Last-Minute Field Goal Lifts Esperanza to Win

Sophomore kicker Nick Benvenuto, playing in his first varsity game, kicked a 22-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining that lifted Anaheim Esperanza to a 30-27 victory over West Covina South Hills in a nonleague season opener for both teams Saturday night at Covina District Stadium.

Charles Neal set up the game-winning kick with a 55-yard kickoff return moments after South Hills had tied the score, 27-27, on a 24-yard field goal by Kyle Peterson with 1 minute 30 seconds to play.

There were four lead changes and a tie in the second half, including two lead changes in the fourth quarter, before Esperanza, a Southern Section Division I stalwart, escaped from Division VII power South Hills.

“This was surprising because we expected to run all over them,” said Esperanza running back Rocky Taloa, who had 303 yards and two touchdowns in 28 carries.

Esperanza’s split wing-t offense gained 385 yards, 354 rushing. South Hills lost quarterback Kevin Mort to a leg injury in the second quarter, but running back Marquies Winbush ran for 230 yards and two touchdowns in 22 carries. Mort returned for the final series and threw incomplete passes on the last two plays.

Esperanza led, 13-3, at halftime, but South Hills took a 17-13 lead when it scored twice in the first 1:41 of the second half. One of those scores was a 55-yard touchdown run by Winbush.

But Taloa was the difference for Esperanza. He had touchdown runs of 13 and 12 yards in the second half, both of which gave Esperanza a lead.

-- Peter Yoon

Los Angeles Verbum Dei 36, Los Angeles Jordan 35 -- Quarterback Jerry Jackson was tackled inches short of the end zone on a two-point conversion attempt with 12 seconds left, preserving Verbum Dei’s dramatic intersectional victory at Lawndale.

Jackson had given Jordan a chance for victory by connecting with Carell Johnson on a 20-yard touchdown pass one play earlier.

Junior quarterback Curtis Wilson of Verbum Dei completed 14 of 20 passes for 246 yards and five touchdowns. Junior receiver Akeem Ayers caught seven passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns.

Johnson contributed an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and teammate Ricky Thenarse had a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown.

-- Eric Sondheimer