Newbury Park Goes for Win, Takes Loss

Ryan Lombardo’s two-point conversion pass fell untouched in the end zone with 1:32 remaining and Newbury Park High lost to Bend, Ore., 21-20, Saturday in a nonleague football game in Bend, Ore.

Newbury Park (2-4) drove 39 yards in five plays, culminating in Matt Butcher’s one-yard touchdown run.

Butcher was injured on the touchdown and Newbury Park Coach George Hurley said going for a tie was not an option.

‘We had no choice,” Hurley said. “We had a shot to win the game at the end, but we had never run that play [option roll-out pass] on a two-point attempt before this game.”

Newbury Park traveled 1,170 miles to play Bend (5-1) on an overcast day in Central Oregon.

The Panthers had problems containing Mike Rundle, who rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns, and were hurt when receiver L. Ray Hawkins left the game early in the second quarter because of a sprained ankle.

Hawkins never returned and was on crutches at the end of the game.

Lombardo completed 19 of 35 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with Hawkins on a 15-yard scoring play in the first quarter and later on a 24-yard scoring play to Jabari James. James led all receivers with six receptions for 97 yards.

Lombardo’s 30-yard pass to James with 2:30 left in the game was the key play of the final drive.

An ensuing onside kick after the touchdown was recovered by Bend, which ran out the clock.

Newbury Park limited Bend to 110 yards passing, but Rundle and fullback Robert Sauter helped Bend gain 248 yards on the ground.