Five Moments to Remember and Five More for Good Measure : THE CATCH

When Esperanza High football Coach Gary Meek bumped into some Newhall Hart coaches a few weeks ago, their discussion quickly turned to the Aztecs’ 38-35 victory over Hart in the 1990 Southern Section Division III semifinals.

Or, more specifically, tight end Reid Pullen’s seven-yard touchdown reception from Keith McDonald with three seconds left.

“I remember Reid being held at the line of scrimmage,” Meek said. “The guy covering him just about tackled him.

“I was talking to the Hart coaches a few weeks ago and they said that was what they told their guy to do. Just go out and tackle Reid.”

But Pullen broke free over the middle, caught the pass from McDonald at the three-yard line and ran into the end zone untouched. It was the last of seven lead changes in the game.

In what many consider one of the greatest games in section playoff history, Esperanza beat Hart by doing something it traditionally hasn’t--throwing the football.

McDonald completed 15 of 21 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns; Pullen had six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

“McDonald threw for more than 200 yards that night,” Meek said. “That was amazing.”

The Aztecs didn’t have much choice but to throw. Hart quarterback Ryan Connors passed for a career-high 329 yards, and was moving the Indians on every possession.

And Hart’s defense did a good job on Esperanza halfback Jarod Smith, holding him to 36 yards in 18 carries. Smith had averaged 228 yards in his previous three games.

Neither team led by more than seven points. Scott Blanchard scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 10-yard run with 2:10 left to give Hart its last lead at 35-31.

“My most vivid memory was when McDonald came over to me before our final offensive series,” Meek said. “He said, ‘Look Coach, we’re going to win this.’ ”

Esperanza kept the final drive alive with two great catches by Ryan Corbett and Marcus Tayui. The Aztecs drove to the Hart seven with 10 seconds left, and Meek called for the tight-end delay pass to Pullen.

The winning touchdown kept Esperanza’s winning streak intact, a string of victories that lasted 27 games. But the victory over Hart wasn’t the crowning achievement to the Aztecs’ season.

At least not yet, anyway.

A week later, Esperanza crushed Santa Fe Springs St. Paul, 25-7, in the championship game. Smith scored three second-half touchdowns, all rushing, and the Aztecs finished the season 14-0.