Ayala Lowers the Boom on Highland Hopes, 30-10

The ride ended.

Highland High’s season, unlikely and exciting, crashed down amid a pair of fourth-quarter mistakes that led to a 30-10 victory by Ayala Saturday night in a Southern Section Division II semifinal game at Citrus College.

Highland trailed, 15-10, with 9 minutes 44 seconds left in the game, when Dan Bruton got his only carry of the game and gained two yards but fumbled.

Ayala (11-2) recovered at the Highland 33-yard-line.

Highland (9-4) held on fourth-and-nine but there was roughing the passer on the play. Ayala retained possession and scored immediately when Brian White broke three tackles on a 17-yard run to make it 22-10.

“Back to back,” Highland Coach Lin Parker said. “We made mistakes.”

Neither team was pretty in the first half, especially in terms of running the ball. Highland had 28 yards in 15 carries, Ayala 44 yards in 16 carries.

But quarterback Mike Frost, despite throwing eight incompletions in a row in the second quarter, kept Ayala in front.

After Camy Smith scored from one yard to cap a 74-yard, 15-play drive on Highland’s first possession, Frost connected with Anthony Alvarado from 47 yards out to close to within 7-6.

Alvarado beat double coverage and hauled in Frost’s 41-yard heave with just over a minute left in the second quarter to set up Matt Johnson’s one-yard scoring run and a 15-7 Ayala lead.

Highland closed out the half with a 41-yard field goal by Derek Brown--his fourth 40-plus field goal in three games--and moved to within 15-10.

Ayala made its season by beating defending champions in Division I (Bishop Amat), II (Hart) and III (Diamond Bar), including 22-19 last week over the Indians.

Ayala plays Dominguez on Friday night for the division title.

“You’ll never convince me they’re better than us,” Parker said.

Smith completed 16 of 29 passes for 210 yards.

Ayala’s Matt Johnson ran 27 times for 140 yards, 89 in the second half. Brandon McElvaine added 50 yards in 12 carries.