Fremont Wins on Miracle Kick

It was a kick that had to be seen to be believed. Even then, some left scratching their heads.

On a muddy field at Crenshaw High that, at best, could be described as treacherous, Fremont High kicker David Espinoza kicked a 42-yard field goal into the wind and rain on the final play of the game, giving the Pathfinders a 17-14 victory over Crenshaw Friday in the first round of the City Section 4-A football playoffs.

Fremont, seeded 11th, improved to 9-2 and advanced to the quarterfinals Wednesday. Crenshaw finished 8-3.

Espinoza may have been more shocked than anyone after the ball fluttered through the uprights.

“I didn’t think I had a chance to make the kick,” said Espinoza after he had been given a mud bath by teammates. “The field was too muddy and I thought I would slip.”

Fremont had gained possession with just over a minute remaining in the game after Geovanny Martinez recovered a fumble at Crenshaw’s 22-yard line.

After going nowhere on three running plays, Espinoza, a 6-foot, 250-pound lineman, picked a spot in the mud 10 yards from the line of scrimmage.

The ball was snapped into the mud, but quarterback Jason Godbolt, who was the holder, secured the ball and placed it on the tee.

“I knew if I got the ball on the tee, he’d have a chance to make that kick,” Godbolt said.

But the hardest part remained.

Espinoza, whose farthest kick in practice under good conditions was 50 yards, had to find a way to plant his left foot on a surface that was not fit to stand on. “I still don’t know how I did it,” he said. “I said a prayer before I kicked it. It must have been answered.”

Fremont running back James Tillman, who rushed for 190 yards and had an 83-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that gave his team a 14-6 lead, said: “I knew [Espinoza] was going to do it. Nobody gave us a chance. Now they know better.”

Crenshaw took a 6-0 lead two plays into the game on Charlie Blade’s 62-yard touchdown run.

Fremont went ahead, 7-6, when Godbolt connected with Marcus Gates on a 31-yard touchdown pass play with 2:46 remaining in the second quarter.

The Cougars tied the score, 14-14, in the third quarter when Julian Turner scored from one yard out.