Two high-powered offenses facing off on Homecoming night in a rivalry game had to mean fireworks, right? Even though the teams didn’t combine for 60 points or more, there were definitely fireworks when the Verdugo Hills Dons visited the Grant Lancers on Friday October 18. Big plays were in abundance, and the last defense to get a stop was the one standing, as the Dons were able to thwart some end of game trickery to come away with a hard-fought 27-24 victory over the Lancers.

Though both teams needed time to get their offense going, once they did it was a back and forth affair with each score. Grant struck first with a 22-yard field goal after the Dons defense stood fast deep in their own territory. Verdugo Hills, however, responded just 26 seconds later as Aiden Mejia took the end-around handoff and went 90 yards for a touchdown.

The Dons had an opportunity to add to their 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. They were inside the Grant 20-yard line when a bad snap set them back 17 yards. After another bad snap pushed them back a little more, Verdugo went for it on fourth and long, but the Lancers held their ground and got the ball back. Grant used the momentum from that stop to fuel their next drive, which was capped off with a 24-yard touchdown connection between two of their juniors. Quarterback Carson Rinka found Samuel Villagrana to give Grant the lead.

Verdugo Hills had an opportunity to tie the game a few minutes later, but their 38-yard field goal attempt was off target. The Dons, however, would take the lead with 39 seconds left in the first half. Mejia recorded the second of his three touchdown rushes on the night, this one a 29-yard run on a delayed handoff. The extra point attempt was partially blocked and the teams went into halftime with Verdugo Hills holding a 13-10 lead.

Both teams showed their second half defensive adjustments, with the third quarter remaining scoreless until the final two minutes. On that scoring drive, Grant received some big plays, but none were bigger than their 19-yard pass play on 4th and 9. Rinka connected with junior Liam Connolly on that play, and about one minute later Rinka scored from 1-yard out on a quarterback sneak to reestablish the lead for the Lancers. Rinka, despite facing pressure from the Verdugo Hills defensive line all game, finished with 231 passing yards on 14-25 passing, and two total touchdowns. 

Just like their response to the opening score of the game, Verdugo Hills was quick to answer back. Mejia received another end-around handoff that he broke for his third touchdown. The Dons super-sophomore took the handoff 59 yards down the sideline to recapture the lead for his team just 57 seconds after they had surrendered it. Mejia ended the night with 216 rushing yards on 11 carries, two receptions for 47 yards and three rushing touchdowns with one fumble lost.

The back-and-forth contest would continue with the Lancers reclaiming the lead on their next possession. Grant drove the length of the field and capitalized on a brief moment where the Dons defense lost sight of the football to score an unusual touchdown. With the ball inside the 5-yard line, the Lancers turned to their power running back Christian Guevara. Guevara took the handoff to the goal line where he lost control of the ball. Brandon Grates, who was lined up in the backfield next to Guevara as a leading blocker on the play, had the ball land at his feet in the end zone and picked it up for the touchdown. The ensuing extra point gave Grant a 24-20 lead.

This led to two drives at the end of the game that were dependent on a big defensive stop. For the Lancers, the Dons had worked their way to the Grant 5-yard line but the defense forced them into a 4th and goal to go situation. It was there Verdugo Hills dug into their bag of tricks, handing the ball off to Mejia on another end-around, but he gave the ball to Jordan Martin on a reverse. Martin was able to get to the outside and turn the corner for a 5-yard touchdown to give the Dons the lead with 1:11 left in the game.

It was now Verdugo Hills’ defenses turn to feel the pressure of a big moment. The kickoff following the touchdown went into the end zone for a touchback, giving the Lancers possession at their own 20-yard line. On the drive Rinka completed two big passes to put Grant at the Verdugo Hills 30-yard line with time running out in the game. First he found junior Sean Palomino on an out route for 10 yards. Then he connected with Villagrana on a 30-yard pitch and catch. 

The Lancers tried to pull out a little trickery of their own with a backwards skip pass play. The first attempt bounced past Juwain Tousant and went out of bounds. They tried the play again, and this time Tousant was able to field the ball and get off a pass attempt. Unfortunately for Grant, that pass fell short. Rinka’s fourth down desperation heave under pressure fell short and the Dons took possession of the ball on the turnover on downs. One kneel down from quarterback Jered Smith ran the rest of the time off the clock and Verdugo Hills came away with the victory.

The Lancers, now 4-4 overall and 2-3 in East Valley League play will try to rebound against the dangerous Arleta Mustangs on Friday night at Arleta. The Dons (6-2, 4-1) will host the Chavez Eagles on Friday night looking to extend their winning streak to three games.