Final Whistle Preserves Narrow Escape for Villa Park

Santa Ana Valley was eight yards away from its first victory this season. Or even its first tie. But time ran out as the Falcons tried one last frantic play and Villa Park held on for a 9-6 Century League victory Thursday night at El Modena High.

The officials blew their whistles as the ball was snapped to quarterback Aaron Tuioti. The play probably wouldn’t have amounted to much, anyway; the snap had sailed over Tuioti’s head. It seemed a fitting conclusion to a mistake-filled game.

“I hope we were flat,” Villa Park Coach Pat Mahoney said. “If we can win the games when we’re flat, then more power to us.”

Indeed. Villa Park kept alive its hopes for a league championship with the victory. The Spartans (6-2, 3-0 in league) play Foothill next week before taking on league-leading El Modena in the season finale.

It was as close as Santa Ana Valley (0-8, 0-3) has come to winning all season. The Falcons drove 64 yards in the final 2 minutes 21 seconds, but couldn’t quite negotiate the final eight yards into the end zone.

Having used all their timeouts earlier in the drive, the Falcons couldn’t stop the clock after a 14-yard completion from Tuioti to Octavious Thomas gave them a first and goal at the eight with six seconds left.

It was only the second drive of substance for Santa Ana Valley. The first chewed up more than nine minutes of the third quarter and produced a one-yard touchdown plunge by Tuioti, cutting Villa Park’s lead to 9-6.

Villa Park could have, and probably should have, led by much more. The Spartans started four drives in Santa Ana Valley territory, but could manage only a safety and a 36-yard touchdown pass play from quarterback A.J. Strapp to a wide-open Grant Pearsall.