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Dana Hills Comes Back to Defeat Torrey Pines

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Dana Hills High School receiver Billy Mitchell considered himself the unlikeliest of heroes after the Dolphins come-from-behind 26-24 win over Torrey Pines at San Dieguito Friday night.

“I’m surprised they put me in,” Mitchell said. “I’m just a sophomore. It feels great. I didn’t expect to be in.”

But he was. Mitchell caught quarterback Jon Micalizzi’s seven-yard lob pass in the end zone with 2:35 left to give Dana Hills (1-1) the win.

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Micalizzi, who threw just nine passes, used his mobility to his advantage. On a third-and-goal from the Falcon seven, he dodged a couple of defenders, scrambled toward the right sideline and heaved the ball to Mitchell, who made diving grab.

“Billy just broke open,” Micalizzi said. “I lobbed it up there and was just praying the whole time. Billy made a helluva catch. He’s a good player and he’ll be around a long time.”

For a while, it appeared the Dolphins would dispose of Torrey Pines (0-2) quickly and early. Torrey Pines’ Brett Walsh and Dana Hills’ J.B. Hollis traded first-quarter field goals, then the Falcons fumbled on three straight possessions, and Dana Hills converted all three into scores.

The first turnover resulted in a three-yard touchdown run by Victor Vurpillat with 52 seconds left in the opening quarter. The second fumble led to a 52-yard field goal by Hollis. And on the first play after Tim Walker dropped a snap on an attempted punt, Vurpillat’s run from four yards out gave the Dolphins a 20-3 edge.

The Falcons came back to take the lead early in the fourth quarter. Mike Geiserman’s nine-yard run late in the third quarter made the score 20-18, and Torrey Pines took the lead with 9:59 left when Steve May scored on a 45-yard reverse. The Falcons missed the extra point, however.

Midway through the second quarter, Dana Hills contracted Torrey Pines’ case of butterfingers. Three plays, after the Dolphins recovered the Falcons’ fourth fumble, on their own 30, they fumbled on the Dana Hills 40-yard line.

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That miscue was promptly turned into a Torrey Pines touchdown. After Mark Thomas was stopped for three-yard loss on a rushing attempt, he was given the ball on the next play. This time, Thomas fired an option pass. He found a wide open Bob Teischer at the 10, and Teischer caught the pass and eased into the end zone. May’s pass to Jay Jones gave the Falcons a two-point conversion, making the score 20-11, Dana Hills.

Torrey Pines had another chance to score before the end of the half, thanks to a second Dolphin give-away. Micalizzi lost the ball when hit by defensive lineman Steve Casper, and the Falcons recovered on the Dana Hills 40 with 50 seconds left.

However, that scoring opportunity fizzled when Mike Raith intercepted Jeff Stefan’s pass in the end zone 17 seconds later

--TONY COOPER

In other nonleague action:

Sunny Hills 24, Don Lugo 20--The Lancers (1-1) rallied from a 14-0 deficit to defeat Conquistadores (1-1) in Chino District Stadium at Chino. David Wackerman gained 176 yards on 23 carries to lead Sunny Hills. Quarterback Trevor Painton completed 9 of 123 attempts in the first half for 174 yards, as Sunny Hills scored 24 straight points to take a 24-14 halftime lead.

Wackerman scored Sunny Hills’ first touchdown on a 15-yard run with 2:49 remaining in the first quarter. The Lancers tied it later in the quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass-play from Painton to Tim Imperiali. Sunnys Hills then took the lead for good at 17-14 with 1:35 left in the first half on 23-yard field goal by Juan Rasilla.

Following an interception by Lancer linebacker A.J. Vidaurri, the Lancers scored their final touchdown on a 27-yard pass-play from Painton to Kevin Mattias.

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Don Lugo rallied behind the play of quarterback Rich Jimenez in the second half. The Conquistadores cut the Sunny Hills’ lead to 24-20 with 6:50 remaining on the third quarter on a five-yard run by Tim McCollum.

Don Lugo drove to the Sunny Hills’ 20-yard line with two seconds left, but Jimenez’ pass was incomplete in the end zone.

Jimenez completed 19 of 37 attempts for 277 yards and 2 first-quarter touchdowns.

Fullerton 32, Norte Vista 12--Fullerton took advantage of Norte Visa turnovers to take a 32-0 lead and went on to an easy win before 1,500 in Fullerton District Stadium.

The Indians (2-0), defending CIF Central Conference champions, converted two interceptions and a fumble into three touchdowns.

The Indians took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when Darrell Corbin capped a 39-yard, 7-play drive with an 11-yard scoring run.

Fullerton made it 14-0 on its first possession of the second quarter. Mick Mineni recovered a Brave fumble at the Norte Vista 45 and on the next play, Mineni caught a 23-yard pass from quarterback Victor Williams, moving the ball to the Norte Vista 22. Eight plays later, Tom Hughes scored on a one-yard run.

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Bolsa Grande 27, Buena Park 0--The Matadors intercepted six Buena Park passes on their way an easy win in Spaulding Stadium. Bolsa Grande (1-1) scored twice in the first quarter, the first on an 11-yard run by Kenny Torress, 10-yard touchdown pass to Damon Fisher. The Matadors led, 14-0, at the half.

With 5:06 left in the third quarter, Torress broke off left tackle and ran 65 yards for another touchdown. Torress, a senior, carried the ball 9 times for 118 yards. The final score of the game came on a 40-yard interception return by Jeff Weir. Mike Valdez picked off three Buena Park passes. Buena Park is 0-2.

Tustin 14, Woodbridge 0--Tiller Coach Marijon Ancich recorded his 196th career victory as Tustin got its second straight win of the season.

Woodbridge outgained the Tillers, 163-122, in total offensive yards, but Tustin took advantage of three fumble recoveries. Quarterback George Menges completed only 2 of 7 pass attempts, but one of them was a 16-yard scoring play to running back Tim Linehan.

Tustin gained 81 yards rushing and fullback Tim Hollinger scored the Tillers’ second touchdown on a six-yard run in the third quarter. Woodbridge dropped to 1-1 for the year.

Loara 34, Anaheim 10--Wade Clester ran for two touchdowns and passed for another for the Saxons in Glover Stadium at Anaheim.

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Clester, a senior quarterback, scored on runs of 1 and 7 yards and connected with receiver John Jordan on an eight-yard touchdown pass play.

Chris Wright, who gained 176 yards last week against Western, led the Saxons’ offense with 109 yards rushing on 17 carries and scored on a six-yard run. Mike Golia returned a punt 47 yards for another touchdown as Loara remained unbeaten in two nonleague games.

Anaheim (0-2) scored on a 31-yard field goal by Augie Lopez and a six-yard run by Mike Kelly.

La Habra 27, California 0--Tailback Chuck Weatherspoon gained 104 yards on 15 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead the Highlanders to their second straight win in a nonleague game in Whittier.

Weatherspoon scored on a pair of 2-yard runs and had a 56-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Jim Dean kicked two field goals--42 and 39 yards--to finish the scoring for the Highlanders.

Southern California Christian 29, Boron 12--Senior running back Lou Simon had 21 carries for 243 yards and two touchdowns as the Flames compiled 480 yards rushing in the victory at Boron. Fullback Rick Fucchi had 120 yards on 12 carries for Southern California Christian (2-0).

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