PREP FOOTBALL : Friday’s Highlights : Beverly Hills and Santa Monica Stumble to Tie

When Matt Pringle of Santa Monica High School barely missed on a game-winning field goal attempt from 37 yards with 11 seconds remaining, it was a fitting end to Friday’s game between Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.

In a game that could have determined the Ocean League title, the teams tripped over themselves and settled for a 10-10 tie at Beverly Hills.

The teams traded turnovers in the first half. Beverly Hills had two passes intercepted in the end zone by Tate Nelson and fumbled once, and Santa Monica fumbled three times. Santa Monica finally took advantage of one of the miscues, recovering a fumble and driving 39 yards to score with 12 seconds left in the first half. Quarterback Randy Bongard passed five yards to tight end John Kettler for the touchdown.

Beverly Hills drove 59 yards to tie the game in the third quarter, Willie Crawford culminating the drive with a two-yard touchdown run.

Santa Monica came right back when Glyn Milburn returned the ensuing kickoff 62 yards to set up a 42-yard field goal by Pringle that gave Santa Monica a 10-7 lead 10 seconds into the fourth quarter.

After the field goal, Beverly Hills took over at its 23, and on the second play of the drive, Jason Goldberg’s pass was intercepted by Nelson. But Santa Monica was called for defensive holding, so the Normans kept the ball.

They proceeded to advance to a first and goal at the Viking five, where the drive stalled. Goldberg fumbled a snap from center, and two running plays by Crawford lost two yards. Gary Melnik kicked a 24-yard field goal to tie the game.

After that, the Norman offense merely played not to lose, in part because Crawford, their leading rusher, had twisted his left knee while playing defense and had left the game, and also because of poor field position. Santa Monica managed to drive to the Norman 20, where Pringle’s attempt to win the game went wide to the right.

The tie left only one team satisfied.

Beverly Hills Co-Coach Dick Billingsley said he told his players it was “like kissing a good-looking sister.”

Santa Monica Coach Tebb Kusserow was furious, not only with the tie but with Beverly Hills.

“I have no bit of respect for their coaching staff,” Kusserow said. “In a league championship game . . . they play for the tie.

“We don’t teach our kids to play for ties.”

Santa Monica, the Times’ ninth-ranked team, is 6-1-1 overall, 3-0-1 in the Ocean League. Beverly Hills is 7-1-1 and 3-0-1. If both teams win next week, they would share the league title.

In other games Friday:

Southern Section St. John Bosco 32, Crespi 27--The Braves rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final 10 minutes to beat the Celts in a battle of undefeated Del Rey teams at Crespi. Trailing, 21-12, at halftime, Oscar Meza led the Braves’ second-half rally, running for two touchdowns, including a 14-yard score with 1:29 left. Meza finished with 151 yards in 23 carries. Crespi sophomore running back Russell White ran for 155 yards in 14 carries, and J.J. Lasley added 101 yards in 16 carries. St. John Bosco is 9-0 overall, 4-0 in the Del Rey League. Crespi is 8-1, 3-1.

Oxnard 17, Ventura 14--Oxnard won the Channel League championship as Jose Baez kicked a 24-yard field goal with no time left. Oxnard is 9-0, 6-0 in league play. Ventura (6-2-1) is in second place at 4-1-1. Behind, 14-6, at halftime, Oxnard scored 11 points in the fourth quarter. Mike Russell caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Juan Moreno, and the Yellowjackets added a two-point conversion before Baez kicked his game-winner. Baez’s field goal was set up when Ralph Prito returned an interception to the Ventura three with two minutes remaining. Oxnard’s Wayne Jones gained 126 yards in 24 carries to bring his season total to 1,103 yards in 161 carries.

Colton 41, Moreno Valley 20--In this Citrus Belt League game at Colton, George Hemingway, the Southern Section’s rushing leader, had 365 yards and 4 touchdowns in 38 carries. In nine games, Hemingway has 1,864 yards in 223 carries. Colton is 7-2 overall, 5-1 in league play. Moreno Valley is 0-9 and 0-6.

Tustin 9, Saddleback 7--The win gave the Tillers their first league championship since 1955 and breaks the defending Central Conference Roadrunners’ 17-game win streak. Tim Kotlar, a junior, had three field goals for Tustin--the last a 40-yarder with 9:11 left in the game. Tustin is 8-1 and 4-0. Saddleback is 8-1 and 4-1.

Damien 17, Upland 10--With 1:10 remaining at Damien, junior linebacker Charles Lough intercepted a Greg Fiorindo pass and ran it back 29 yards for the winning touchdown, clinching the Baseline League title for Spartans. Upland had tied the game with 1:11 left in the third quarter on Chuck Caldwell’s 8-yard touchdown run. Damien running back Eric Henley rushed 14 times for 64 yards. Damien is 7-2 overall and 6-0 in the league. Upland is 8-2 and 4-2.

Hawthorne 37, Mira Costa 23--For the fifth consecutive week, Hawthorne scored on the game’s first play. Yki Vallery, with a 57-yard run, got his fourth touchdown in five weeks in the Ocean League game at Hawthorne. The Cougars, dedicating the game to recently deceased player Jeff Chai, overcame a 23-22 deficit with three minutes left in the game. Sophomore Curtis Conway completed a 35-yard touchdown pass play to Tremealle Taylor. Two plays after Mira Costa took the kickoff, Byron Wade intercepted a Dan Allen pass and returned it 45 yards for a score. Mira Costa’s Tim Fletcher returned a kickoff 90 yards and was on the receiving end of a 66-yard pass play from Allen, who had 163 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hawthorne is 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the league. Mira Costa is 1-8 and 0-4.

Northview 27, Covina 6--The Vikings, who finished 3-7 last season, are 9-0 and 6-0 in Valle Vista League play, with the win at Covina District Stadium. Northview quarterback Bill Gallis completed 9 of 15 passes for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns, and senior running back Shawn Frausto had 101 yards in 12 carries, including a 41-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Covina is 7-2 overall, 4-2 in league play.

Lynwood 14, Dominguez 14--For the first time in 35 San Gabriel Valley League games, Lynwood failed to win. Dominguez tied the game with 48 seconds remaining on Avery Moore’s 27-yard pass to Trendell Williams and Juan Zapada’s PAT conversion. Senior tailback Anthony Green had 185 yards in 28 carries for Dominguez. Lynwood is 6-2-1 overall, 4-0-1 in league play. Dominguez is 5-2-2 and 3-1-2.

Hart 43, Burbank 24--Jim Bonds of Hart completed 16 of 23 passes for 346 yards and 5 touchdowns in a little more than two quarters, as Hart clinched at least a tie for the Foothill league title. Bonds completed touchdown passes of 80 and 43 yards to Scott Wheeler, and David Lee also caught scoring passes of 40 and 4 yards from Bonds. Hart is 8-1 overall and 4-0 in league play. Burbank is 3-6 and 2-2.

Los Altos 38, Rowland 21--David Crosby carried 17 times for 139 yards and touchdowns of 1 and 28 yards in the Sierra League game at Los Altos. Darren DeSpain completed 10 of 15 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns as Los Altos built a 38-7 lead in the third quarter. Russ Goo gained 100 yards in 19 carries, all in the fourth quarter. Los Altos is 9-0 overall, 4-0 in league play. Rowland is 3-6 and 2-2.

Manual Arts 18, Jordan 0--Halfback Herman Nash rushed for one touchdown and completed a 65-yard pass play to tight end Mike Scott for a second score in the Crosstown League game at Jordan. The Toilers’ third touchdown came on Doyle Walker’s six-yard run. Nash finished with 115 yards in 8 carries. In eight games, Nash has gained 751 yards in 76 carries. Scott had 4 catches for 109 yards. Manual Arts quarterback David Evans completed 11 of 15 passes for 237 yards. Manual Arts is 5-2 overall, 4-0 in league play. Jordan is 1-6-1 and 0-3-1.

Garfield 21, San Pedro 7--Garfield clinched the Freeway League by defeating the defending champions at Garfield. Johnny Gomez, the City’s leading passer, was 14 of 29 for 160 yards and 1 touchdown. David Morales, the City’s top receiver going into Friday night’s game with 32 receptions, caught 8 passes for 114 yards and a 12-yard touchdown. Gomez has completed 101 of 177 passes for 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Garfield is 7-1 overall, 4-0 in league play. San Pedro is 3-5 and 1-3.

Los Angeles 21, Jefferson 13--Jomo Gordon was a standout for Los Angeles in the Eastern League game against visiting Jefferson. He rushed for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns in 9 carries, and also had 2 interceptions. Floyd Anderson had 7 solo tackles and 5 assists for Los Angeles.

Eagle Rock 14, Belmont 0--Eagle Rock quarterback Chuck Engle, who had thrown for 952 yards in his first seven games, was only 4 of 7 for 50 yards, but it was enough to put him over the 1,000-yard mark this season. Eagle Rock, the Northern League leader, turned to its running game. Johnny Rodriguez rushed for 90 yards in 15 carries and a touchdown, and Mike Nelson added 72 yards in 11 carries. Francisco Jensen scored the Eagles’ second touchdown on a 20-yard return of a blocked punt. Eagle Rock is 3-4-1 overall and 3-0-1 in league play. Visiting Belmont fell to 1-7 and 1-3.

Hamilton 13, Washington 0--Quarterback Aaron Echols passed for two touchdowns, and Hamilton intercepted four passes in the Crosstown League game at Hamilton. Marcus Stone caught a 42-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and Troy Rodriguez added a 23-yard touchdown reception on a fake field goal with three minutes left to clinch the victory. Hamilton linebacker Alvin Banks had 10 tackles to lead the defense. Hamilton is 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the league. Washington is 3-5 and 1-3.