Western’s Playoff Run Cut Short by Late Interception

Daniel Ulrich stepped in front of a potential game-winning touchdown pass and returned it 99 yards for a Covina touchdown, giving the Colts a 37-28 upset victory over top-seeded Western in the second round of the Southern Section Division IX playoffs Saturday night at Western.

Western had reached the Covina 15-yard line with 10 seconds left in the game before Mike Hicks’ pass attempt to Kyle Stanley was grabbed by Ulrich, who raced down the sideline as time expired.

Covina had taken a 31-28 lead with 2:39 left in the game when Scott Jarvis kicked a 22-yard field goal.

Western (10-2) had tied the score at 28-28 with 7:20 left in the fourth quarter on a five-yard touchdown run by Rodney Eason. The touchdown was set up when Eason ran 32 yards on a fake punt on the previous play.

Covina (9-3) will host La Habra (11-1) in the semifinals on Saturday at a site to be determined.

The Colts scored on the opening drive with Johnny Grant catching a 27-yard pass from David Ulrich. Covina increased its lead to 13-0 early in the second quarter when David Ulrich hit brother Daniel with a two-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-one play.

Western bounced back when Hicks threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Stanley, reducing Covina’s lead to 13-6.

The Pioneers took their only lead of the game, 14-13, with 3:40 left in the second quarter on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Hicks to Stanley and a two-point conversion pass from Hicks to Eason.

Grant caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from David Ulrich and Daniel Ulrich scored a two-point conversion as Covina regained the lead with 2:15 left in the half.

Western fell one yard short of scoring on the final play of the second quarter when Hicks was stopped shy of the goal line on a four-yard, fourth-down run as time expired.

Western, held to 40 yards rushing in the first half, put together a 99-yard drive on seven successive running plays, Hicks scoring from 17 yards out to tie the score at 21-21 with 1:30 left in the third quarter.

Eason finished with 219 yards rushing for Western.