Hansen’s Kick Blows Royal Away

Rio Mesa High blew into Moorpark College on Friday much like the wind that swept through Simi Valley.

And the Spartans, a wild-card entrant facing top-seeded and unbeaten Royal in the first round of Southern Section Division II football playoffs, were supposed to tumble back toward Oxnard like a candy wrapper in the breeze.

Yet there stood Rio Mesa senior kicker McLane Hansen, eyeing a 27-yard field goal as the wind swirled around him and the lights flickered. Like the Spartans, Hansen has struggled at times this season. He had been successful on just four of 10 field-goal attempts and once endured a stretch in which he made only one of seven point-after kicks.

But that was history, and so were the Highlanders when Hansen’s kick split the uprights with two seconds remaining and gave Rio Mesa a 10-7 victory.

“We’ve had trouble with snaps, holds, kicks, and when we finally get that figured out, our blocking lets down,” Rio Mesa assistant George Contreras said. “McLane has had a lot of hard times, but he deserves this. He really works hard at his craft.”

So too do the rest of the Spartans. Led by senior running back Gordy Abellera with 130 yards in 22 carries, Rio Mesa gained 260 yards against a defense that had allowed its opponents an average of 176.2. Royal had allowed only 53.4 on the ground but gave up a season-high 198 to the Spartans.

Rio Mesa (8-3), which finished fourth in the Channel League, overcame five fumbles and wasn’t fazed when Royal took just seven plays to travel 80 yards on the opening possession, finishing it with a 10-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Fien (12 of 19 for 73 yards) to tight end Carlos Gonzales.

Wade Stark’s conversion gave Royal a 7-0 lead with 8 minutes 47 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Spartans then drove 59 yards to Royal’s six, but quarterback Andy Contreras’ fumble was recovered by Rommel Butler at the 10.

Royal also turned the ball over deep inside Rio Mesa territory. The Highlanders drove to Rio Mesa’s two, but Jose Escudero pounced on Royal’s blundered snap exchange with 5:13 left in the half.

On Royal’s first drive of the second half, the Highlanders advanced to Rio Mesa’s two, but Stark’s 18-yard field-goal attempt skipped off the right upright with 3:47 left in the third quarter. Stark also missed a 47-yard effort on Royal’s next drive.

Royal (10-1), which finished with 209 yards, again fumbled a snap exchange and Paul Santellano recovered at the Highlanders’ 21 with 9:19 left. A face-mask penalty gave Rio Mesa first and goal at the eight, from which Contreras hit Jamie Luevano with a pass that pulled Rio Mesa within 7-6 with 6:43 left. Hansen’s kick tied the score.

After an exchange of punts, Royal punted into the stiff wind and Rio Mesa took over at Royal’s 49. Contreras hit Swanson Nunnery (four catches for 48 yards) for a 19-yard gain to the 31, then hit Nunnery for 17 yards to the 10 with six seconds left.

“It is a tragedy that we lost, but there is no disgrace in losing to a good team,” Royal Coach Gene Uebelhardt said. “Of the 16 teams in the playoffs, only one gets to go home feeling good.”

And it won’t be the Highlanders.