Last-Minute Pass Carries Chula Vista Past Helix

While the Chula Vista coaching staff ran frantically on the sidelines, the Chula Vista offense found a way to pull itself to a 17-12 come-from-behind victory over Helix in a Section 3-A quarterfinal football game Saturday at Chula Vista.

Down, 12-10, and with less than 30 seconds left, Chula Vista receiver Tony Eames and quarterback Derek Chapman devised their own way to get to next weekend’s semifinal against Morse.

Helix looked as if it had the game wrapped up when Jason Ledford kicked a 23-yard field goal, his second of the game, with a little more than a minute to go. With 59 seconds left, Chula Vista began its last drive on its 30. Chapman, who had completed only 3 of 10 passes, began the winning drive by completing consecutive passes of 8, 14 and 19 yards to bring the Spartans to the Helix 29.

With 27 seconds left, Chapman found Eames down the right sideline and threw a perfect lob for a 29-yard touchdown play.

It was Eames’ third touchdown of the year.

“We had called another play,” Eames said, “I just changed it and took it up the sideline.”

Chula Vista led, 7-6, at the half on running back John Krupp’s 4-yard touchdown run. Helix scored in the first quarter when receiver Chris Masilon caught a pass from quarterback Tory Winrow and ran 55 yards for the touchdown. The extra-point attempt failed.