ORANGE – A big gamble paid off for Canyon in a key North Hills League game on Thursday night, and the Comanches came away with a 22-21 overtime victory over Brea Olinda at El Modena High School.
The victory gives the Comanches (3-6, 2-0) at least a share of first place and and a berth in the Southern Division playoffs with one game remaining.
The Wildcats (4-5, 1-1) will need to win their last game, next week against El Dorado, to have a chance to reach the playoffs.
The Wildcats were in a position to win the game in regulation when Nick Drury connected with Matt Christ on a game-tying, 24-yard touchdown pass with 38 seconds left in the fouth quarter.
But Canyon’s Noah Fairyniaz blocked the potential winning extra point, and the game went to overtime.
Brea Olinda took possession first and needed just one play for Drury to connect with Noah Rivera for a 25-yard touchdown and a 21-14 lead.
Canyon took possession and scored on an 8-yard pass from Jason Harmon to Trace Hobbs.
Instead of kicking the extra point and sending the game into a second overtime round, the Camonches went for the two-point conversion. Harmon passed to Noah White, ending the game.
Harmon completed 18 of 28 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 98 yards on 17 carries.
Canyon took a 14-0 first-quarter lead on a 29-yard pass from Harmon to Charlie Treanor and a 7-yard scoring pass from Harmon to Daniel Casas.
Contact the writer: lponsi@ocregister.com
