ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREP EXTRA : Esperanza Defeats Capistrano Valley In Final Minute : Football: Aztecs score late, get interception to stop Cougars’ final drive.

The last two times Capistrano Valley and Esperanza played each other, the game wasn’t decided until the final minute.

Friday at Capistrano Valley High, it was more of the same.

Brian Forth’s interception at the 20-yard line with 58 seconds left sealed fifth-ranked Esperanza’s 17-14 victory over the third-ranked Cougars in a nonleague game.

The Aztecs scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to win it. They got a safety with 7 minutes 9 seconds left to trail, 14-9, and got a 30-yard touchdown pass from Dave Parrish to Pat Swanson with 2:05 left.

The touchdown was set up by a Capistrano Valley personal foul penalty after Esperanza’s Jamal Footman was at his 20 on the winning drive’s first play.

What followed were four Parrish passes for 56 yards, and Footman’s nine-yard run. He gained 157 yards in 28 attempts.

Parrish called an audible on the winning score. Footman, who gained 100 yards in the second half, was supposed to run the ball on the play.

Instead, Parrish (10 for 15, 161 yards) found Swanson heading into the left corner ahead of defender Todd Miller.

Parrish then passed to Kyle Rowen for the two-point conversion.

It was a tough night for both teams, including Parrish, who threw three interceptions.

The game marked the debut of Capistrano Valley quarterback Austin Moherman, completed 12 of 25 passes for 119 yards and two interceptions. The transfer from L.A. Wilson entered the game on the Cougars’ first possession of the second quarter.

Charlie Landrigan had runs of 26, 21 (on third and 16), seven, four and three yards before finally scoring from the one-yard line.

Landrigan (10 for 59) was most effective off the draw, but was plenty effective with MacKenzie blocking in front of him, too.

Brett Thompson’s extra point gave Capistrano Valley a 14-7 lead.

The Cougars took a 7-0 lead with 4:37 left in the first quarter. Parrish, throwing a little flare to Brian Forth, saw his pass intercepted and returned 29 yards for a touchdown by Blake Laidlaw. Thompson made it 7-0.

It was the second costly interception thrown by Parrish on the first two series. The first took place on the opening drive. After Footman’s 75-yard kickoff return, Landrigan intercepted a pass over the middle at the 15-yard line. Landrigan returned the ball to the 30. MacKenzie carried twice for 48 yards, but Thompson missed a 32-yard field-goal attempt.

Esperanza tied the game on its first drive of the second quarter. The Aztecs, after having a drive stuffed at the Cougar two, took Ryan Clark’s 19-yard field goal negated by a roughing penalty made it first-and-goal at the one. Footman scored on second down.