Crespi Rallies in Final Quarter to Defeat San Clemente, 24-21

Encino Crespi’s football team is more than tailback Shaun Williams.

It is also quarterback Dave Lins. And kicker Mark Herz.

Lins rallied the Celts from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit and Herz kicked the winning 26-yard field goal to give Crespi a 24-21 victory over San Clemente determined by a California tiebreaker Friday night at Pierce College.

The Celts (8-4) advance to meet Antelope Valley in the semifinals. San Clemente, making its first playoff appearance since 1979, finished 9-3.

The Tritons led, 21-7, early in the fourth quarter, but Lins, who completed 19 of 28 passes for a season-high 249 yards, calmly rallied his team.

Williams, who had gained more than 1,600 yards this season and more than 200 in each of the past two games, had 38 in the first half. He finished with 112.

Williams scored on runs of eight and three yards, capping drives of 59 and 82 yards. The tying score came with 2 minutes 57 seconds to play in regulation.

In the tiebreaker, in which each team takes the ball with a first-and-goal at the 10, Crespi won the coin toss and elected to play defense.

The Celts held San Clemente to two yards and then Triton kicker Mario Garcia pushed a 26-yard field-goal attempt wide right.

The Celts ran three plays, gaining two yards, and Herz kicked the winner. Earlier in the game, Herz missed an attempt--his first miss of the season.

San Clemente tailback Allen Vaughan ran for 100 yards in 22 carries. Triton quarterback Geoff Buffum completed 10 of 20 passes for 135 yards.

One play after San Clemente recovered an onside kick on the opening kickoff, offensive lineman Brian Muaga scored an a 47-yard run on a fumblerooski. The Tritons led, 7-0, nine seconds into the game.