Very long Beach Poly defeats Mission Viejo in a nail-biter

In the “other” large video game Friday night time, significant performs created the big difference for Lengthy Beach front Poly in a 35-30 appear-from-driving victory over host Mission Viejo. The Jackrabbits acquired redemption immediately after currently being confined to 161 whole yards in a 41-14 reduction on their dwelling field at the hands of the Diablos past 12 months.

Devin Samples scored the winning touchdown on an eight-property run with 21 seconds remaining. Mission Viejo moved from its possess 20 to the Poly 49 just before time ran out.

“Coach trusts me,” mentioned Samples, who rushed 23 situations for 86 yards. “Put the ball in my hands and I’ll do it. It was the similar simple run participate in we use — Iowa Code. I had to examine the blocks, but when I saw that cutback lane I understood I experienced it.”

Michael Selgado kicked a 25-garden field target to give the Diablos a two-level lead with 6:39 remaining and a blocked punt by Joseph Mendez gave Mission Viejo the ball at the Poly 14.

Having said that, the Jackrabbits’ protection stiffened and Selgado missed a 36-lawn try, providing Poly (3-) one particular last possibility.

Darius Curry located Jadyn Robinson crossing the aim line for a 16-property rating that gave Poly a 28-27 direct early in the fourth quarter.

Mission Viejo quarterback Kadin Semonza releases a move from Poly on Friday night time.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Periods)

The resilient Jackrabbits, No. 8 in The Times’ Leading 25 rankings, improved to 2-6 all-time compared to Mission Viejo, their other get a 21-16 quarterfinal upset on the way to the Pac-5 championship in 2012, the final of their 5 Southern Portion titles below Coach Raul Lara.

The initially massive participate in was a 56-lawn punt by Selgado that pinned Poly on its own 5-yard line. When the Diablos (2-1), rated fourth in the Southland by The Occasions, bought the ball back they drove 91 yards in 12 plays, scoring the game’s to start with landing on a one particular-garden plunge by Mendez on the second engage in of the second quarter.

Poly answered with an 8-perform, 63-lawn march capped by Curry’s 12-property attract. Following defensive close Domonic Lolesio tipped a Kadin Semonza screen move at the line of scrimmage, tackle Phoenix Tusa caught it out of the air and ran 12 yards into the end zone to give the Jackrabbits a 14-7 lead.

Mikey Matthews gathered in a 22-lawn landing go from Semonza to pull the Diablos even at 14-14, then Travis Anderson returned an interception 40 yards to set up a 4-yard touchdown operate by Chase Valousky to set Mission Viejo back on prime.

Selgado tacked on a 31-yard field target to boost the margin to 24-14 with 5 seconds left in the first 50 %.

“We weren’t fearful at all,” Samples stated. “We just experienced to execute the tiny issues.”

Anderson picked off his 2nd move together the sideline at the Diablos’ 15, but on the following generate Mission Viejo experienced to punt. Poly crept to inside of 24-21 on Curry’s 11-garden strike to Jason Robinson midway by the 3rd quarter. Even so, Mission Viejo answered suitable back with a 34-lawn area intention by Selgado on its ensuing possession.

If not for the epic showdown among No. 1 Santa Ana Mater Dei and No. 3 Corona Centennial using place 35 miles away, which was received handily by the Monarchs, it would have been the most hyped matchup of the week — and rightfully so. Right after all, the educational institutions have combined for 27 Southern Part titles in contrast to a overall of 22 for Mater Dei and Centennial.

“This feels fantastic,” Samples stated. “We received blown out by them final 12 months, but this is a new workforce.”

The eighth assembly between two of the winningest community college systems in Southern Segment annals proved as thrilling as the 1st in 2003 when long run USC and NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez handed the host Diablos to a 28-27 victory.

Not only did Poly avenge a stinging loss final fall, it recorded its 801st victory.

In accordance to Cal-Hello Athletics report publications, the Jackrabbits turned only the second crew in point out heritage to arrive at that plateau with a victory in excess of No. 24 Gardena Serra very last 7 days. Bakersfield attained 800 final time and entered the evening with 803 victories.

Poly, which opened in 1895 and fielded its 1st football team in 1908, has a very pleased historical past. It has received 20 Southern Section titles and the 1st state title in 1919. The Jackrabbits won a condition-report 82 consecutive league video games from 1994-09. Given that it opened in 1966, Mission Viejo has captured seven part titles and received the 2015 condition Division 1-AA bowl sport. The Diablos’ 41-game profitable streak from 2001-03 is the next-longest in Orange County heritage.