Turnovers Help Katella Stun El Dorado

Los Alamitos should put Katella’s football team high on its Christmas gift list after the Knights stunned El Dorado, 15-13, Friday night at Glover Stadium.

Katella’s victory gave Los Alamitos the Empire League’s No. 3 playoff berth and probably ended El Dorado’s season at 5-5, 2-3, unless it gets an at-large bid.

The Knights (4-6, 2-3) were aided by five El Dorado turnovers and a fourth quarter goal-line stand to offset the Golden Hawk passing combination of quarterback Jim Beck to wide receiver Blayne Leitner. Beck completed 10 of 19 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns, including five to Leitner for 231 yards. Leitner also scored on an 80-yard play with 45 seconds left to play.

Unfortunately for Beck, he also threw two interceptions, including one that was run back 74 yards by Katella’s Pete Blasi in the third quarter for a touchdown and a 15-7 lead.

Leitner set up El Dorado’s first touchdown by returning an intercepted pass to the Knight 20. Two plays later, Beck hit wide receiver Mark Selway for a 20-yard touchdown pass.

Katella came back with a 69-yard drive with running back Gary Hennessy scoring from the 10. Hennessy gave Katella an 8-7 lead with a conversion pass to Steve Schirmacher.

El Dorado missed two scoring opportunities when Bryan Warner fumbled into the Knight end zone at the end of the first half and Warner failed to score again from the one-foot line on fourth down early in the final quarter.