SIMI VALLEY — Simi Valley’s season came down to the hands of a freshman.
While touchdowns were aplenty in Friday night’s CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoff football game between Simi Valley and La Habra, a defensive play by freshman Salvador Villa sealed the victory for the Pioneers.
Trailing by seven with 23 seconds left in the game, La Habra quarterback Kenneth Saucedo looked for his tight end Ulavai Fetuli in the end zone.
Saucedo already connected with Fetuli for two touchdowns in the first half, but this time around, Villa leaped alongside Fetuli and snatched the ball from him in midair.
It was the exclamation point on a defensive effort that saw Simi Valley hold La Habra to zero second-half points, finalizing a 41-34 Division 3 quarterfinal victory for the Pioneers.
“They were running the same play over and over. So I anticipated that they were going to throw a tight end pop because as you saw earlier they got me on that,” Villa said. “He goes for a flat, the other tight end comes from a drag, I just read it and be athletic right there and make a big play for my team.”
“In the first half they threw the touchdown to (Fetuli) in the corner and (Villa) was right on him. I think he learned and that wasn’t going to happen again,” Simi Valley head coach Jim Benkert said. “He made a great play, pulled the ball away. Give those guys some credit, that ball was thrown right on the money and Sal just made a great play.”
The first half featured an offensive spree by both teams, with eight touchdowns scored between them.
Saucedo had 147 rushing yards in the first half, including an 80-yard touchdown run that gave La Habra a 27-14 advantage.
Running backs Bobby Brooks and Kevika Martinez also scored rushing touchdowns in the first half for La Habra.
But Simi Valley’s defense was determined to shut down the run in the second half, and didn’t allow La Habra to get back on the scoreboard.
“We came out slow. They came out prepared. Coaches gave us a good halftime speech, told us to play like the team like we’ve been playing these 10 weeks,” Villa said about the defense’s second-half turnaround. “We came out fired up and prepared and just executed.”
Simi Valley quarterback Tagg Harrison led his team through the air, throwing for 310 yards and two touchdowns, including an 85-yard touchdown to Quentin McGahan that gave his team the lead down the stretch.
Harrison connected with five different receivers including Jayden Clarke who scored a 31-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
“We have so many weapons it’s so easy to spread the ball around. One week one guy is getting it, another week this guy is getting five touchdowns,” Harrison said. “It’s helpful to be able to put the ball in anyone’s hands it will work either way.”
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Coming off a five-touchdown performance in the first round of the playoffs last week, Simi Valley running back Brice Hawkins scored three rushing touchdowns.
The senior finished with 61 rushing yards and added 33 receiving yards.
Brooks finished with 160 rushing yards and Martinez had 64 rushing yards for La Habra.