Santa Barbara Blocks Field Goal, Beats Buena

Ruben Leos of Santa Barbara High blocked Steve Howard’s 30-yard field-goal attempt with seven seconds left and the Dons held on to defeat Buena, 35-34, in a Channel League game Friday night at Ventura High.

Buena (4-4, 2-1 in league play) played without injured tailback Freddy Keiaho and wide receiver Cody Murphy, though quarterback Kyle Loughman kept things rolling.

Loughman completed 18 of 33 passes for 309 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Loughman put the Bulldogs up, 31-21, on a flea-flicker that Daniel Allen caught for a 33-yard touchdown with 3:11 remaining in the third quarter.

Santa Barbara (6-2, 2-0) came back when quarterback Nick Dominelli caught a 13-yard pass from Jose Maganda on a halfback option play early in the fourth quarter to cut Buena’s lead to 31-28.

Howard’s 20-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter gave the Bulldogs a 34-28 advantage.

Nick Dominelli gave Santa Barbara a 35-34 lead with 1:46 left in the game on a one-yard run.

Dominelli had 17 carries for 162 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw a touchdown pass, intercepted a pass and caught the scoring pass from Maganda.

D.J. Blackledge, who was questionable with a sprained ankle, had 99 yards and a touchdown in 20 carries for Buena.

Howard kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, pulling Buena to within 21-17.

Loughman set up the field goal with a 21-yard pass play to Josh Lake, who ran out of bounds at the Santa Barbara 14-yard line with one second left in the half.

Buena’s Junior Gallardo caught four passes for 98 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown pass from Loughman to tie the game at 7-7 with 40 seconds left in the first quarter.