With eight seconds left, San Diego High School stood at the University City 32-yard line trailing by five points. At stake Friday night: the Cavers’ perfect record in the Eastern League.
Jayden Harris took the snap, rolled right and threw up a prayer. Although the ball fell short at the 2-yard line, the ball was tipped and right into the arms of San Diego receiver Delontay Williams, who ran into the end zone to give the Cavers a walk-off 40-39 victory at University City.
“When I saw it get tipped in the air, I was like, ‘I got to go get it if we want to win,’” said Williams, who recorded five receptions for 140 yards and three touchdowns.
During the final drive, which San Diego (4-4, 3-0 Eastern League) started with 46 seconds left from their own 31-yard line, Williams found Harris for 20 yards and Kye Cooper for 17, one play before the game-winner.
“We went all verts on that one,” Harris said on the final play. “I had to give my brother a shot, and I knew he was going to come down with it. I put all my trust in my brothers.”
Overall, Harris completed 18 of 28 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns.
University City (4-4, 1-2 Eastern League) controlled much of the second half, including retaking a five-point lead before San Diego scored on the final play. On that drive, which lasted 50 seconds, Centurions quarterback Thomas Dietrich, who completed 15 of 21 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns, found Deshaun Hille for 32 yards to get the drive going.
Then Dietrich aired it out to Decklan Houston and Dj Ferguson for 15 and 16 yards, respectively. That set up first-and-goal at the 3-yard line for Dietrich to go back to Houston for the touchdown but could not hook up on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt.
“UC played a tremendous game from start to finish,” San Diego coach Stephen Cooper said. “I know it was Senior Night for them, so I know they are distraught. But at the end of the day, we tip our hats off to UC playing a competitive game.”
Overall, Hille paced the Centurions offense with 30 carries for 175 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 38 yards for 200 total yards of offense.
The Cavers and the Centurions went back and forth in the first half, until Houston stepped up defensively.
Late in the second quarter, the Cavers charged down the field and got into the red zone. However, on fourth-and-12, Harris threw the ball over the middle right into Houston’s arms, who returned it 95 yards for the pick-six, marking a Senior night where he scored on offense and defense for UC to take a 27-20 lead at halftime.
Next week, San Diego returns home to host La Jolla while the UC travels to Scripps Ranch.