Harris, Cole lead Sierra Canyon to title

After three months recovering on the sideline because of a knee injury, standout senior quarterback Niko Harris returned to the starting lineup Saturday just in time to help Chatsworth Sierra Canyon win the CIF state championship Division 2-A bowl game with a 42-40 victory over San Mateo Serra at Sacramento State.

Harris was 12 of 22 for 201 yards and one touchdown. He teamed with running back Bobby Cole, who had 220 yards in 30 carries and four touchdowns, to give the Trailblazers (15-0) the type of balance on offense everyone envisioned when the season began.

Harris resumed practicing during the week and didn’t prepare for what he tried to pull off on the final play.

Trying to run off the final five seconds on fourth down, Harris started running backward. But Sierra Canyon received a penalty for celebrating before the play ended.

Serra, however, was called for too many players on the field.

The penalties offset, and Sierra Canyon took a knee for an untimed down to end the game.

“They’ve got the heart of a champion,” Coach Jon Ellinghouse said.

“We’ve had so many close games, double overtimes, triple overtimes and games like this. When push came to shove, they were fighters.”

—Eric Sondheimer

Division 3-AA

K.J. Latu rushed for three touchdowns and intercepted a pass, all in the first half, to lead Lancaster Paraclete past Atherton Menlo-Atherton, 39-21, at Antelope Valley College.

Tooni Ikahihifo completed 12 of 21 passes for 105 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown pass to Melquan Stovall, as Paraclete (12-4) put the final touch on a remarkable turnaround under first-year Coach Dean Herrington. Paraclete was 6-6 last season.

Latu capped a 76-yard drive with a six-yard run that pulled the Spirits within 7-6 late in the first quarter. He put Paraclete ahead with a three-yard run with 9 minutes 58 seconds left in the second quarter.

Forty seconds later, after teammate Bobby Brown’s hit jarred the ball loose from Bears receiver Aaron Johnson, safety Aaron Cooper caught it out of the air and scampered 43 yards for a touchdown to give Paraclete a 19-7 lead.

Jamaal Bell scored the Spirits’ final touchdown on a 15-yard run with 8:48 left.

Jordan Mims had 102 yards and one touchdown in 25 carries for the Bears (12-3), who committed six turnovers.

Division 4-A

Long Beach St. Anthony lost to Chico Pleasant Valley, 50-49, in overtime at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach.

Johnny Buksa passed to BJ Busbee for a two-point conversion that gave St. Anthony a 35-34 lead in regulation.

Busbee then returned an interception 50 yards for a score with 2:02 left in the fourth quarter.

Pleasant Valley rallied to tie it, 42-42, with 1:13 left in regulation.

Other divisions

Oakland Bishop O’Dowd defeated Moreno Valley Valley View, 43-24, to win the Division 5-AA championship.

Temecula Rancho Christian (14-2) beat Sutter Creek Amador, 38-13, in the Division 6-AA final at Murrieta Mesa.