Sunny Hills Survives Wild Finish

BUENA PARK — After watching his Sunny Hills team escape with a 20-15 nonleague victory over El Modena Friday at Buena Park High, Coach Tim Devaney heaved a sigh of relief.

“At least we scored this time,” Devaney said.

In the previous two games against El Modena, Sunny Hills did not score a point.

Although the Lancers found the end zone this time, Sunny Hills needed to withstand a wild, final three minutes when the Vanguards had the ball inside the Sunny Hills 20-yard line twice.

Trailing, 20-13, El Modena drove from its own 25 to the Sunny Hills five. Following a series of penalties, a 25-yard pass from quarterback Matt Mitchell to tight end Casey Shine gave the Vanguards a fourth and three from the five-yard line with 2 minutes 17 seconds remaining.

El Modena used a play-action, faking to tailback Ernie Wilson, who rushed for two touchdowns and 141 yards, but Mitchell’s pass to Shine in the corner of the end zone was batted away by Sunny Hills defensive back Bobby Sunderland.

The Lancers couldn’t run out the clock and were forced to punt from their own five with 45 seconds remaining.

Standing in his own end zone, Sunny Hills punter Eric Smith bobbled the snap but managed to kick the loose ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety, closing El Modena to within 20-15.

Smith, who kicked two field goals, slipped on the ensuing free kick, and El Modena’s Tyler Wood returned the short kick to the Sunny Hills 25. An additional personal foul penalty on the Lancers moved the ball to the 12.

But time ran out on the Vanguards after Wilson caught a short pass from Mitchell at the five and the Sunny Hills defense tackled him as the clock ran out.

Sunny Hills’ Jacob Cuccia rushed for 112 yards on 10 carries and caught three passes for 35 yards. Teammate James Tindukasiri rushed for 75 yards on seven carries, including a 52-yard touchdown run.