Jul 17, 2008

Lions Bowl comeback bid gets derailed by turnovers

300 yards of total offense not enough

MediaNews

APTOS - Santa Cruz County forced three turnovers in the fourth quarter against its favored opponents, then held off a relentless San Mateo County attack in the waning minutes to claim a 17-14 victory Saturday in the fourth annual Lions Bowl all-star football game at Cabrillo College in Aptos. The win evened the series at 2-2.

"As a county, we have some of the top players," said San Mateo running back Seta Pohahau, an Aragon High School graduate headed to Brigham Young University. "Today just wasn't our day. Santa Cruz brought its A-game today."

Played before an estimated 1,000 fans, it wasn't entirely a feel-good affair. It was clear each team was intent on winning and emotions often ran high. The teams were penalized a total of 24 times for more than 200 yards and each team had a player ejected.

San Mateo finished with 300 yards of offense, including 155 passing. Santa Cruz ran for 117 yards and passed for 95.

Aaron Williams scored the game-winning touchdown from 3 yards out. The score was set up by lineman Eddie Gonzalez's interception on a batted ball.

"Our defense did an awesome job holding them to 14 points with all the offensive firepower they had," Williams said.

San Mateo threw four interceptions and lost two fumbles. Santa Cruz threw three interceptions.

The turnover parade was shifted into overdrive in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing kickoff after Williams' score, Pohahau gathered the ball near his goal line and cut to the right side. It looked like he might return the kickoff for a score, but when he reached midfield he was leveled by Chris Murray and the ball was jarred loose. It bounced into the open arms of Raymond Cramer.

San Mateo was assessed an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty in response to the big hit and Santa Cruz took over at San Mateo's 29-yard line. Santa Cruz turned the ball over on downs with three minutes remaining.

San Mateo marched from its own 22-yard line to Santa Cruz's 16, thanks in part to a 25-yard reception by running back Will Latu (Menlo-Atherton High).

With the game clock down to 40 seconds and San Mateo threatening to steal the lead and the win, Santa Cruz came up with another big, fumble-causing hit. The ball popped into the arms of Santa Cruz's Eric Manriquez and back out, where teammate Taylor Pascal recovered the ball.

In each of the past three meetings, San Mateo jumped to big leads. Two years ago, Santa Cruz rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns for the win.

Despite playing on the road, San Mateo players, most of whom were Tongan, performed their traditional pregame haka tribal dance.

The teams were tied 7-7 at the half.

San Mateo began the game with three straight possessions inside Santa Cruz's 50-yard line. On the third series, San Mateo finally broke through, as quarterback Alex Miller (Aragon High) scored on an 8-yard run early in the second quarter.

Santa Cruz responded with quarterback Ryan Saucedo scoring on a 10-yard keeper around the right side.

San Mateo quarterback Troy McCabe (Menlo-Atherton High), splitting quarters with Miller, put his team back on top early in the third quarter. He hit receiver Miguel Flores (Sequoia High-Redwood City), threading the ball between two defenders for a 41-yard touchdown.

Santa Cruz responded with a 25-yard field goal.



San Mateo 0 7 7 0 - 14

Santa Cruz 0 7 3 7 - 17

SM - Alex Miller 8 run (Nate Davidson kick), 10:47

SC - Ryan Saucedo 16 run (Raymond Cramer kick), 1:21

SM - Miguel Flores 41 pass from Troy McCabe (Davidson kick), 9:06

SC - Cramer 25 field goal, 2:34

SC - Aaron Williams 3 run (Cramer kick), 5:18



INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-San Mateo County: Seta Pohahau 7-43, Will Latu 4-33, Alex Miller 6-17, Nick Faamausili 2-11, Leo Lopez 1-8, Jamal Wilkins 3-18, Charles 1-5, Shaka Pahula 1-4, Greg Kalin 1-6; Santa Cruz County: Race Nelson 1-9, Raymond Cramer 5-17, Ryan Saucedo 7-16, Alvaro Flores 2-9, AJ Corbella 2-0, Frankie Vitale 1-(minus-2), Collin Hogan 1-4, Erik Wittman 2-(minus-5), Jeff Bischoff 2-(minus-6), Aaron Williams 5-23, Rastan Campbell 1-5, Ian McGinnis 8-47.

PASSING-San Mateo County: Troy McCabe 5-17-3-75; Alex Miller 6-9-1-80; Santa Cruz County: Ryan Saucedo 4-7-1-21; Jeff Bischoff 3-6-2-47; Ian McGinnis 4-6-0-27.

RECEIVING-San Mateo County: Will Latu 1-25, Nick Faamausili 1-6, Miguel Flores 1-41, Jeremy Brenner 2-12, Amhed 1-18, Steve Disibio 2-21, Seta Pohahau 1-17, Greg Kalin 1-9, Joseph Ferrari 1-6; Santa Cruz County: Alvaro Flores 4-31, Max Myers 1-9, Phillip Salibi 2-43, Collin Hogan 3-12, Rastan Campbell 1-0.

San Mateo interceptions: Landin Nasser had two and Sean Sabean had one.

Santa Cruz interceptions: George Mendoza, Ernesto Gonzales, Matt Griffin, Eddie Gonzalez.