IRVINE – Brethren Christian quarterback Conner Miller set the Orange County single-season touchdown record in dramatic fashion Thursday night.
Miller threw his fourth touchdown of the night, a 59-yard screen pass to Andrew Assaf with 44 seconds left in the game, to lift the Warriors to a 35-28 victory over Crean Lutheran in an Academy League game at Irvine High.
Miller now has 42 touchdown passes, surpassing the county record for a single season of 41. Conner Manning of El Toro had the previous record of 41 in 2011 and 2012.
Brethren Christian (7-2-1, 3-1) clinched a playoff berth with the victory.
Crean Lutheran (5-4, 1-2) has one more game left, next week at Sage Hill, and still has a shot at an at-large berth. The Saints are looking for their first playoff appearance in the sixth year of the program.
Miller spent the past two seasons at Yorba Linda before transferring to Brethren Christian this season.
“It means so much to me, especially coming into a new school,” Miller said. “Everyone was welcoming and they had my back from Day 1.”
Miller was especially excited the way he set the record.
“It all started with the line; they executed their blocks properly,” Miller said of the winning TD. “And then my running back Andrew Assaf took matters into his own hands and did a great job running down the field and breaking tackles.”
Miller passed for 214 yards and also rushed for 158 yards.
“It wasn’t easy, but to get it (the record) on a game-winner, I don’t know how you can top that,” said Brethren Christian coach Pat McInally. “It put us in the playoffs.”
Brethen Christian receiver Guy Demazeliere hauled in his 39th career TD, tying him with Jeremy Childs of Los Alamitos (2002-04) for the top spot on the county all-time list.
Miller connected with Demazeliere with 4:53 left in the second quarter to put the Warriors ahead, 14-7.
“Guy is one from breaking the record and we’re very proud of him,” McInally said.
Quarterback Paul Sardo led Crean Lutheran’s comeback in the second half with two touchdown runs. Sardo, who also threw two touchdown passes, scored on a 1-yard keeper with 7:21 left to help the Saints rally from a 28-14 deficit and tie it, 28-28.
Nick Ellwein had two TD catches for Crean Lutheran and had 13 catches on the night.
Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com
