GAME OF THE WEEK : Fremont Steals 34-28 Win as Time Runs Out

In a fitting conclusion to a game of big plays, Fremont linebacker Cedric Hughes scored on a 26-yard interception return as time ran out to lift the visiting Pathfinders to a 34-28 Southeastern Conference victory over Bell Friday night.

With the score tied, 28-28, and 10 seconds left, Hughes grabbed the ball from the grasp of Bell quarterback Gus Valenzuela just as he was about to release a pass. Hughes ran into the end zone as time expired.

Or did it? Six seconds still showed on the scoreboard, but referees called the game after deciding the timekeeper had stopped the clock prematurely.

“I just hit the ball and it fell into my hands,” Hughes said.

Bell had rallied from a 15-0 halftime deficit to tie the score, 28-28, on a 63-yard pass from Gus Valenzuela to Dickey Purcell with 1:20 left. On the extra-point attempt, however, Fremont’s Dalonte Walker broke through the line to block Gary Herrera’s kick.

Fremont drove from its 30-yard line to the Bell 40, but Fred Hernandez intercepted a pass by Pathfinder quarterback Robert Loera at the 11-yard line with 22 seconds left to give Bell one more chance to pull out the victory. But three plays later Hughes came up with the game-winning interception.

“I knew something was going to happen,” Loera said. “I knew the defense was going to pull through for us. That’s what holds us together.”

Loera completed 10 of 20 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns and Walker rushed for 44 yards in 15 carries for Fremont.

Bell rolled up plenty of offense of its own. Valenzuela completed 12 of 24 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns and Vern Bernard had 129 yards in 12 carries. Purcell had four catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

“It was back and forth all night and you hate to see a team lose,” Bell Coach Henry Santiago said. “I kind of wished the kids had a chance to win it on the field.”

Trailing, 22-15, early in the fourth quarter, Bell pulled even with the defending City Section 3-A champions on a 33-yard touchdown run by Bernard. Fremont went back ahead, 28-22, on a 21-yard pass from Loera to Michael Adams with 6:58 to play.

Clarence Scott boosted the Pathfinders to a 15-0 second-quarter lead, hauling in a 47-yard pass from Loera in the first quarter and scrambling down the sideline for a 46-yard touchdown reception a minute into the second quarter. Both scores were set up by fumble recoveries, by Steve Barragan and Simon Arredondo.

Bell finally got on the scoreboard with five minutes left in the third quarter on a 15-yard pass from Valenzuela to Herrera. The Eagles tied the score, 15-15, on its next series when Valenuzela connected with Purcell on a 44-yard touchdown pass up the middle.

The lead was short-lived. Loera put the Pathfinders up, 22-15, on a 47-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the third quarter.

Next week: Locke at Fremont; Bell at Jefferson.