Last Play Does In Whittier Christian

Mario Qualls scored on a two-yard run as time expired, giving Malibu Camp Kilpatrick a 13-12 nonleague victory over Whittier Christian on Saturday night at Whittier College.

Qualls’ run capped a 14-play, 63-yard drive during which the Eagles converted two fourth downs, including a fourth and 24. Camp Kilpatrick quarterback Cesar Cuevas hit Henry Flowers for 27 yards on fourth and 24 from the Whittier Christian 44, giving the Eagles a first down at the Heralds’ 17 with 1 minute left.

Three plays later, the Eagles had a fourth and four from the Whittier Christian 11, but Cuevas hit Flowers for a nine-yard completion to Whittier Christian’s two-yard line with 6 seconds left. Qualls scored on the next play.

Camp Kilpatrick (4-1) trailed, 12-0, entering the fourth quarter, but Qualls scored on an 11-yard run with 11:21 left to cut the lead to 12-7. Qualls, who finished with 124 yards in 19 carries, gained 16 yards on fourth and three from the Heralds’ 27 to set up his score.

Whittier Christian (4-1) managed only one first down and 27 yards offense in the second half. Nick Valdez led the Heralds with 98 yards rushing in 22 carries and two touchdowns. He was held to 17 yards in the second half.

The Heralds drove 89 yards in 11 plays to score on their first possession. Valdez carried nine times for 72 yards on the drive and capped it with a three-yard touchdown run with 6:42 left in the first quarter.

The Heralds also scored on their last drive of the half. They had the ball on Camp Kilpatrick’s 30 after Jason McCleary intercepted a Cuevas pass and returned it 39 yards.

Six plays moved the Heralds to Camp Kilpatrick’s three-yard line from where Valdez took it in with 27 seconds left.