.
An opportunity lost for the Griffins. What happened after that had Griffin fans, young and old, screaming for instant replay to be implemented into high school football.
Three plays later, Dylan Lagarde found Richard Turner, who made a nice catch, and appeared to get two feet down in the endzone while falling out of bounds. However, the pass was ruled incomplete. On the next play, fourth down and seven from the nine yard line, Lagarde went to Turner again but this he was stopped short of the first down marker.
Crespi took over on their own four yard line. Two plays later, Kenny Stenhouse connected with Devin Lucien for a 96-yard touchdown catch, sealing the deal for a quarterfinal berth for the Celts in a 28-14 win at Veterans Stadium.
Lucien caught two touchdown passes. Stenhouse threw three touchdowns for the Celts, who held a 7-6 lead at halftime.
In the 3rd quarter, Stenhouse found Trevon Calahan in the endzone for a 15-yard touchdown to give Crespi a 14-6 lead.
Los Alamitos answered with a Kyle Roberts 14-yard touchdown catch from Lagarde to get within two points at 14-12 and converted the ensuing two-point conversion. The game was tied 14-14 as we entered the fourth quarter.
Last week's hero, Terrence Williams helped the Celts regain the lead with a one-yard touchdown run on 4th and goal with 5:42 left in regulation, leading to the Richard Turner non-touchdown catch on the ensuing Griffins possession.
Los Alamitos has not been able to make it out of the first round since 2004.
Jon Mack, in his first season as Crespi head coach, knows all too well about this time of the year. You have to survive and advance. When asked what this win means to him, Mack said "it means we get to play again next week."
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