Big Plays Help Kern Valley Top Whittier Christian

Kern Valley advanced to the Southern Section Division X semifinals with a 35-32 victory over Whittier Christian here Friday night.

The Whittier Christian defense was buried by big plays all night. Clint Sanders had touchdown runs of 62 yards and 40 yards and quarterback Jeremiah Thompson hooked up with Tony Seivers on touchdown passes of 74, 72 yards and 65 yards.

Kern Valley (8-4) opened the scoring halfway through the second quarter when Sanders raced 40 yards.

Whittier Christian bounced back when Aaron Meschuk took it in from five yards out and took its only lead of the game on a two-point conversion pass.

Whittier Christian (8-4), which trailed 29-8 in the third quarter, came back strong with 16 third-quarter points.

But on the second play of the fourth quarter, Thompson connected with Seivers on a 65-yard touchdown strike to give Kern Vally a 35-24 lead.

Whittier Christian rallied again with 35 seconds left when Callahan tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to John Habben. But, the Heralds were unable to covert an onside kick and Kern Valley ran out the clock.

KV--Sanders 40 run (Grove kick)

WC--Meschuk 5 run (Mickuci from Callahan)

KV--Seivers 74 pass from Thompson (Sanders from Thompson)

KV--Sanders 62 run (Grove kick)

KV--Seivers 72 pass from Thompson (Grove kick)

WC--Meschuk 57 run (Calabretta run)

WC--McPrice 7 run (Meschuk run)

KV--Seivers 65 pass from Thompson (pass failed)

WC--Habben 13 pass from Callahan (Calabretta run)

LEADING RUSHERS--WC: Meschuk 29-170; KV: Sanders 17-156. LEADING PASSERS--WC: Callahan 5-19-0, 86; KV: Thompson 4-7-0, 218. LEADING RECEIVERS--WC: Habben 2-44; KV: Seivers 4-218.

Attendance--1,500