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Senior Dylan Fingersh booted a 42-yard field goal as time expired to lift Capistrano Valley’s football team past Downey 37-34 in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs Friday.
The sixth-seeded Cougars (8-3), who played host to their first postseason game since 2018, scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to rally from a 27-20 deficit against the Vikings (8-3).
Tommy Acosta passed for three touchdowns and also rushed for 101 yards and two scores.
Linebacker Jackson Sievers, a UC Davis commit, led the Cougars’ defense with 15 total tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Capistrano Valley advanced to face Culver City, which beat Ayala 38-28, in the quarterfinals next week. Culver City will be the host team.
Also in Division 4:
Yorba Linda 34, Moorpark 30: The host Mustangs (8-3) erupted for 21 points in the fourth quarter to rally past the Musketeers (9-2).
Yorba Linda, the eighth seed, trailed 27-13 entering the fourth quarter before sprinting to the finish.
Quarterback Holden Nagin completed 13 of 22 passes for 301 yards and five TDs.
His top target was again Dylan Gardner, who had six catches for 157 yards and two scores.
The Mustangs will face top-seeded Loyola, a 35-7 winner against Norte Vista of Riverside, in the quarterfinals next week.
Yorba Linda, the reigning Division 3 champion, will be the home team.
In Division 5:
Western 42, Colony 14: The visiting Pioneers (10-1) avenged a loss in the 2021 playoffs to the Colony (7-4) by posting an impressive victory on the road.
Two seasons ago, Colony beat Western 52-27 in Anaheim in the first round of the Division 9 playoffs.
“Big win for our program responding from them beating us up two years ago,” Western coach Dan Davidson said.
Juniors Malachi Alatorre and Johannes Klein returned interceptions for touchdowns to lead the Pioneers’ defense.
Anthony Luna paced the offense with three touchdown passes while Joshua Faulkner rushed for 102 yards and scored two TDs.
Western advanced to play Apple Valley, a 35-32 winner against Hesperia, in the quarterfinals next week. The Pioneers, who have won an Orange County-leading 10 consecutive games, will be the host team.
In Division 6:
Huntington Beach 29, Glendora 21: The host Oilers (5-6) posted their first postseason victory since 2013 to advance to the quarterfinals next week.
Freshman quarterback Brady Edmunds completed 13 of 22 passes for 274 yards and two TDs and also rushed for a score for Huntington Beach.
His top target was Hunter Gray, who collected seven receptions for 164 yards and two scores.
Tyler Young added 93 yards on 23 carries and scored a touchdown and 2-point conversion.
Huntington Beach, an at-large team from the Sunset League, advance to play top-seeded Ontario Christian, which beat Dana Hills 45-13. The Oilers will be the home team.
Crean Lutheran 37, Hart 21: Justin Dominguez rushed for 192 yards and scored three TDs and Ben Byszewski intercepted two passes and added five receptions to help lead the visiting Saints (8-3) into the quarterfinals.
Linebacker Carter Jones racked up 13 tackles and added an interception.
Crean Lutheran, the third-place team from the Empire League, will next meet Simi Valley, which beat Rancho Verde 40-34.
Simi Valley will be the home team as the Saints will make their second consecutive long bus trip.
La Habra 41, West Ranch 21: The host Highlanders (7-4) scored at least 40 points for the fourth consecutive game to reach the quarterfinals.
Next week, La Habra will play host to Murrieta Mesa (5-6), which knocked off reigning state champion Laguna Hills 45-14.
In Division 2:
Servite 48, Valencia of Valencia 24: Junior running back Quaid Carr scored three touchdowns, including runs of 58 and 67 yards in the fourth quarter, to lead the Friars (6-5) at Cerritos College.
Senior tight end Aidan O’Callaghan added two touchdowns and senior safety Beau Jako had two interceptions.
Servite advanced to the quarterfinals to play No. 2 Long Beach Poly, a 30-21 winner against Vista Murrieta. The Friars will be the host team at Cerritos College.
— Dan Albano
In Division 8:
Aliso Niguel 28, Lawndale 7: Aliso Niguel ran for 190 yards with three touchdowns in its first playoff win since 2019.
Quarterback Hunter Najm ran for 78 yards with two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass. Jar ett Sabol ran for 64 yards with a touchdown for Aliso Niguel (7-4).
Sophomore Finley Torrico had a touchdown reception. Raidon Jones led the Wolverines’ defense. Aliso Niguel will play at Jurupa Hills in the second round of the Division 8 playoffs.
In Division 9:
Orange 19, Diamond Bar 12: Hype Grand threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in Orange’s win over Diamond Bar in the Division 9 playoffs.
The junior quarterback ran for 102 yards with a touchdown and threw for 99 yards with two touchdowns. Ardwon Morris ran for 120 yards on 21 carries for Orange (7-4).
Wesley Lundell had all 99 receiving yards for Orange with two touchdowns. The Panthers will host Rio Hondo Prep in round two.
Sonora 35, Rancho Mirage 34, OT: Anthony Abad ran for four touchdowns in Sonora’s overtime win in the first round of the Division 9 playoffs.
The junior scored the game-tying touchdown in overtime. Landon Martin threw a pass to Tyler Robertson to complete the 2-point conversion to win the game. Martin also ran for a touchdown.
Abad finished with 209 yards on 32 carries three catches for 31 yards.
Sonora (9-2) will host Vista del Lago in the second round.
Troy 41, Monrovia 28: Ethan Mundt ran for 181 yards with four touchdowns for Troy in a win over Monrovia in the first round of the Division 9 playoffs.
The sophomore also had seven tackles on defense with an interception. Declan Healey had a touchdown run and reception for Troy (7-4). Friday was the first home playoff game for Troy since 2006.
Troy will host Santa Monica in the second round.
In Division 10:
Beckman 14, Capistrano Valley Christian 9: Austin Shepard had a touchdown pass and ran for a touchdown in Beckman’s win over Capistrano Valley Christian at Tesoro High.
The senior quarterback threw the go-ahead touchdown pass to Dominic Thompson late in the second quarter.
JP Synnott ran for a 52-yard touchdown on a fake punt for Capistrano Valley Christian (8-2).
Beckman (9-2) will host West Covina in the second round of the Division 10 playoffs.
Kennedy 28, Crescenta Valley 14: Devin Almazan threw for 169 yards with three touchdowns in Kennedy’s first round win over Crescenta Valley.
Rider Street ran for 115 yards on 16 carries. John Bivens had a receiving touchdown, an interception and a fumble recovery for Kennedy (7-4).
Kennedy’s defense held Crescenta Valley under 200 yards of total offense. Tomasi Togia had a forced fumble and Deon Bynum had a big game at cornerback. The Fighting Irish will play Xavier Prep in round two.
In Division 11:
Westminster 21, Schurr 10: Westminster had three rushing touchdowns in a win over Schurr.
Jason Mejia had two touchdowns and Ezekiel Cedillo added one. Edwin Hopkins had seven tackles with a fumble recovery. Kiso Logoleo had four tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack.
Westminster (8-3) will host Cantwell-Sacred Heart in round two.
In Division 12:
Buena Park 62, Arroyo Valley 30: Jaden Moore ran for 262 yards with three touchdowns and added a receiving touchdown for Buena Park (6-5).
Danny Washington ran for 88 yards with a rushing and receiving touchdown. Lacey Saxton threw three touchdown passes. Raheem Moorehead had a receiving touchdown and Aaron Rodriguez added a rushing touchdown.
Anthony Irons had eight tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown. Jeron Johnson had eight tackles with an interception. Leonardo Martinez had seven tackles with a forced fumble and returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Buena Park will play at Yucca Valley in the second round.
In Division 13:
Los Amigos 28, San Gabriel 20: Maysen Navarro threw two touchdown passes and added a rushing touchdown for Los Amigos in a first round win over San Gabriel.
Pedro Hernandez ran for 145 yards with two touchdowns. Chris Flores led the team in receiving and had a touchdown.
Rocco Rivera led the Los Amigos (7-4) defense with 12 tackles and an interception.
Los Amigos will host Walnut in the second round.
In Division 14:
Ocean View 35, Bolsa Grande 28: William Pardue IV ran for 217 yards with three rushing touchdowns for Ocean View in a win over Bolsa Grande.
Jayden Trujillo ran for 128 yards with two touchdowns for Ocean View (6-5). The offensive line of Zach Wojtasek, Randy Leal, Elijah Armenta, Emmanuel Cantoran and Pedro Maldonado led the Seahawks to 370 rushing yards.
David Nguyen and Ethan Nguyen each ran for touchdowns for Bolsa Grande (6-5). Ethan Nguyen also threw two touchdown passes to Marc Navarro and Eddie Zarate.
Ocean View will host Bell Gardens in the second round.
— Michael Huntley
