Moreno Valley Canyon Springs Stops Canyon in First Round

MORENO VALLEY — Marcelle Williams scored on a 43-yard touchdown run with 1:03 remaining as top-seeded Moreno Valley Canyon Springs rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat Canyon, 27-21, in a Southern Section Division IV first-round playoff game at Valley View.

After Williams’ second touchdown of the half, Canyon took possession at its 32 after a 24-yard kickoff return by Greg Jacobs. On third down, quarterback Adam Hoover hit Jacobs on a 30-yard pass to the give the Comanches a first down at the Canyon Springs 38 with 35.7 seconds remaining.

On third down from the 38, linebacker Nathal Mutter sacked Hoover for a 16-yard loss to the Canyon 46. Canyon called its final timeout with 17.7 seconds remaining, and Hoover’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

Canyon Springs (10-1) used three big runs in the second half to record its eighth consecutive victory. Williams, who rushed for 139 yards, scored on a 34-yard run to make it 21-14 with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter.

The Cougars tied the score on a 40-yard run by fullback Gilbert Robles on the second play of the fourth quarter.

Jerrick Harper scored on a nine-yard run on the opening possession for Canyon, but Canyon Springs tied it, 7-7, later in the quarter. Hoover connected with Jacobs on a nine-yard pass and scored on a one-yard run in the second quarter to make it 21-7 at halftime.