Column: Hawkins lights it up, rallying for 31-31 tie with L.A. High in game shortened by darkness

In the 10th week of the high school football season, always count on the City Section to supply one of the most bizarre games of the 2015 season.

Los Angeles and Hawkins fought to a 31-31 tie in a Coliseum League game Friday afternoon at Los Angeles after the officials halted the game at 5:05 p.m. because of darkness. What transpired left many shaking their heads in astonishment.

Hawkins was called for 23 penalties for 235 yards, including 10 infractions of 15 yards or more. And yet, the Hawks (8-1-1, 3-1-1) pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback for the ages, scoring three touchdowns and getting three two-point conversions to wipe out a 31-7 deficit.

Greg Johnson of Hawkins returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown at 5:03 p.m.. The officials let everyone know there were two minutes left in the game. Then quarterback Dylan Lemle lofted the ball to Jalen Hall in the right corner of the end zone for a two-point conversion to tie the score.

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Hawkins High players celebrate after coming from behind to secure a 31-31 tie at Los Angeles High on Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Hawks wide receiver Jalen Hall makes a reception to complete a two-point conversion against Romans defensive back Berdale Robins to secure a 31-31 tie Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Hawks cornerback Greg Johnson, center, celebrates after returning an interception for a touchdown against Los Angeles in the second half Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Hawkins wide receiver Joseph Lewis delivers a slap to the head of Los Angeles defensive back Solomon Hassen, earning an ejection in the second half Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Romans defensive back Berdale Robbins (5) celebrates after making an interception against the Hawks in the second half Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Hawkins wide receiver Greg Johnson breaks through a pair of Los Angeles defenders to score a touchdown in the second half Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Los Angeles defensive lineman Martin Andrus puts a hard hit on Hawkins running back Marcus Johnson in the first half Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Romans wide receiver Justin Rogers loses control of the ball as he dives into the end zone against the Hawks in the first half Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Romans running back Money Mason is brought down by Hawks safety Ashari Crosswell in the first half Friday at Los Angeles High.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Los Angeles quarterback Kaymen Cureton throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver Justin Rogers in the first half Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Hawks cornerback Greg Johnson, right, upends Romans wide receiver Justin Rogers after a reception in the first half Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Los Angeles wide receiver Justin Rogers is falls to the ground after getting tripped up by Hawkins cornerback Greg Johnson, right, in the first Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Tempers flared when Los Angeles and Hawkins met in a Coliseum League game Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Los Angeles wide receiver Justin Rogers powers into the end zone against Hawkins in the first half Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Hawks quarterback Dylan Lemle slices through the romans defense for a big gain in the first half Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Defensive end Martin Andrus leads his Los Angeles teammates onto the field for their Coliseum League showdown against Hawkins on Friday.

  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

While Hawkins lined up for an onside kick, the officials stopped the game even though there 3 minutes 15 seconds left on the clock. Hawkins players celebrated as if they had won. Los Angeles players, despite clinching the league title with a 9-0-1 mark and 4-0-1 record in league play, retreated to the sideline in disappointment and anger.

“Resiliency,” Hawkins Coach Mil’Von James said of his players.

“My hat goes off to them,” Los Angeles Coach Eric Scott said. “They fought from behind and never gave up.”

After D.J. Wright returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown to give Los Angeles a 31-7 lead late in the third quarter, players were making premature plans to celebrate. Hawkins seized the opening.

Johnson ran 20 yards for a touchdown and Hawkins added a two-point conversion to make it 31-15 at the start of the fourth quarter. Then came another touchdown and two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 31-23 with 6:53 left.

Los Angeles seemed to clinch the victory on an interception at its 19-yard line with 4:30 left by Berdale Robins. But quarterback Kaymen Cureton was given the chance to pass, and he didn’t see Johnson in the flat. Johnson made the interception and didn’t let anyone tackle him until he reached the end zone.

“We have to do some soul-searching on defense,” Scott said.

Los Angeles will be the No. 1 seed for the City Section Division II playoffs when pairings are announced Saturday. Hawkins is ineligible for the playoffs because of sanctions for using ineligible players during last year’s playoffs.

That’s why Friday’s game was so important for the Hawks. It was their championship game. Hall, a sophomore, made lots of plays and maintained his cool amid constant penalty flags and growing frustration. It could be a turning point for a young program wanting to compete against the best.

As for Los Angeles, Scott’s team will regroup. And he concluded, “We need lights.”

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATSondheimer

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