HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Last-Minute Drive Sputters as Canyon Loses Again, 28-20

Rod Baltau threw four incomplete passes in the final minute after guiding Canyon 81 yards to Bakersfield’s 11-yard line as the Cowboys lost, 28-20, Friday night at Canyon for their second consecutive defeat.

Baltau, who was suffering from the flu, completed 16 of 29 for 227 yards. The senior quarterback suffered a concussion on the last play of the game and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills.

Baltau threw for one touchdown and ran for another, but three of his passes were intercepted. Chris Peery, who was held to 65 yards in last week’s loss to Hart, rushed for 135 yards in 27 carries to lead all ballcarriers.

On the final drive, which consisted of 22 plays and began at the Canyon eight, Baltau completed 5 passes for 59 yards. He completed four in a row, two to Jason Stanley.

Bakersfield (2-0) broke a 20-20 tie four minutes into the fourth quarter on a six-yard run by James Allison. The score was set up by Brady Beck’s interception of a Baltau pass at the Canyon 41.

Canyon (0-2), which has lost consecutive games only twice in Coach Harry Welch’s seven years, had tied the score on a two-yard sneak by Baltau early in the third quarter.

“We made some mistakes for the second week in a row,” said wide receiver Clint Beauer, who caught 6 passes for 102 yards. “But we are not down and out.”