PREP WRAPUP : The Biggest Disappointment for Leuzinger: What Might Have Been

After the final disappointment in a season of disappointments, Leuzinger High football Coach Steve Carnes pondered what could have been Friday night.

The injury-riddled Olympians, down to their fourth-string tailback, were leading top-seeded Thousand Oaks, 13-12, midway through the fourth quarter. Just when it appeared they were on verge of an upset, though, they suffered another blow.

Thousand Oaks converted a Leuzinger turnover into a one-yard scoring run with 2:25 remaining to pull out an 18-13 victory in the second round of the Southern Section Division II playoffs at Leuzinger.

“It wasn’t meant to be,” Carnes said. “The kids played their hearts out under some real tough circumstances, but (injuries) caught up with us.

“We were like one of those animals that’s been shot but is still kicking. They finally put the last one in us.”

Actually, the Olympians’ fatal wound was self-inflicted.

Behind the play of its defense and special teams, Leuzinger led most of the second half. Courtney Overton opened the half with a 95-yard touchdown kickoff return, and Angel Andrade kicked his second field goal, a 35-yarder, with 3:41 left in the third quarter to give the Olympians a 13-6 lead.

Thousand Oaks came back to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the extra-point attempt was wide, leaving Leuzinger with a one-point margin.

But then the Olympians shot themselves in the foot. After stopping Thousand Oaks at its own 35-yard line, Donal Byrd fumbled the punt return and Greg Buchanan recovered for Thousand Oaks at the Leuzinger 29 with 6:23 left.

“That was the difference,” Carnes said. “But that’s life. The kid (Byrd) feels terrible about it.”

Leuzinger nearly made a goal-line stand, twice stopping the Lancers for no gain at the 1, but on fourth down 5-foot-10, 210-pound fullback Chris Foster bulled his way into the end zone to make it 18-13. Leuzinger managed to drive to the Thousand Oaks 42 in the final seconds, but Zac Odom’s desperation pass was intercepted as time expired.

Thousand Oaks (11-0-1) advances to the semifinals next Friday against Muir (10-1-1), a 28-0 winner over San Marcos. Leuzinger finished at 8-3-1.

It was the old story of a goat becoming a hero.

Serra quarterback Fred Safford, whose third-quarter fumble led to an Arroyo Grande touchdown and comeback, made up for his mistake by scoring on a 28-yard keeper with 53 seconds left to give the Cavaliers a 32-25 win in the Division VII playoffs at Pius X High in Downey.

Serra (12-0), the only South Bay team remaining in the Southern Section playoffs, will play at Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (11-1) in the semifinals Saturday. Notre Dame advanced with a 17-7 win over defending Division VII champion San Marino.

Serra led Arroyo Grande, 24-12, early in the fourth quarter, but Safford’s fumble at the Serra 36 opened the door for a comeback. Arroyo Grande converted the miscue into a touchdown to make it 24-18 with 7:20 left, and moments later recovered an onside kick that led to a fourth-down touchdown pass.

The first successful kick conversion of the game gave Arroyo Grande a 25-24 lead with 4:44 left, but Serra wasn’t through for the night.

Behind the running of halfback Lamont Daniel, who rushed for a career-high 207 yards on 14 carries, the Cavaliers started the winning drive at their own 37 and ran six consecutive dive plays to march to the Arroyo Grande 28.

Then Serra pulled a fast one. Faking another dive to the left, Safford kept the ball and ran to the right, behind tackle Kenny Thomas and wingback Clayton Lopez. He didn’t stop until he hit the end zone.

The worst fears of the West Torrance coaches were realized Friday night as bigger, more physical Temple City controlled the line of scrimmage and posted a 19-14 victory in a Division VII playoff game at Temple City.

The Rams outgained West in rushing yards, 290-41, and took a 19-7 lead with 3:28 remaining on a 24-yard touchdown run by tailback Chris Antonio.

The Warriors came back to score on an eight-yard pass from quarterback John Walsh to wide receiver Ryan Berry. Then they stopped Temple City and got the ball back at their own 10-yard line with 1:10 left.

But, with the clock working against West, the possession fizzled. The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak for the Ocean League champions, who finished 10-2. Temple City (9-3) will play top-seeded Lompoc (12-0) in the semifinals.

All three of the area’s L.A. City 3-A Division playoff qualifiers got past the first round Wednesday.

Gardena, despite the loss of 18 players because of academic ineligibility, upset Mid-Valley League champion Grant, 28-14. San Pedro, led by quarterback Arnie Madrid, turned back Sylmar, 31-17. And Westchester, playing without top tailback Tim Holliday, rallied to beat Belmont, 13-3.

Westchester Coach Larry Wein said having eight days off will help Holliday recover from a sprained knee and might allow him to play in Friday’s second-round game at South Gate.

Carson, which drew a bye in the first round of the 4-A playoffs, will open against Kennedy in the second round Friday night at Veterans Stadium.