Fans get their money’s worth as Brea Olinda rallies for thrilling 40-37 win over Sunny Hills

Brea-Olinda’s Roman Meraz makes a leaping catch of a 19-yard TD pass. Sunny Hills defenders are Jonah Martinez (13) and Joseph Roh (22). (Photo courtesy Jim McCormack for OC Sports Zone)

The sign on the ticket booth read adult admission was $16, which may seem high for a high school football game.

But anyone who bought a ticket Friday night got their money’s worth.

Host Brea-Olinda and Sunny Hills played one of those frantic high school football games that left everyone in the stadium … players … fans … coaches … officials … even photographers absolutely exhausted.

The contest wasn’t decided until the final 25 seconds when Brea Olinda senior running back Andrew Rubio bulldozed into the end zone from four yards out and then ran for a 2-point conversion to give the Wildcats a 40-37 victory. Brea Olinda improved its record to 2-0.

It was the fourth TD of the night for the 5-foot-7, 160-pound Rubio and was particularly rewarding after he missed the final four games of the spring season with an elbow injury.

“I’m happy to be back, and be with my QB Justus,” Rubio said.

Justus would be Wildcat quarterback, Justus Thongprahchanh, the unquestioned star of the Wildcat team as a three-year starter.

Thongprahchanh was as good as advertised Friday night, throwing for a touchdown and running for another. It was his skills that helped open things for Rubio, who ran 39 and 3 yards for scores in addition to his game-winner.

“Andrew’s amazing,” Thongprahchanh said. “Any time I give him the ball I know I can trust him to get the job done.”

“We had a hard time stopping them,” Sunny Hills Coach Pete Karavedas acknowledged. “They ran the ball effectively with that running back. He made some excellent cuts.”

In statistics provided to Maxpreps by the Wildcats on Sunday, Thongrahchanh completed 20 of 29 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown.

Justus also carried four times for 43 yards and one touchdown. Rubio carried 280 times for 210 yards and his four scores, all categories being career highs.

Although Sunny Hills came up short in this one, the Lancers battled to the last second.

They scored twice in the final 3:10 on the second quarter to lead 28-18 at halftime. With 3:10 to play Dylan Lawson caught a short pass from Max Spero on 4^th-and-3, broke a tackle and bolted into the end zone on a 21-yard play.

The Lancers had another opportunity when Tony Salas recovered a muffed punt with a minute left and David Mahood dove two yards for his third TD of the half. Mahood had earlier scored on runs of 19 and 18 yards.

The second half became a matter of perspective. Sunny Hills will see it as one of missed opportunities. Brea-Olinda’s view would be one of surviving mistakes.

Rubio scored three times in the second half while Sunny Hills was unable to fully capitalize on two interceptions by Miguel Barrios, Brea-Olinda’s defense kept the Lancers out of the end zone for the final 24 minutes.

The Lancers’ second-half scoring consisted of three field goals from their remarkable junior kicker, Mathias Brown. Brown had kicks of 31, 21 and 34 yards. His 34-yarder with 2:34 left, gave the Lancers a 37-32 lead and set the stage for Rubio’s final heorics.

For the Lancers, Mahood carried the ball 26 times for 139 yards and three scores. A junior, Mahood has now carried 100 times for 601 yards and seven TDs in four games for Sunny Hills.

Quarterback Max Spero was 14 of 24 for a season-high 156 yards, with one TD pass. His favorite target was Dylan Lawson, who caught eight passes for 106 yards and a TD.

On defense, Brea-Olinda received exceptional games from Aidan Arnold, Brock Labelle, Ryan Reagins and Jayden Muldown with 17, 12, 11 and 10 tackles respectively.

Sunny Hills defensive standouts included junior linebacker Tony Salas who recorded 12 stops and recovered a muffed punt. Safety Tony Salas had two interceptions and seven tackles.

Sunny Hills (2-2) wraps up its non-league schedule Friday with a game a Gahr. The Wildcats are on the road as well, playing at Fullerton. Both games begin at 7 p.m.

For earlier story and photo, please click here.

–Courtesy Jim McCormack for OC Sports Zone