ROUNDUP : Seraphs Stun Big Bear in Final Minute

A seraph is an angel of the highest order. It is also the nickname of the St. Bonaventure High football team.

And in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s Southern Section Division IX quarterfinal playoff game against top-seeded Big Bear at Ventura High, St. Bonaventure appeared to have a Seraph on its collective shoulders.

Four times on a game-winning 80-yard drive, St. Bonaventure converted on fourth-down plays to stay alive. R. J. Kisling finally scored from one yard with 15 seconds remaining, and Toby Noblin outraced Tom Mecom to the end zone for a two-point conversion to give St. Bonaventure a stunning 22-21 victory over the Bears (11-1).

The Seraphs (8-4), tri-champions of the Tri-Valley League, will meet Tehachapi in the semifinals Friday.

St. Bonaventure Coach Jon Mack did not think twice about going for the two-point conversion.

“We had come too far and worked too hard to get in that position,” Mack said. “We just wanted to get it done.”

Noblin, who had 69 yards in 21 carries and scored St. Bonaventure’s first touchdown on a one-yard run, scored again from the one with 21 seconds left in the third period to bring the Seraphs within seven points.