PREP FOOTBALL : Dana Hills Scores a First With Cougars

Dana Hills High School scored its first victory over Capistrano Valley in 11 meetings as junior Ryan Harrison kicked a 36-yard field goal with 11 seconds to play for a 9-7 South Coast League victory at Capistrano Valley.

Capistrano Valley (4-4, 1-2) had won the first 10 meetings between the schools, but Dana Hills broke the streak in front of a Capistrano Valley homecoming crowd of 3,500.

“I’d say it’s the highlight of my coaching career, especially after 7 years at Dana Hills,” Coach Don Douglass said. “It’s the kids, they are the ones who did it. They should get the credit. They were really ready to play.”

Dana Hills (3-4-1, 2-1) started the winning drive with 2:20 left at its 44-yard line after a Capistrano Valley punt.

The Dolphins then used 10 plays to move the ball to the Capistrano Valley 19. The first key play of the drive came on fourth and 5 at the Dana Hills 49, when quarterback Grant Taylor dropped back to pass but was forced out of the pocket and scrambled 5 yards for the first down.

Three plays later, Taylor made the second key play of the drive. He connected with Scott Pearlman for 21-yard pass play, moving the ball to the Capistrano Valley 23 with 50 seconds left. From there, Dana Hills ran the ball for 4 yards on 2 plays and had an incomplete pass before kicking the winning field goal on fourth down.

Dana Hills opened a 6-0 lead when Matt Carvalho ran 11 yards for a score in the second quarter. Harrison missed the extra point.

Late the third quarter, Capistrano Valley quarterback Tony Solliday threw a 23-yard scoring pass to Toney Jenkins.

Scott Hannah kicked the extra point to give Capistrano Valley a 7-6 lead.