Vargas’ Late Score Helps Brea Olinda Beat Magnolia

Jesse Vargas ran around left end from 24 yards out for a touchdown with 1:43 remaining in the game as Brea Olinda defeated Magnolia, 10-0, Thursday at Glover Stadium in an Orange League opener.

Vargas, a senior running back, had hurt his thumb in pregame warm-ups trying to catch a pass. “The ball hit my thumb and bent it back. It’s just a sprain,” he said.

Despite the injury, Vargas rushed for 100 yards in 11 carries. Teammate Scott Lieng, a sophomore, ran for 129 yards in 20 carries.

“Our offense and defense is coming together and doing a great job,” Vargas said. “We’re looking for a league championship and bigger things after that.”

Brea Olinda (3-3, 1-0) looked as though it was going to get off to a big start when it took the opening kickoff and drove to the Magnolia nine-yard line.

The Wildcats had to settle for a 26-yard field goal by Scott Davis and an early 3-0 lead.

Magnolia (3-3, 0-1) drove from its six, only to have Will Speer fumble in Brea’s end zone and the Wildcats’ Rasuli Webster recover.

Speer was Magnolia’s leading rusher with 107 yards in 21 carries.

Brea Olinda had a chance to score late in the first half. But, second and goal from Magnolia’s one-yard line with two seconds left, Brea quarterback Matt Kalcevich tried to sneak for the score but was stopped by Magnolia’s Darrell Wilson.