Thompson’s Kick Keeps Saddleback Streak Alive

Saddleback’s winning streak was extended to 18 games Saturday, thanks to an amazing combination of events that ended with Brett Thompson’s 37-yard field in overtime to give the Gauchos a 24-21 victory over host El Camino.

But just to extend the game to overtime, Saddleback had to score 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and then hang on as El Camino botched a chance to win it in the closing seconds of regulation.

In overtime, El Camino had the ball first and quarterback Damion Ward threw three incomplete passes and was sacked by linebacker David Josker on fourth down.

Saddleback didn’t take any chances after the Gauchos took possession at the 20. Brendan McGraw ran twice up the middle for a total of six yards and Thompson, a sophomore preseason all-American, came on.

The snap was clean and after the kick, Thompson turned and raised his arms in celebration before the ball reached the uprights.

“Fortunately,” Thompson said, “I didn’t have to worry about that one. It was down the middle.”

But he had worried some during regulation, as he missed an extra point in the first quarter and a 38-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter.

The game should have been won in regulation, from the El Camino point of view. The Warriors had a first down at the Saddleback five with 50 seconds left after a 39-yard pass from Ward to Monjero Jones.

But Saddleback lineman Fred Roberts broke through the middle and sacked Ward for an eight-yard loss on third down. With 20 seconds left and no timeouts, El Camino couldn’t get its field-goal team set before time ran out.

Saddleback had done well just to force overtime. The Gauchos trailed, 21-6, after a 74-yard interception return by Brian Gray midway in the third quarter.

But the combination of Wilson and tight end Lawrence Mariner helped bring Saddleback back.

Mariner caught a 13-yard scoring pass from Wilson with 10:52 left in the fourth quarter. Mariner, who finished with four catches for 63 yards, also had a key 12-yard reception on third down earlier in the drive.

McGraw scored on a three-yard run with 4:03 left and Thompson tied it, 21-21, with his extra-point kick. McGraw finished with 137 yards in 38 carries.