One running back thought he scored in overtime but was ruled he didn’t. Another back left no doubt, crossing the goal line, standing up, ball securely in hand.
Lincoln High School’s Aden Jackson scored on a 16-yard run in overtime to give the No. 1-seeded Hornets a 13-7 Open Division semifinal win over fourth-seeded Mission Hills on Friday night.
While Jackson delivered the game’s deciding score, the one that will be talked about, argued and debated for a long time occurred on Mission Hills’ opening possession of OT.
On the Grizzlies’ first play in overtime from the Lincoln 25, Giovanni Harte ran off left tackle, found a crease and headed down the sideline toward the goal line.
Harte was carrying the ball in his left hand and it appeared the ball broke the plane of the goal line. But Lincoln linebacker Niko Ta’a dived and punched the ball out of Harte’s hand, the ball rolling out of the end zone.
While Mission Hills’ players celebrated, thinking Harte had scored, an official ruled the play a fumble. After the officials conferred, the call stood.
Three plays later, Jackson scored, enabling the Hornets to win a wild, emotional game that saw the ball-control Grizzlies (8-3) run 34 second-half plays to Lincoln’s eight.
Asked if he thought Harte scored, a frustrated Mission Hills head coach Chris Ha said, “Of course I did.”
Harte, who carried 30 times for 129 yards, was despondent after the game.
“I’m just really upset,” he said. “I knew the game came down to that play right there. The momentum completely shifted, and I just feel terrible. It’s my senior year, and now that’s the biggest play of the year.”
At first, Ta’a didn’t know he forced the fumble. He knocked the ball out with his right hand, landed on his fist, lost his breath and was face down in the end zone for minutes.
“I thought they scored,” Ta’a said.
His reaction when he realized the turnaround?
“I was speechless,” he said. “I couldn’t believe I made the play. I kept telling myself I was going to make a play, but I just didn’t know when.”
Open Division
Semifinals
(3) Cathedral Catholic 27, (2) La Costa Canyon 6: Cathedral Catholic (9-2) had four sacks and recovered a pair of fumbles, one by Carter Jackson on a muffed punt that led to the Dons’ first score, a 9-yard run by Honor Faalave-Johnson. Johnson added a 17-yard scoring run and, playing defense, had a key breakup in the end zone on fourth down. The play led to a 13-play, 97-yard drive that put the game away. Faalvave-Johnson had four carries for 38 yards and caught two es for 57 yards. Willie Flores carried 10 times for 105 yards. Cathedral Catholic also scored on a 78-yard from Brady Palmer to Hunter Harrington. Palmer threw for 207 yards. La Costa Canyon (10-1) was held to minus 5-yards rushing on just 14 attempts; the Mavericks rushed just once in the second half. Quinn Roth completed 22 of 41 es for 223 yards, throwing 30 times in the second half. Lennox Marcucci had seven receptions for 82 yards. Coby Herman had LCC’s TD on a 12-yard from Roth.
Quarterfinals
Division 1
(1) San Marcos 35, (9) Del Norte 7: Kreet Makihele threw three TD es to give him 39 on the season and 90 for his career as San Marcos improved to 10-1. Makihele connected on a 65-yarder to CJ Williams, found Caleb Reese for an 87-yarder and Jace Nix for a 42-yarder. Williams also had a 5-yard TD run and Brady Pohl scored on a 7-yard run. San Marcos locked up its first10-win season since 2014. The Knights were 1-10 in 2021. Diesel Taylor scored on a 1-yard run for Del Norte (7-5).
(2) Carlsbad 26, (7) Rancho Bernardo 0: Kai Brown scored on runs of 2, 19 and 24 yards to lead Carlsbad (8-3). He had 20 carries for 171 yards. Eli MacNeal threw for 114 yards. Jett Kenady had a TD on a kickoff return. The defense pitched its second shutout of the season with six sacks. Rancho Bernardo (9-3) forced three turnovers — interceptions by Lucas Winkler and Dylan Ingio and a fumble recovery by James Fisher.
(3) Granite Hills 31, (6) Torrey Pines 19: Zac Benitez completed 14 of 18 and threw a pair of TDs to Brenden Lewis as Granite Hills improved to 9-2. Lewis finished with 13 catches for 85 yards and had 42 yards in kickoff returns and punt returns. Torrey Pines finishes 5-7.
(4) El Camino 43, (5) Mount Miguel 27: Kingston Faatiti scored on runs of 5, 11 and 14 yards, part of a 111-yard performance, as El Camino improved to 6-5. Leo Bell rushed eight times for 146 yards and a 38-yard TD as the Wildcats rushed for 325 yards. The defense forced three turnovers and had four sacks. Jake Wilson had seen tackles, and interception and a sack. Kingson Falo and Zack Fallow also had seven tackles and a sack. Qayden Coleman had an interception. Mount Miguel finishes 9-3.
Division 2
(1) University City 41, (8) Christian 28: Quentyn DeMara completed 13 of 18 for 212 yards and five TDs for UC (10-1). He also rushed for 47 yards. Tay Lockett had four catches, three for TDs, for 76 yards, plus 10 tackles. Matthew Bresko had 11 tackles and a TD catch. Dreyden Garner had five catches for 80 yards and a TD, plus a 58-yard interception return for a score. Christian finishes 9-3.
(2) Mater Dei Catholic 47, (7) Bishop’s 14: Kartell Purvis completed 11 of 13 es for 249 yards and five TDs to lead Mater Dei Catholic (8-3) to its eighth straight victory. Bishops’ Iowa-bound Cash Herrera completed 14 of 35 es for 107 yards and a score and rushed eight times for 95 yards. Bishop’s finishes 7-4.
(3) Helix 41, (6) La Jolla 25: Pablo Jackson gained 275 yards on 21 carries and scored four times as Helix (5-6) rolled past La Jolla (7-5). Jackson’s longest run was a 66-yard TD. Harlem Harris hit Jett Gottlieb with a 78-yard for a TD. La Jolla’s Hudson Smith completed 17 of 27 es for 197 yards and two TDs, with Carson Diehl grabbing 11 es for 118 yards and one score.
(4) Poway 28, (5) Point Loma 7: Luke Jorgensen rushed 16 times for 103 yards and two scores to lead Poway (4-7). Ty Hurst threw for 189 yards with TD throws of 86 yards to Jake Davy and 49 to Colin McCann. Marko Kirovski, Ryan Crafton and Eli Alsop all intercepted es for the Titans. Point Loma (6-6) scored on a 68-yard from Ryder Watson to Dylan Upjohn.
Division 3
(1) Central Union 20, (8) Patrick Henry 12: Luis Jimenez completed 8 of 13 es for 106 yards and a pair of TDs to lead Central (8-3) past Patrick Henry (7-5). Joshua Garcia caught four es, two of which went for TDs, while Emiliano Morales added four catches and a TD. Matt Lizaola had four solo tackles and a quarterback hurry.
(2) San Diego 45, (6) Escondido 20: Kye Cooper and Miles Johnson had two TD runs for San Diego (8-3). Jorge Martinez had a pair of TD catches Escondido (7-5). Ezekiel McIntyre scored on an interception return.
(4) San Pasqual 34, (5) Eastlake 13: Kaleo Bartolome rushed for three TDs and had a fourth-quarter interception to help San Pasqual (6-5) advance. Mason Turnbaugh had a 31-yard interception return for a TD, and Landen Lockwood returned a fumble 29 yards to set up the Eagles’ final TD. Robert Renteria completed 10 of 14 es for 159 yards, including a 12-yard TD strike to Jaiden Whitfield. Eastlake RB William Schmitz went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season with 102 yards on 22 carries, including a 32-yard scoring run. Eastlake finished 5-7.
(7) St. Augustine 10, (1) Holtville 6: Pai Polamalu scored on a 1-yard run and Callen Moore kicked a 26-yard FG for St. Augustine (2-10). Holtville (10-1) was led by Enrique Armas, who rushed for 87 yards and a score
Division 4
(8) Montgomery 28, (1) Ramona 7: Michael Silva scored two TDs to lead Montgomery (9-3). Silva gained 84 yards on 18 carries. Zantez Thomas had four receptions for 61 yards. Vili Trollinger had 12 tackles and four tackles-for-loss. Mio Fox added 11 tackles as the Aztecs allowed just 143 yards on 44 plays. Ramona finishes 2-9.
(2) El Capitan 44, (7) Chula Vista 13: Matt Barker completed 10 of 16 es for 163 yards and three TDs to lead El Capitan (8-3) over Chula Vista (5-7). Aiden Venegas caught six es for 102 yards and a TD. Brady Joraleman rushed 19 times for 185 yards and a pair of TDs. Brewin Ford had 11 tackles while Lukas Garcia added 10 tackles and an interception.
(3) Grossmont 49, Mira Mesa 24 (6): Tommy Donovan ed for 315 yards and four TDs to lead Grossmont (5-6) past Mira Mesa (1-11). Noah Walker had 12 catches for 230 yards and a pair of scores. Jay Smith rushed for 152 yards and two scores. Drew Sesena had 10 tackles and a sack. Jonah Yost added an interception.
(5) Westview 18, (4) Mission Bay 14: Mason Walsh ran for a pair of TDs and threw a TD to Finn Nellies as Westview (5-7) advanced. Mission Bay (3-8) scored on a 6-yard from Trey Arnold to Shane Brushie and on 4-yard Brushie run.
Division 5
(1) Vista 14, Coronado 11: William Calderon found Ashaun Mitchell for a 58-yard touchdown and Alex Cosme added a 25-yard scoring run for Vista (4-7). Michael Bannon caught a TD , a 2-point PAT and intercepted a for Coronado (6-6).
(2) Bonita Vista 14, (7) Santana 0: Diego Lopez returned a blocked field goal 90 yards for a TD to lead the Barons (6-5). Nate Lundquist scored the other Bonita TD on a reception. Santana (7-5) was led by Kyden Hallman, who rushed for 87 yards. Maddox Eso and Noah Qualin both intercepted es.
(3) Crawford 21, (6) West Hills 14: Trevon Blanks intercepted two es and had a TD catch for Crawford (6-5). Philip Huynh completed 17 of 28 es for 206 yards and two TDs. Jeff Krantz recovered a fumble for a TD and caught five es for 69 yards and a score. West Hills (6-6) scored on a 70-yard kickoff return by Aiden Kidwell and a 10-yard TD run by Joey Hamilton. The defense forced three Crawford turnovers.
(12) Monte Vista 47, (4) Hoover 46: Alex Villanueva scored on a 49-yard TD run with three minutes remaining to give Monte Vista (7-5) a 9-point lead. Villanueva rushed 34 times for 365 yards and six TDs.
Division 5-AA
Semifinals
(1) Calipatria 20, (4) Maranatha Christian 8: Jake Locker threw for 312 yards and Hudson Heinrichs had 11 catches for 131 yards and a TD in a losing effort by Maranatha. Aaron Tasin has 12 tackles and forced a fumble. Calipatria is 8-2.
(3) Coastal Academy 8, (2) Tri-City Christian 7: Coastal Academy played another stout game on defense as it logged the first 10-win season in program history. This was the ninth game the team has allowed 10 or fewer points.
8-man
Semifinals
(1) St. Joseph Academy 66, (4) Horizon Prep (6)
(3) Calvin Christian 50, (2) Foothills Christian 34
John Maffei, Steve Brand and Rick Hoff contributed to this report
CIF San Diego Section football playoffs
All games at 7 p.m., unless noted
Open Division
Saturday
Championship game
(3) Cathedral Catholic vs. (1) LIncoln at Snapdragon Stadium, 7 p.m.
Division 1
Friday
Semifinals
(4) El Camino at (1) San Marcos
(3) Granite Hills at (2) Carlsad
Championship game: Nov. 30 at Southwestern College, 7:30 p.m.
Division 2
Friday
Semifinals
(4) Poway at (1) University City
(3) Helix at (2) Mater Dei Catholic
Championship game: Nov. 29 at Southwestern College, 7:30 p.m.
Division 3
Friday
Semifinals
(4) San Pasqual at (1) Central Union
(7) St. Augustine at (3) San Diego
Championship game: Nov. 30 at Southwestern College, 3 p.m.
Division 4
Friday
Semifinals
(8) Montgomery at (5) Westview
(3) Grossmont at (2) El Capitan
Championship game: Nov. 29 at Southwestern College, 3 p.m.
Division 5
Friday
Semifinals
(12) Monte Vista at (1) Vista
(3) Crawford at (2) Bonita Vista
Championship game: Nov. 30 at Southwestern College, 1 p.m.
Division 5-AA
Thursday
Championship game
(3) Coastal Academy vs. (1) Calipatria at Palomar College, 7 p.m.
8-man
Friday
Championship game
(3) Calvin Christian vs. (1) St. Joseph’s Academy at Palomar College, 7 p.m.
