Mission Hills played keep way, controlling the ball for 34 plays to 8 in the second half, and the strategy almost worked, until Lincoln scored an overtime touchdown to win the Open Division semifinal playoff, 13-7.
It won’t be the Hornets’ touchdown that will be remembered.
Mission Hills’ Giovanni Hart, who battled the Lincoln defense, grinding out 129 yards in 30 carries, broke away at left tackle from Lincoln’s 25-yard line on the Grizzlies’ first play in extra minutes.
“Hart was carrying the ball in his left hand and it appeared that the ball broke the plane of the goal line,” wrote The San Diego Union’s Don Norcross, whose view was from the Southwestern College press box.
Trailing Lincoln linebacker Noko Ta’a punched the ball out of Hart’s hand at the goal line. A nearby official ruled fumble.
Since the ball rolled out of the end zone the play became a touchback and Lincoln took possession.
Grizzlies’ coach Chris Hauser was outraged, but not as vocal as a middle-aged-elderly Mission Hills supporter who came out of the stands after the game, which ended with the Hornets’ Aden Jackson scoring on a 16-yard touchdown run late in the first overtime.
The Grizzlies’ fan/parent/relative chased game officials as they made their way to the lockerroom.
Unsuccessful, the Mission Hills rooter engaged a Lincoln adult and then was approached by a Lincoln school principal. The diminutive lady repeatedly pushed the aggressor away before he finally left, spewing profanities.
IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY
Three generations of Cotas were on hand when St. Augustine, 1-10, defeated 10-0 Holtville, 10-6, in the Division III quarterfinals.
Ron Cota, all-San Diego Section linebacker/center for St. Augustine in 1960, traveled with his son, Stephen, all-San Diego Section linebacker for Point Loma’s 13-0 championship squad in 1987.
After a comfort break in Jacumba, father and son finished the 125-mile jaunt to the Imperial Valley and cold and windy Holtville to watch Stephen, Jr., and his teammates continue their surprising postseason run.
“It was a great high school experience for my son and for me and his grandfather,” said Stephen. “Seemed like the whole town turned out.”
Full disclosure: Holtville had been moved from Division V to D-III. The Saints had played a major, D-I schedule as a member of the powerful Western League.
