Casillas’ Kick Saves the Day for Pomona

Freshman Noe Casillas had never played football before this season, but he lined up for his first field goal attempt Friday night.

In the rain. On homecoming. With the game on the line and a league title at stake.

Casillas barely made a 25-yarder with 2:21 remaining, but it gave Pomona a 17-14 Valle Vista League victory over Covina Northview. The Red Devils clinched a tie for their first league title since 1990 when they were in the Montview League.

“There was a lot of pressure,” said Casillas, a soccer player who only kicks for the football team. “I thought I was going to slip.”

Of his game-winner, he said, “It’s better than kicking a goal in soccer.”

Pomona (8-1, 4-0), which is ninth in the Southern Section Division IX poll, scored first on Mike Worrell’s three-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and led, 14-7, on Paul Thomas’ seven-yard run in the third. Thomas gained 77 yards in 25 carries and Worrell had 93 yards in 15.

Northview (7-2, 3-1), second in the division poll, outgained Pomona, 200 yards to 165.

The Vikings tied the score, 14-14, early in the fourth quarter with the game’s only pass completion, a 43-yarder from Danny Bonilla to Remington Hawkins. They had tied the score, 7-7, on Sean Houston’s seven-yard run.

-- Martin Henderson