HUNTINGTON BEACH – After building a two-touchdown halftime lead, Whittier Christian needed a last-ditch effort Thursday night to put the clamps on Brethren Christian’s rally.
Juan Carlos Reinis, helped by a gang of Whittier Christian tacklers, stopped quarterback Conner Miller just in front of the end zone and the Heralds secured a 36-33 nonleague football victory at Ocean View High.
Whittier Christian running back Nick Watase powered the Hearlds with 154 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Justin Osborn added 156 rushing yards to go with a touchdown run and TD catch.
After being outscored, 19-0, in the first 16 minutes of the second half, Whittier Christian (2-0) got a Cooper Hughes interception with 5:50 left in the fourth quarter that ignited a 10-play drive culminating in Watase’s 5-yard TD run and successful two-point conversion. That gave the Heralds the lead for good.
Down, 28-14, at halftime, Brethren Christian (1-1) scored on its first three possessions of the third quarter. The Warriors scored on a Guy Demazeliere touchdown reception and scoring runs from Miller and Andrew Assaf. The latter, a 12-yard scamper, put Brethren Christian up 33-28.
But with the Warriors threatening to score again, Whittier Christian’s Cooper Hughes intercepted a Miller pass at the 18-yard line. The Hearlds then marched 82 yards on 11 plays to secure the lead on Watase’s scoring run.
