Reseda Shocks El Camino Real With the Pass

Who says Reseda High doesn’t have a passing game?

Paced by a few unexpected and spectacular passes, Reseda High overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter Friday night to upset El Camino Real, 15-14, in a Northwest Valley Conference opener at Taft High.

Reseda quarterback Reggie James, who completed just four of 14 passes for 59 yards in the Regents’ first three games, threw one touchdown, rushed for another, and completed a pass for a key two-point conversion.

“We didn’t need to pass in those other games,” said James, who completed five of eight passes for 72 yards. “Coach (Joel Schaeffer) had more confidence in me this game.”

Reseda’s game-winning drive started at its 31 after an El Camino Real punt. James’ 32-yard run on an option keeper on third and one kept the drive alive. Three plays later, on third and seven at the El Camino Real 16, James hit wide receiver James Chavez over the middle on a post pattern in the end zone to tie the score, 14-14, with 3:55 remaining. Alonzo Arreola’s conversion kick was the difference.

“Everybody likes to think that we can’t pass,” Schaeffer said. “We knew we could pass on (El Camino Real). They were playing up tight on the run. . . . I like to see that.”

El Camino Real (3-1) led, 14-0, at halftime, on a one-yard touchdown run by Chris Shinnick (23 carries, 98 yards) in the first quarter and Ryan Venturine’s 23-yard scoring pass to Michael Cooper early in the second.

Reseda’s offense was limited to five plays or less in each of its first five possessions in the first half and managed just 79 yards.

However, the second half--after a rough start--belonged to Reseda (4-0).

After Regent defensive back Tyrone Francis made his second interception of the game early in the third quarter, the Regents drove 37 yards in eight plays only to be shut out on four consecutive runs from the El Camino four-yard line.

Cesar Flores’ interception of a tipped Venturine pass early in the fourth quarter gave Reseda new life. Flores’ 26-yard return gave the Regents the ball at the El Camino Real nine-yard line.

Three plays later, James faked a handoff to Greg Gines and, when the Conquistadore defense bit hard, he ran around the left end untouched for a touchdown.

The Regents faked the conversion kick, and James, the holder, received the snap, rolled right and connected with DeWayne Johnson, who made a diving catch in the end zone.

With El Camino Real holding a precarious 14-8 lead, the Conquistadores were forced to punt on their next possession when Shinnick came up short on third and one at the El Camino Real 40.

That forced the Conquistadores to punt, and James took over from there.