SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS: DIVISION VI : La Mirada Stunned by Fullerton

Steve DePhillips took a shuffle pass 52 yards for a game-tying touchdown with 2 seconds left in regulation, and Fullerton High School went on to upset La Mirada High School, 24-21, in overtime, in a first-round Southern Section Division VI game before about 800 at La Mirada Stadium.

“The big guy has been a great part of our offense,” said Fullerton Coach Steve Nishimoto about DePhillips.

The 6-foot 210-pound senior rushed for 211 yards in 27 carries and threw a 53-yard touchdown pass on a halfback option in the second quarter. “It was all will,” DePhillips said of the run. “We had one chance. That was it.”

In the California tiebreaker, Fullerton started on La Mirada’s 25-yard line instead of the 10-yard line because of a late-hit penalty at the end of regulation. The Matadors forced Fullerton to settle for a 33-yard field goal by John Bailey.

La Mirada then had its chance to score from the Fullerton 10-yard line.

After running back Johnny Jones was thrown for a 4-yard loss, quarterback Chad Drown hit wide receiver Corwin Wills at the 5-yard line, but Fullerton’s Chad Ledbetter stripped the ball from Wills and the Indians celebrated their victory.

Drown led La Mirada, completing 8 of 17 passes for 106 yards and 1 touchdown.

The game was a rematch of the 1984 Coastal Division championship contest won by Fullerton, 17-7, at La Mirada Stadium.