HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VII : Field Goal Block Wins for Covina

Covina High’s Nick Covarrubias wasn’t exactly sure what he had done after he blocked a 36-yard field goal attempt by Lompoc’s Ray Hirzel with 1:10 to play to secure a 23-21 victory for the Colts in Saturday night’s Southern Section Division VII football championship before more than 5,000 at Covina District Field.

He was just happy he did it.

“I don’t even know what happen,” Covarrubias said after Covina (14-0) had won its first title since 1980. “I ran right past my blocker and I think I got my arm on the ball. It was a great feeling.”

Lompoc (12-2) almost completed a fourth-quarter comeback from a 23-14 deficit after Danny Dorough recovered a fumble by Colts’ quarterback Michael Ulrich at Covina’s 41-yard line with 4:21 to play.

The Braves drove to the 19-yard line before being faced with a fourth and two. On came Hirzel, who had already kicked three extra points with plenty of room to spare.

“That kicker’s got a great foot,” Covina Coach Dick Sheehan said. “We were fortunate to get in there and block it.”

Covina was also fortunate that Sheehan decided to gamble on fourth down late in the third quarter.

With Covina clinging to a 17-14 lead and facing fourth and goal from the six, Sheehan decided to go for the touchdown.

Nin Burns made it pay off when he took a short pass over the middle and fought his way into the end zone, giving the Colts a 23-14 lead.

“I saw they were playing man defense, and we picked my defender, leaving me one-on-one with their safety,” Burns said. “All I’m thinking is finding a way to get into the end zone any way I can.”

Lompoc answered on its next series, going 47 yards in 10 plays. DeShawn Burks scored on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Nick Terrones with 9:12 to play.