PHOTOS: Sunny Hills holds on and wins an overtime thriller over Trabuco Hills 41-34

Jun Ahn scores the first of his three TDs on a 19-yard first-quarter run for Sunny Hills. The blocker is Brian Chang (77). (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone)

In a game that was played on a field 100 yards long, it was inches that decided the outcome as visiting Sunny Hills prevailed 41-34 over Trabuco Hills Friday night in a contest that left everyone exhausted and half the participants elated and half devastated.

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Sunny Hills’ workhorse tailback Jun Ahn powered over the left side from seven yards out on the Lancers’ first series in overtime for what was the deciding score but, as been the case much of the night, the on-field drama at Trabuco Hills was far from over.

Trabuco Hills had an opportunity to match that score but got only five yards on its first three plays and faced 4^th-and-5 when it gave the ball to incredible sophomore running back Drew Barrett.

The 5-8, 190-pound Barrett, who rushed for more than 230 yards and three scores, powered up the middle for about four yards, two feet, 10 inches.

It took nearly five minutes to determine the result of Barrett’s heroics as officials meticulously set up the crucial measurement and when the results were in … two inches short of a first down … the Sunny Hills’ sideline erupted in jubilation, an emotion that was counter balanced by the despair on the Trabuco Hills’ side.

That ruling wasn’t the game’s only dramatic pause. After Sunny Hills’ Vince Silva’s six-yard run on 4^th-and-1 tied the score with 3:49 to play, Trabuco Hills drove to the Sunny Hills’ 13 to position for a game-winning 30-yard field goal.

Trabuco Hills coach Mark Nolan let the clock run down to 0.09 seconds before calling time-out and sent in his field goal team. Sunny Hills coach Peter  Karavedas called his final time-out before the kick was attempted.

Once again, the pause … the kick was high enough and long enough working toward the left upright. Time was suspended momentarily waiting for the officials’ call.

The call: wide left.

“I couldn’t tell,” Karavedas said. “It couldn’t have missed by more than inches.”

Trabuco Hills won the overtime toss and chose defense. Sunny Hills drove to its touchdown in four plays and then made the game-deciding defensive stand.

Sunny Hills jumped out to a 21-7 second-quarter lead on touchdown runs by Ahn (19 yards) and Silva (48, 62 yards) but an interception by Trabuco Hills Leo Baker flipped the momentum and Trabuco Hills tied the score on a long touchdown reception by Dylan Hagen and a short TD run by Barrett before Luke Duxbury’s 19-yard pass to Ahn with seven seconds remaining gave the Lancers a 27-21 lead at the half.

Trabuco Hills dominated the third quarter, consuming more than eight minutes and converting four 4^th-down plays, tying the score on a 4-yard Barrett run.

The Mustangs took the lead moments later after recovering a Sunny Hills’ fumble at the 5. The Mustangs took a 34-27 lead on Jason Smaler’s 4-yard, 4^th-down, pass to Alex Huddleston.  The last three scores in regulation were on 4^th down.

Sunny Hills (4-1), ranked fourth in Division 8, opens Freeway League action Friday against Sonora at La Habra High. Trabuco Hills (3-3), ranked fith in Division 8, begins Sea View League play hosting San Juan Hills.

RELATED: Early photo and game report on Sunny Hills-Trabuco Hills

–Courtesy Jim McCormack for OC Sports Zone