Santa Paula Claims Frontier Title, 17-14

It was not a straight line and it was not the shortest distance between two points, but Santa Paula followed the zigzag running of Dustin Magdaleno to the Frontier League football title Friday night.

Magdaleno, Ventura County’s all-time career reception leader, failed to catch a pass but instead grinded his way to a career-high 187 yards in 22 carries as Santa Paula held off a furious Fillmore rally for a 17-14 victory at Fillmore in the 80th meeting between the schools.

Fillmore quarterback Art Sosa’s desperation pass from midfield on the game’s final play was batted away by a Santa Paula defender at the five-yard line, preserving the victory.

Santa Paula, which improved to 8-2 and 4-0 in league play, leads the series, 46-33-1. Fillmore, which suffered its second consecutive loss, is 8-2 and 2-2.

“The line just blew open holes like a torpedo,” said Magdaleno, who entered the contest with 33 catches but only 419 yards rushing. “It was a team effort.”

While the Santa Paula offensive line was opening the way for Magdaleno, the defensive line was holding back Fillmore’s Tory Cabral.

Cabral, hampered by an ankle injury, was limited to 53 yards in 19 carries and three receptions for 53 yards. But 40 of those receiving yards came on a three-play, 72-yard drive that cut Santa Paula’s advantage to 17-14 with 2 minutes 27 seconds left.

Fillmore’s Gabino Martinez then recovered Eddie Rabingo’s fumble at the Flashes’ 34 with 55 seconds left to set up Sosa’s desperation pass.

Ben Fausset connected with Chris Gomez on a 14-yard scoring pass with 3:14 left in the second quarter and Steve Dysart added the extra point for the only score of the first half.

Santa Paula scored again on its opening possession of the second half when Dysart’s 38-yard field goal put Santa Paula ahead, 10-0, with 9:07 left in the third quarter.

Fillmore cut the lead to 10-7 on a two-yard plunge by Cabral on the Flashes’ ensuing series.

Art Marcelo, who had two interceptions in the first half, reeled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Fausset to give Santa Paula a 17-7 advantage five minutes into the fourth quarter.