SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Royal Reaches Playoffs by Beating Agoura on Last-Minute Rally

Wes Lagatta threw a 45-yard bomb to Jermaine Smith on fourth down and Jerome Lee scored on a seven-yard run two plays later with 55 seconds to play Friday night, giving Royal High a 17-14 victory over Agoura and the Marmonte League’s final playoff berth.

The win clinched third place for Royal (6-4, 4-3 in league play) and a spot in the Southern Section Division III playoffs.

David Schaeffer’s 64-yard scoring run put Agoura ahead, 14-10, with 3:21 to play. Schaeffer finished with 133 yards and two touchdowns in 19 carries.

Royal Coach Gene Uebelhardt said he saved the play he calls, “Jermaine go deep,” for the right time.

With Agoura leading, 7-3, in the second quarter, Lee found an opening on the left side, cut back and outraced the defense down the right sideline for a 69-yard touchdown to give Royal a 10-7 halftime lead.

Lee finished with 107 yards and two touchdowns in 13 carries and teammate Mike Reddington added 96 yards in 14 carries.

Royal’s defense stopped the Chargers on five fourth-down plays as Agoura moved past midfield on eight of its 11 possessions.