San Fernando’s for Real

Disheartened El Camino Real High players bent over in agony and disgust. Joyous San Fernando players waved helmets and hugged each other while savoring a special moment.

San Fernando’s 27-22 upset victory Thursday night over previously unbeaten El Camino Real might go down as one of the greatest games in the Tigers’ illustrious 83-year football history.

The game ended when sophomore lineman Steve Nevarez and his 280-pound body fell down on top of El Camino Real quarterback Aaron Fredette on the San Fernando 16-yard line as time expired.

Quite an ending to a game in which no one could figure out who would finish on top until the final second had elapsed.

San Fernando (3-2, 1-1 in the Northwest Valley Conference) failed to pick up a first down and had gained two yards in the first half, but the Tigers still held a 20-16 halftime lead. The reason was El Camino Real mistakes.

San Fernando’s Raul Menjivar returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, Leonard Cobb returned a fumble 53 yards for a touchdown and Ernie Garcia returned a fumble 54 yards for a touchdown.

Then, suddenly, the Tigers’ running game started punishing the Conquistadores (4-1, 1-1) at the start of the fourth quarter. Starting from their eight, the Tigers put together a 12-play scoring drive that consumed more than six minutes off the clock. Justin Rivas ran 28 yards for the touchdown with 5:48 left for a 27-16 Tigers lead.

But as much pride as San Fernando showed, El Camino Real showed plenty behind Fredette. He soon guided the Conquistadores into the end zone, completing a five-yard scoring pass to Devontra Hargrove.

San Fernando could have run out the clock and avoided causing Tigers Coach Sean Blunt any stomach pains, but nothing has been easy for the Tigers. So when punter Jorge Bergara fumbled the snap and was dragged down on his own 40 with 51 seconds left, El Camino Real was alive and threatening.

Fredette completed an 18-yard pass to Quincy Wright down to the 22, then an eight-yard pass to Ruel Samuels. With five seconds left, Fredette fired the ball to an open Hargrove in the end zone on third down. He dropped it. Then Nevarez dropped Fredette to end the game.

“They came through in crunch time,” Blunt said of his Tigers team that had been embarrassed in giving up 46 and 45 points in losses to Grant and Birmingham in their last two games.