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BREA – Brea Olinda overcame the fourth-quarter surge of El Dorado on Friday night at Brea Olinda High to defeat the Golden Hawks, 35-28, and keep its hopes alive for winning the North Hills League championship.

If Brea Olinda (5-4, 2-0) can defeat El Modena (8-1, 2-0) in its final regular-season game, the Wildcats will claim the league title.

El Dorado (2-7, 0-2) was down 28-7 after three quarters, but the Hawks’ air attack came out firing in the fourth.

Junior quarterback Jack Strouse threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior Connor Leech to begin the quarter.

After a failed onside kick attempt, the El Dorado defense forced a three-and-out and gave the ball back to Strouse, who marched down the field in two plays. He connected with Leech for 35 yards and found senior Garrett Seiler for 29 more. Two plays later, Leech reached over a defender to secure Strouse’s pass for a 9-yard score.

However, the point after was blocked by Brea Olinda junior Austin Godges, who also had two sacks in the game.

The Wildcats led, 28-20, with eight minutes remaining.

The Golden Hawks were successful on their second onside kick attempt, with junior Nathan Jaquez recovering his own kick.

The offense marched 47 yards on eight plays, culminating in a 1-yard play action pass, Strause to Seiler. The Hawks also converted the two-point conversion – Strause to senior Chase Duffin – to tie it at 28.

El Dorado tried to strike gold one more time with an onside kick, but Brea Olinda recovered at the 50.

The Wildcat run game did it from their. Eight straight runs put them in the end zone with senior Noah Rivera punching it in for the 3-yard score. Rivera also converted a key third-and-11 on the drive with a 15-yard run.

El Dorado had 2:30 to try to tie it up, but four straight incomplete passes ended their chances.