Redlands Defeats La Verne in Overtime to Claim Title

Redlands won its 22nd Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football championship when Rino Marconi connected with Brian Hayes on a four-yard touchdown pass in overtime to give the Bulldogs a 29-22 victory over La Verne Saturday in front of 1,568 at Ortmayer Stadium.

La Verne (7-2) appeared to clinch the game when Ervie Barnes scored on a 89-yard touchdown pass with 1:53 remaining in regulation, giving the Leopards a 22-19 lead.

“I thought this can’t be the way we are going to end our season,” Redlands Coach Mike Maynard said. “We have worked on our one-minute and two-minute offenses all year.”

Trying to win their second title in four years, Redlands (7-2) took possession and, behind Marconi, moved the ball to the Leopards’ 17-yard line with seven seconds left.

Buddy Wellman, who had tried only two field goals all season, sent the game to overtime with his kick. “I had no worries,” Maynard said.

Marconi completed 35 of 62 passes for 474 yards and three touchdowns, breaking the Bulldogs’ single-season yardage and touchdown mark with 2,391 yards and 25 touchdowns.