Colts Come on Late to Tie Dorsey

Carson High scored the game-tying touchdown with 50 seconds remaining but missed a chance for victory when the extra-point attempt sailed wide to the right.

As a result, the Colts and visiting Dorsey settled for a 16-16 Southern Pacific tie before 2,200 fans Thursday night at Gardena.

With a victory, Carson (5-3-1, 3-2-1) could have forced a three-way tie for first in the Pacific League division with Dorsey (6-1-0, 5-0-1) and longtime rival Banning, the Colts’ opponent in next week’s regular-season finale. Instead, Carson will likely have to settle for third.

Trailing, 16-10, and struggling offensively, the Colts got the ball on their own 18 with 1:35 left to play. Quarterback Jamie Sander connected with Theron Hill for a 21-yard gain. One play later, the two hooked up once more, with Hill gathering in the pass at the Dorsey 45 and outrunning defenders all the way into the end zone for the game-tying score.

Kicker Mike Rodriguez said the snap went fine, the hold was perfect and his carry through right on. Rodriguez believed he had converted, but the referees felt otherwise.

“I thought it was good all the way up until the time I saw the referee signal it wasn’t,” he said. “Everything went perfect and I thought it was good.”

Rodriguez put the Colts ahead with a 26-yard field goal six minutes into the contest. Carson increased the lead on running back Damin Hurst’s eight-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Dorsey got on the board early in the third quarter on quarterback Damon Williams’ 74-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Carrior. The Dons claimed the lead when Sharmon Shah took Williams’ pitch and fired a 19-yard touchdown pass to Marcel Myers.

Hill finished with a game-high 85 yards, and Sander completed three of five pass attempts for 95 yards. Fullback Eran Taulua contributed 26 rushing yards.

Williams completed four of 10 passes for 117 yards, and Shah finished with a team-high 39 yards on the ground.