Orange County Prep Football : Saddleback, Tustin Tie on Field Goals

Saddleback and Tustin high schools matched each other yard for yard and hit for hit in what was essentially the battle for the Sea View League championship Friday night in front of 5,000 fans in Santa Ana Stadium.

But two long-distance field goals late in the game resulted in 24-24 tie.

Carlos Zavala’s 45-yard field goal with 13 seconds left capped the Roadrunners’ frantic, 45-yard drive in the final 1:55.

Tustin’s Jason Lavin had kicked a 46-yarder with 2:04 remaining and the Tillers appeared to have beaten Saddleback with a field goal for the second straight year. Last season, Tustin kicked three field goals to win, 9-7.

Roadrunner quarterback Sean Therien had completions of 19, 15 and 12 yards on the tying drive, which was aided by one penalty and hindered by two. A pass interference penalty on the Tillers gave Saddleback (4-3-1, 2-0-1) a first down at the Tustin 49.

But a holding call and an intentional grounding penalty hurt the Roadrunners’ chances for a touchdown. Saddleback advanced to the Tustin 27 with 30 seconds left, but after an incomplete pass on second down, Coach Jerry Witte decided to try the field goal.

Zavala made it with plenty to spare.

The teams traded fourth-quarter touchdowns to set up the wild finish.

Jose De Santiago, a senior running back, ran one yard around right end to give the Roadrunners a 21-14 lead with 10:25 left. De Santiago played only a few downs spelling starter Hymie Thurmond, who gained 107 yards in 22 carries.

Tustin running back Lani Machado countered with a 33-yard score three minutes later.

Neither team could find much of an edge. The first half ended 14-14.

Quarterback George Menges, who completed 15 of 23 for 176 yards, drove the Tillers 78 yards late in the half, setting up the tie. His 37-yard pass to Rob Prochnow gave the Tillers (5-2-1, 2-0-1) a first down at the Saddleback 27.

Running back Chris Gankema carred for gains of 14, 5 and 3 yards to the Roadrunner five. On third and two, Menges threw to Machado for a touchdown with 47 seconds left in the half.

Saddleback had taken a 14-7 lead with 4:17 left in the half, driving 71 yards in 5 plays. The biggest chunk of yardage came on a blind pitch from Therien to Thurmond. With Saddleback at its own 44, Therien, who was 8 of 16 for 108 yards and 1 touchdown, gained about 5 yards before pitching to Thurmond who took it down the left sideline to the Tustin 15.

On the next play, Therien threw to Neal Carter for a 15-yard touchdown.