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Dana Hills overcame a 20-point deficit to beat Aquinas of San Bernardino in a thrilling 27-26 win in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs Friday at Dana Hills High.
Aquinas (9-2) ran for a touchdown with under two minutes remaining in the game. The snap on the extra point sailed to the left and Dana Hills (10-1) held onto its one-point lead.
Carter Anderson threw three touchdown passes to Jack Norman for the Dolphins and one to Charlie “Chuck” Eckl.
Stephen Reda had an interception for Dana Hills and Thompson Foulger had an interception to seal the game in the final minute. Dana Hills will play Palos Verdes on the road in the quarterfinals next Friday.
In other playoff games Friday:
In Division 2:
San Clemente 38, Beaumont 21: Tritons quarterback Preston Beck threw four touchdown passes to Thomas Alexander in their win over visiting Beaumont.
San Clemente (7-4) trailed 14-0 in the first quarter but scored 24 unanswered points to take a 24-14 lead into halftime. Beck completed 11 of 18 passes for 200 yards. Alexander caught six passes for 134 yards with four touchdowns and had an interception with a fumble recovery on defense.
Carson Sloan ran for 82 yards with a touchdown. San Clemente’s defense forced six turnovers. Damian Martinez forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Dallas Martinez had an interception with a fumble recovery and Jaxson Rex added an interception.
San Clemente will play at Vista Murrieta in the quarterfinals next Friday.
Murrieta Valley 35, Corona del Mar 14: Corona del Mar’s season came to an end at the hands of top-seeded Murrieta Valley.
Brady Annett threw a touchdown pass to Garrett James and ran for another touchdown for Corona del Mar (9-2).
In Division 5:
Aliso Niguel 7, Millikan 6: Parker Comerford blocked a punt and Kaleo Elam returned it 30-yards for the lone touchdown of the game for Aliso Niguel.
Aliso Niguel (8-3) had three interceptions, two of which were in the red zone. Tate Fettig had an interception at the goal line and CJ Holland had an interception in the red zone. Carson Etnire had an interception in the final minute to seal the game. The interception was the fifth of the season for Etnire.
Corey Lewis had three sacks and three other tackles for a loss for the Wolverines. Aliso Niguel will host La Serna in the quarterfinals next Friday.
In Division 10:
St. Margaret’s 16, Redlands East Valley 15: Graham Holcomb and Reese Angelos had a tackle for a loss in the endzone for what ended up being the game-winning safety in the third quarter for St. Margaret’s.
Nathan Smith had an interception in the final minute to seal the game for St. Margaret’s (7-4). Sebastian Salazar returned an interception for a touchdown in the second quarter and ran for a touchdown.
St. Margaret’s will host Hillcrest of Riverside in the quarterfinals next Friday.
— Michael Huntley
In Division 4:
Villa Park 28, Westlake 24: Coy Collins rushed for 145 yards and three touchdowns and Maverick Declark recorded 3 1/2 sacks as the visiting Spartans (7-4) handed the Warriors (10-1) their first loss.
Cooper Nagele helped seal the victory with an interception with about 55 seconds left.
Collins powered the offense with 25 carries.
Quarterback Matt Smith completed 6 of 9 passes for 187 yards and a score.
Next week, Villa Park plays host to Great Oak, which beat Cajon 38-15. The quarterfinal will be played at El Modena High on Friday, Nov. 14.
In Division 6:
Orange Vista 50, El Toro 31: Makya Chee rushed for more than 200 yards for the visiting Chargers (6-5).
El Toro tailed 30-17 going into the fourth quarter.
The Chargers, the Iota League runner-up to Troy, climbed one playoff division from last season but lost in the first round for the second consecutive year.
In Division 8:
Beckman 41, La Mirada 21: The visiting Patriots (8-3) led 31-21 going into the fourth quarter and collected a seventh consecutive win to reach the quarterfinals.
Makhi Czaykowski, Noah Nam, Julian Rosa, Sawyer Nickelson and Aidan Tran each reached the end zone for Beckman.
The Lambda League champion will play host to league foe Fullerton next week at Tustin High.
In league, Beckman beat Fullerton 34-14.
The Indians opened the playoffs by defeating La Quinta of La Quinta 38-21 on Thursday.
In Division 13:
Saddleback 21, Pacific 17: Andre Scott threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Andrik Valenzuela with 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter to lift the top-seeded and host Roadrunners (9-2).
Saddleback won its first playoff game since 2006.
Next week, the Roadrunners play at Santa Rosa Academy in Wildomar, which beat Heritage 35-21 in the first round.
Woodbridge 28, Desert Hot Springs 13: The Warriors (3-8) scored 15 points in the fourth quarter at University High to reach the quarterfinals.
The score was tied 13-13 at halftime.
Kayjahn Pitts scored on a go-ahead, 1-yard touchdown run with 3:35 left in the fourth quarter.
Makai Davis helped set up the score with an interception.
Next week, Woodbridge will play host to Omicron League foe Buena Park in the quarterfinals at University.
In league, Buena Park defeated Woodbridge 22-14.
Buena Park 42, Nordhoff 40: The visiting Coyotes (6-5) edged the Rangers (8-3) to advance to the quarterfinals.
— Dan Albano