SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBAL PLAYOFFS : Three Second-Half Scoring Drives Help Villa Park Advance

As long as Cody Smith had at least one good leg, it seemed Crespi High still had chance.

Hobbled by strained ligaments in his left foot and limping noticeably, Smith brought the Celts back to within seven points of Villa Park with just over three minutes left in Friday night’s Southern Section Division III playoff game.

Then he waited for one more opportunity.

It never came.

Crespi had seemingly forced a Villa Park punt by stopping Don Bladow on third down, but Celts linebacker Brian Getz was flagged for spearing on the play, giving the Spartans a first down and preserving their 21-14 victory at Pierce College. Villa Park plays Esperanza in the second round Friday.

It was as disappointing end to Smith’s career at Crespi.

“I ‘ve played three years here and I’ve never gotten past the first round,” said Smith, who played on teams which lost to Edison in 1989 and Leuzinger in 1990. “I’m confused and I’m frustrated.”

Smith’s teammates appeared much the same way in the second half against Villa Park. The Celts (7-4), who lost their final two games, took a 7-0 lead into the third period but couldn’t stop the Spartans’ attack in the second half.

Villa Park (8-3) put together three long scoring drives in the second half for the victory.

Ryan Tsui, who had a game-high 142 yards in 28 carries, capped an 80-yard march with a two-yard touchdown run in the third period and Joe Hernandez’ kick tied the score, 7-7.

The Spartans stopped Crespi and drove 92 yards in 13 plays, Tsui carrying the final six plays and scoring on a one-yard run with 10:32 left in the game.

Villa Park, which hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in a game this season, stopped Crespi again and embarked on another 80-yard drive, taking a 21-7 lead when Alex Strapp threw a 20-yard scoring pass to tight end Jason Braun.

Smith, who completed 16 of 28 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns, drove the Celts 58 yards in 10 plays and fired an eight-yard touchdown pass to Joe Ruggiero on fourth-and-goal, but it wasn’t enough.