HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SOUTHERN SECTION ROUNDUP : Triana, Keiaho Key Buena’s 28-26 Win Over Rio Mesa

Buena High used the one-two combination of quarterback Aaron Triana and tailback George Keiaho to eke out a 28-26 Channel League victory over host Rio Mesa on Friday night and keep alive its Southern Section playoff hopes.

Triana connected on nine of 15 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns and Keiaho rushed for 204 yards and two scores in 36 carries.

Although Buena improved to 6-4, 5-2 in league play, the Bulldogs are in a three-way tie for second place with Ventura and Santa Barbara, both of which defeated Buena. The Bulldogs must hope for the Division III at-large berth.

The loss killed Rio Mesa’s playoff hopes. The Spartans finished 5-5, 4-3, despite 114 yards rushing and three touchdowns from junior quarterback Don DiDomizio.

Buena took a 14-6 halftime lead on a three-yard touchdown blast from Keiaho in the first quarter and a 12-yard pass from Triana to Lance Caldwell with four seconds left in the second period.

Rio Mesa scored on a 38-yard trap by John Espinoza in the second quarter, but a bad snap cost the Spartans the extra point. Another poor snap on a 40-yard field-goal attempt by Doug Thaxton caused the Spartans to lose 31 yards and set up Buena’s second touchdown.

Triana threw a 17-yard scoring pass to Gary Lipp and Keiaho scored on a one-yard plunge for the Bulldogs’ second-half touchdown.

Rio Mesa kept the pressure on in the second half as DiDomizio scored on runs of 48, 12 and one yard, but the Spartans made good on only one conversion attempt, a two-point reverse by Josh Severn that pulled the score to 28-26 with 1 minute 27 seconds to play.

Buena’s John Chang recovered the ensuing onside kick and the Bulldogs ran out the clock.