2008 Woodie Awards
Gridiron squad captures bowl victory
By: David Scarpero
Issue date: 12/4/03 Section: Sports
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If momentum is important in football games, then the Warriors had just enough left to beat the Chaffey Panthers 21-14, in the Southern California Verizon Bowl at Chaffey College Nov. 22.
The Warriors (8-3) gained all the momentum on the opening play of the second half. After the Panthers (8-3) fumbled the kickoff, Paul McCalope scooped the ball up on the 19-yard line and crossed the goal line to give EC an imposing 21-7 lead.
But then Chaffey regained the momentum with a touchdown several plays later for a 21-14 score.
The Warriors seemed in control, but Chaffey advanced to the EC 12-yard line with 12 seconds left.
After three incomplete passes, Chaffey had one more try with just 0.5 seconds left in the game.
Panther quarterback Nick Davila threw the ball into the right corner of the end zone, but EC defensive back Clavens Charles batted the ball away.
"They checked on the opposite side to make me feel the ball was going that way," Charles said. "But they threw it back toward me and I just jumped up and knocked it down."
The EC bench celebrated in wild jubilation after the last play.
"We just wanted to keep them out of the end zone," safety Keith Ellison said. "I can't explain it, but as hard as I played today this is a great feeling."
Coach John Featherstone said the team had a special reason to win.
"On those last four plays, all I did was look at Coach Pete (Fred Petersen) retiring after 50 years in football, and prayed, 'God, please let that man win the last football game of his career.' "
Petersen said, "The win was a good way to go out, because this is a great bunch of kids and that makes it all worthwhile."
The Warriors struck first on a 5-yard plunge by running back Mafua Leilua, who gained 87 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns.
After Chaffey scored a touchdown, Leilua scored again from the 3.
Then McCalope returned the fumble on the second-half kickoff for a completely unexpected Warriors touchdown.
The Warriors (8-3) gained all the momentum on the opening play of the second half. After the Panthers (8-3) fumbled the kickoff, Paul McCalope scooped the ball up on the 19-yard line and crossed the goal line to give EC an imposing 21-7 lead.
But then Chaffey regained the momentum with a touchdown several plays later for a 21-14 score.
The Warriors seemed in control, but Chaffey advanced to the EC 12-yard line with 12 seconds left.
After three incomplete passes, Chaffey had one more try with just 0.5 seconds left in the game.
Panther quarterback Nick Davila threw the ball into the right corner of the end zone, but EC defensive back Clavens Charles batted the ball away.
"They checked on the opposite side to make me feel the ball was going that way," Charles said. "But they threw it back toward me and I just jumped up and knocked it down."
The EC bench celebrated in wild jubilation after the last play.
"We just wanted to keep them out of the end zone," safety Keith Ellison said. "I can't explain it, but as hard as I played today this is a great feeling."
Coach John Featherstone said the team had a special reason to win.
"On those last four plays, all I did was look at Coach Pete (Fred Petersen) retiring after 50 years in football, and prayed, 'God, please let that man win the last football game of his career.' "
Petersen said, "The win was a good way to go out, because this is a great bunch of kids and that makes it all worthwhile."
The Warriors struck first on a 5-yard plunge by running back Mafua Leilua, who gained 87 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns.
After Chaffey scored a touchdown, Leilua scored again from the 3.
Then McCalope returned the fumble on the second-half kickoff for a completely unexpected Warriors touchdown.