Dorsey Wins City Title on Final Play

In perhaps the most stunning finish in City Section championship-game history, Dorsey High blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown as time expired Friday night, giving the Dons a 19-14 victory over Woodland Hills Taft before about 6,000 at the Coliseum.

“Unbelievable,” said Dorsey Coach Paul Knox, who guided the Dons to their first championship since 1995.

Dorsey was on the verge of defeat after Taft overcame a 13-0 halftime deficit to take a 14-13 lead on two fourth-quarter, one-yard runs by Justin Tryon, the second one coming with 6:30 left.

Dorsey drove to the Taft 10 on its ensuing possession, but Jesus Jimenez missed a 31-yard field-goal attempt with 2:44 left.

Taft then tried to run out the clock to preserve what looked like certain victory and its first City title since 1998. The Toreadors, however, faced a fourth down at the their own 32 with seven seconds left and tried to punt.

Jimenez, who also plays linebacker, broke through and blocked Issac Garden’s kick. The ball rolled into the end zone and Henry Madge fell on it for the game-winning score.

“I just came with my speed,” Jimenez said. “We deserved that championship.”

Dorsey (10-3), which was second in the Coliseum League, finished the season with eight consecutive victories.

For Dorsey, quarterback Theron Shakir completed six of 18 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown. Jermaine Moore rushed for 49 yards and a touchdown in 11 carries.

With its nucleus of talented underclassmen, Woodland Hills Taft was thought to be a year away from winning a City title.

Tryon pulled Taft (11-2) to within six points with a one-yard touchdown run with 11:41 left in the game.

After Dorsey went three and out on the ensuing possession, Taft drove 34 yards and Tryon tied the score with another one-yard run with 6:30 remaining. Garden kicked the extra-point for a 14-13 lead.

Dorsey moved to the Taft 10 on a 57-yard pass play from Shakir to Jerome Johnson, but Jimenez’s 31-yard field-goal attempt with 2:44 remaining was wide left.

Taft quarterback Cary Dove completed 16 of 28 passes for 133 yards, and wide receiver Steve Smith had 12 receptions for 75 yards.

Taft was playing in its fourth championship game in six years. The Toreadors lost to San Pedro in the final in 1996 and 1997 before defeating San Pedro in 1998.

Taft won eight games in a row after losing its West Valley League opener to Van Nuys Birmingham.

The Toreadors finished second in their league and were seeded sixth for the playoffs. They beat Roosevelt, 42-13, Carson, 17-14, and Crenshaw, 38-28, to advance to the final.

In a show of confidence, Dorsey won the opening coin toss and elected to kick-off and flex its muscle on defense. The ploy worked as the Dons limited Taft to 35 yards en route to a 13-0 halftime lead.

Dorsey, which was called for 16 penalties in its semifinal victory over Fremont, played almost error-free in the first two quarters.

The Dons came up empty after a five-minute drive that ended with an incomplete pass at the Taft 10, but Dorsey forced Taft to punt on the ensuing possession.

Dorsey then drove 39 yards in 11 plays with Jermaine Moore scoring on a two-yard run for a 7-0 lead with 9:02 left in the second quarter.

Dorsey’s second touchdown was set by a 31-yard punt return by LeMark Henderson. The Dons took over at the Taft 39 and got a first down on Rasby Sinclair’s 15-yard run. Three plays later, Shakir passed 33 yards to Marques Binns for a touchdown and a 13-0 lead with 53 seconds left in the half.