2008 Woodie Awards
Football team makes Verison bowl
By: David Scarpero
Issue date: 11/20/03 Section: Sports
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Outside linebacker Jamal Gatlin said the team wanted to play well in front of the homecoming crowd.
"Coach Featherstone said, 'If you come off the field thinking you could have given more, then you didn't help out the team.' We were just strategizing and blitzing them."
In the second half, Santa Ana struck first on a touchdown pass, but that was all they could score.
EC dominates in 2nd half
When the thunderstorm hit the EC campus about 8 p.m., it was also raining passes from Engle.
Engle threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to tailback Mafua Leilua for a 28-12 lead, then on the next drive he hit wide receiver Joe Kensey on a post pattern for another score.
"I just beat the safety," Kensey said of his 56-yard touchdown. "He tried to come up and bump me, but didn't get a good jam. I got wide open, the quarterback saw me and I got six (points)."
In the fourth quarter, Leilua, who had 14 carries for 66 yards, ran the ball in for another score.
"We just had fun for the last home game and put it all out on the field," Leilua said.
The last touchdown came when Nick Emmons found Payne for a 7-yard touchdown.
Warriors lose at Saddleback
With two losses, the Warriors had to beat Saddleback to keep their playoff hopes alive. But a tough loss took them out of the playoffs.
EC's offense was unable to move the ball, gaining only 175 yards vs. Saddleback's 343.
Engle completed 21 of 37 passes for 152 yards, but was sacked five times. The Warriors' touchdown came on Keith Ellison's 50-yard interception, his fifth of the season.
The outcome might have been different if a key play had gone in the Warriors' favor.
With the score 7-7, defensive back Clavens Charles stopped Saddleback quarterback Brock Farrel just short of the goal line. But the referee ruled Farrel touched the pylon with the ball, giving Saddleback the winning touchdown.
Engle led the Mission Conference in passing this season. He completed 193 of 313 passes for 21 touchdowns and 2,478 yards, with eight interceptions. His completion percentage was .617 for an average of 247.8 yards per game.
Engle said missing the playoffs was disappointing, but the team is focusing on its accomplishments.
"A couple of breaks here and there and we would be in the playoffs," he said. "We will focus on what a great season it's been and next year will be fun."
"Coach Featherstone said, 'If you come off the field thinking you could have given more, then you didn't help out the team.' We were just strategizing and blitzing them."
In the second half, Santa Ana struck first on a touchdown pass, but that was all they could score.
EC dominates in 2nd half
When the thunderstorm hit the EC campus about 8 p.m., it was also raining passes from Engle.
Engle threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to tailback Mafua Leilua for a 28-12 lead, then on the next drive he hit wide receiver Joe Kensey on a post pattern for another score.
"I just beat the safety," Kensey said of his 56-yard touchdown. "He tried to come up and bump me, but didn't get a good jam. I got wide open, the quarterback saw me and I got six (points)."
In the fourth quarter, Leilua, who had 14 carries for 66 yards, ran the ball in for another score.
"We just had fun for the last home game and put it all out on the field," Leilua said.
The last touchdown came when Nick Emmons found Payne for a 7-yard touchdown.
Warriors lose at Saddleback
With two losses, the Warriors had to beat Saddleback to keep their playoff hopes alive. But a tough loss took them out of the playoffs.
EC's offense was unable to move the ball, gaining only 175 yards vs. Saddleback's 343.
Engle completed 21 of 37 passes for 152 yards, but was sacked five times. The Warriors' touchdown came on Keith Ellison's 50-yard interception, his fifth of the season.
The outcome might have been different if a key play had gone in the Warriors' favor.
With the score 7-7, defensive back Clavens Charles stopped Saddleback quarterback Brock Farrel just short of the goal line. But the referee ruled Farrel touched the pylon with the ball, giving Saddleback the winning touchdown.
Engle led the Mission Conference in passing this season. He completed 193 of 313 passes for 21 touchdowns and 2,478 yards, with eight interceptions. His completion percentage was .617 for an average of 247.8 yards per game.
Engle said missing the playoffs was disappointing, but the team is focusing on its accomplishments.
"A couple of breaks here and there and we would be in the playoffs," he said. "We will focus on what a great season it's been and next year will be fun."