HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS : Birmingham Gives Epstein a Final Game : City Section: Braves survive loss of Powell and rally by Wilson for 27-20 victory in 3-A semifinals.

The roller-coaster ride that has been the postseason for the Birmingham High football team took several more spectacular twists and turns Friday night.

Birmingham barely squeaked into the playoffs as the 16th-seeded team in the City Section 3-A Division playoffs. Coach Chick Epstein announced before the first-round game that he will retire after the season.

This time, the Braves survived a potentially serious injury to standout fullback Marvin Powell and a furious last-minute rally by host Wilson for a 27-20 victory--advancing to a final for the first time in Epstein’s 17-year tenure.

Birmingham will play Bell in the final.

Tailback Courtney Blunt gained 221 yards in 25 carries and scored three touchdowns, but had to do most of his work without his fullback.

The game was delayed for nearly 30 minutes midway through the second quarter when Powell was injured following a short pass reception. He was listed in serious condition with a neck injury at County-USC Medical Center.

Powell collided with Wilson defensive back Jaime Munoz after a 10-yard pass play. Powell got up and walked back to the huddle before falling to his knees.

Powell was accompanied to the hospital by his father, former USC and New York Jet tackle Marvin Powell.

One play after the injury, Blunt ran 48 yards to the Mules’ two-yard line. Blunt scored two plays later to give Birmingham a 12-7 lead.

“My best friend was down there hurt and they were laughing at him because he took a hard hit,” Blunt said. “We had to prove we had the heart to do it.”

Wilson scored on a one-yard sneak by quarterback Eddie Gonzales late in the half to take a 13-12 lead.

The Braves regained the momentum early in the second half when Jason Howard blocked a Wilson punt and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown.

Blunt led Birmingham (7-5-1) to a 27-13 lead early in the fourth quarter before the Mules (10-3) scored on a 60-yard pass play from Gonzales to Luis Sanchez. Wilson drove to the 15 before Roderick Courtney intercepted a pass in the end zone with six seconds to play.