North Hollywood Survives Wright Stuff

The perfect ending turned into a fairy tale for Quincy Wright and El Camino Real High.

Wright nearly brought the Conquistadores back from a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter but North Hollywood had a weapon of its own and hung on for a 20-19 victory Thursday night at Canoga Park High. Huskie running back Dante Clay rushed for 263 yards in 25 carries and scored on runs of 83 and 56 yards.

El Camino Real rallied after Wright, a junior running back, ran for a 63-yard touchdown to make the score 20-13.

Then, with under a minute remaining and El Camino Real trailing by one, Wright appeared to steal the game with a 78-yard punt return. However, it was called back because of a clipping penalty.

El Camino Real made it only as far as midfield before time ran out.

“We were lucky as hell to win this game,” North Hollywood Coach Gary Gray said. “We had a running back who put on a show.”

But Clay did lose two fumbles. The second turnover came midway through the fourth quarter and was recovered by Philip Graham at the North Hollywood 31-yard line.

Five plays later, Aaron Fredette connected with Eric Berrenson on a 22-yard touchdown pass to pull the Conquistadores within 20-19 with just under three minutes left.

The Conquistadores tried a two-point conversion, but Fredette’s pass went through the outstretched hands of receiver Adebola Jimoh.

After a first down by Clay was nullified by a penalty, the Huskies were forced to punt. Wright dropped the ball, but he scooped it up and used his speed to outrace the coverage. The El Camino Real bench erupted in jubilation, but the celebration ended when the players saw the flag near midfield. Wright dropped to his knees on the sideline.

“I was very, very disappointed,” Wright said. “I only saw one block and it was clean.”

Wright, who gained more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore, was used as a decoy and often double-teamed. He had just one carry before his fourth-quarter outburst and finished with 62 yards in four carries.

“It seemed like every time I came around for the sweep, four or five guys would follow me,” Wright said.