Scripps Ranch led by 23 points with 2:50 left in their home game Friday evening against La Jolla Country Day.
However, the Torreys would not give up.
In fact, the game would go down to the very last play before Scripps Ranch held on for a 43-35 win to continue its perfect season.
La Jolla Country Day simply wouldn’t quit. Junior quarterback Jett Astephen, who replaced senior Jack Levin, led a six-play, 67-yard drive to cut the lead down to 15 with a successful two-point conversion.
Then, after a fumble by Falcons running back Tristan Reyna, La Jolla Country Day was back on the field with 90 seconds left.
Astephen, who completed 10 of 14 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns on the final three drives, was able to find junior wide receiver Quentin Cesaire again for a touchdown from 20 yards out to cut the lead down to eight with 28 seconds left.
The Torreys’ momentum continued as they recovered the onside kick to set up a potential game-tying drive and force overtime.
After an incomplete pass, Astephen found juniors Jordan Hochberg and Hesh Hertz for 18 and 12 yards, respectively in between a spike to stop the clock at eight seconds.
Then, Hochberg and Hertz combined on a hook-and-lateral that set up the final play with three seconds left from 17 yards out.
Astephen heaved it into the end zone. However, it was caught by Falcons junior Rex Theilacker for Scripps Ranch to hold on for the win.
“Four-and-oh and frustrated,” Falcons head coach Marlon Gardinera said after the game. “They’re capable of more. They keep leaving teams in games when they have a chance to close them out. So, in terms of making progress, we’re not making enough.”
In addition to leading by 23 points, the Falcons jumped out to a 16-0 lead and also had a 29-14 lead after Scripps Ranch senior Ryan Stadtherr scored a 3-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the second half.
Overall, the Falcons had 165 of their 344 yards come on the ground with Stadtherr having 111 yards on 17 carries with four touchdowns. Stadtherr had three touchdowns in the second half, alone, including punching it in from a yard out to give Scripps Ranch a 36-20 lead with 3:35 in the game.
Gardinera said the running backs – Stadtherr, Reyna and junior Ben Wellons – continue to be the strength of the team.
“Right now, it’s the best thing we do,” Gardinera said. “We line a lot of guys up and we just play bully football. It’s nice to have three guys that can do it. It’s nice to have Ryan Stadtherr plowing ahead. But even on the running backs, that fumble at the end changed everything. So even what we do our best, we have to get better.
“Got to give it up to La Jolla Country Day today. They never gave up. They just kept going and kept going.”
Cesaire led the way in the air attack for the Torreys with 10 receptions for 160 yards and three touchdowns.
Levin completed 20 of 26 passes for 209 yards with two touchdowns, an interception and two fumbles before Astephen came in.
Next week, La Jolla Country Day hosts Escondido Charter while Scripps Ranch hosts Castle Park. It is the final non-league game for both the Torreys and the Falcons before Coastal and City Eastern League play begins, respectively.
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Scripps Ranch 43, La Jolla Country Day 35
LJCD — 7 0 7 21 — 35
SR – 16 0 7 21 — 43
S – Barajas 24 pass from Armstrong (Stadtherr pass from Tschirn)
S – Stadtherr 2 run (Henderson pass from Tschirn)
L – Patton 55 interception return (Ward kick)
S – Stadtherr 3 run (pass failed)
L – Matanza 48 pass from Levin (Ward kick)
S – Stadtherr 5 run (Meltzer kick)
L – Cesaire 33 pass from Levin (kick failed)
S – Stadtherr 1 run (Meltzer kick)
S – Wellons 54 fumble return (Meltzer kick)
L – Cesaire 28 pass from Astephen (Cesaire pass from Astephen)
L – Cesaire 20 pass from Astephen (Ward kick)
Originally Published: