ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / PREP EXTRA : DIVISION I : Fumble Costs Capistrano Valley

The play was supposed to give them some room to breath, but the Capistrano Valley Cougars were instead left with the wind knocked out of them.

Capistrano Valley quarterback Austin Moherman fumbled on a sneak at the Cougars’ one-yard line and Long Beach Poly scored the winning touchdown on the ensuing play, eliminating the Cougars in the second round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs, 24-21, Friday night at Capistrano Valley High.

The Cougars (9-3) had taken over possession with 1 minute, 25 seconds remaining and clung to a three-point lead after Rik Currier intercepted Jackrabbits’ quarterback Morris Smith, ending a 60-yard drive by Long Beach Poly.

Currier’s acrobatic interception seemed to ensure a Cougars victory, but Capistrano Valley’s efforts to avoid a turnover or safety backfired.

“I was trying to make sure I didn’t take the ball in the end zone and I just didn’t get the snap exchange,” Moherman said. “I should’ve had it.”

Long Beach Poly’s Bruce Carter fell on the ball and running back Aaron Tyler took it in on the next play for a one-yard touchdown.

“Obviously this is real heartbreaking,” Capistrano Valley Coach Dave Brown said. “I’ve been in these games before and you get over them. You just hope the kids learn something about character from it.”

Cougars tailback Malaefou MacKenzie led Capistrano Valley’s offense. The junior rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 90 yards and a third score, the latter while dragging two defenders into the end zone with him.

Capistrano Valley trailed, 12-7, at halftime, but scored twice in the third quarter to take a 21-18 lead into the fourth.

The Cougars had a late chanceafter Tyler’s touchdown, but the Jackrabbits (12-0) twice sacked Moherman and time ran out.