HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Czernek Sets State Record Despite Newbury Park Loss : Prep Football: Diamond Bar completes undefeated season with 30-21 victory in Southern Section Division III final.

Newbury Park High’s record-setting passing game disappeared into thin air Saturday night, and Diamond Bar found itself on Cloud 9 after defeating the Panthers, 30-21, to win the Southern Section Division III championship before 10,500 at Moorpark College.

Chris Czernek set a state record with 4,362 yards passing this season, but laid end to end they could not bring Newbury Park (13-1) its second unbeaten championship season in three years.

Not even Czernek’s 45 touchdown passes, including one against Diamond Bar, could fill the emptiness felt by the Panthers.

“We should have won,” said Eddie Patterson, a Panther wide receiver and defensive back. “I don’t know what to say or what to feel.”

Diamond Bar (14-0) overcame a 21-17 Newbury Park lead early in the third quarter on an 80-yard pass play from quarterback Tim Ruiz to tight end Brian Surgener to take a lead the Brahmas didn’t relinquish.

Newbury Park had five more possessions, but couldn’t move the ball past midfield. Czernek completed 13 of 24 for 190 yards, and threw four interceptions.

Czernek, a junior, blamed himself for the loss.

“Sometimes our receivers are doing one thing and I am doing something else,” he said. “And that’s what cost us the game.”

Despite having defensive backs several inches shorter than the Newbury Park receivers, Diamond Bar took away the Panthers’ patented fade route.

“They were physically stronger and faster, but football is a game played with emotion, heart and desire,” Diamond Bar Coach Terry Roche said. “And my kids have more guts than anybody in Southern California.”

Lathian Tyler, a slippery 5-foot-7 tailback, rushed for 119 yards in 22 carries and scored the game’s final touchdown on a five-yard run with 1:39 to play.

Newbury Park forced four turnovers, including a fumble by Tyler on a vicious hit by linebacker Brant Diediker early in the third quarter. Brian Nelson recovered at the Diamond Bar 10-yard line and Brock Diediker scored on a sweep on the next play to give Newbury Park a short-lived 21-17 lead.

Newbury Park Coach George Hurley handed Roche a Panther cap that read “14-0” on the back, then spoke in glowing terms about his team.

“They prepared for us well, but overall we had an unforgettable season,” he said. “It’ll hurt for about a week, then the kids will realize what they accomplished.”

Newbury Park ran only five offensive plays in the first quarter--three complete passes and two interceptions by Czernek. Diamond Bar turned both turnovers into touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead.

Czernek found Justin Vint in the back of the end zone on the first play of the second quarter to cut the deficit to 14-7. Nick Zentil recovered a fumble on Diamond Bar’s next possession and the Panthers marched 38 yards in five plays to tie the score. Brock Diediker scored on a five-yard run with 42 seconds left in the half.

Diamond Bar roared back as Ruiz completed passes of 13 and 20 yards to set up a 46-yard field goal by Masato Yamazaki, and the Brahmas led, 17-14, at halftime.