Sunny Hills football scores in final seconds to stun Marina

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

WESTMINSTER — One of the steadiest performers in the Lambda League faced off against one of the most improved football teams in the league Thursday.

George Shelledy and Sunny Hills’ defense made sure the Lancers’ turnaround continued.

The running back scored on a well-executed 25-yard screen pass with 13 seconds left in regulation to help lift resurgent Sunny Hills to a 28-21 victory in the teams’ league opener at Westminster High.

Sunny Hills (5-1, 1-0), which finished 2-8 last season, sealed the victory with a sack near the Marina 25 on the final play before wildly celebrating with second-year coach Fred Gambrell.

Marina (4-2, 0-1) earned a share of the league title last fall.

“(I’m) extremely proud,” Gambrell said. “Marina is a really good team. (Coach) Charlie (TeGantvoort) has a done a great job here. He’s built a great program (but I’m) not surprised (by the win) because of the work these guys have put it.”

Shelledy scored on third-and-5 play to cap a 70-yard scoring drive led by quarterback Mikeal Khan in the final 2:34 of the fourth quarter. The senior connected with Sandle and Tyler Kim for key completions on the march.

Marina tied the score 21-21 on a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Francis Saporito with 2:34 remaining.

The senior, who played running back last season, rushed for 152 yards and tossed two TDs to wide receiver Carson Hunnicutt.

Marina lost running back Ben Ramos (77 yards) to injury early in the second half.

Sunny Hills trailed 14-7 at intermission but found a spark from its defense on the opening possession of the third. Backup linebacker Brennan Cahill recorded a sack on fourth-and-9 from the Lancers 14 for a defensive stand.

Khan capitalized with a 29-yard TD pass to a leaping Sandle with 44 seconds left in the third as the Lancers tied the score 14-14.

In the middle of the fourth, Sandle’s twin brother Pierrce — playing safety — intercepted a pass at the Sunny Hills 40. On the next play, Shelledy broke a 60-yard touchdown run to give Sunny Hills its first lead 21-14 with 7:03 left in the fourth.

Kruz Sandle finished with five catches for 130 yards. Shelledy rushed for 83 yards.

In the first quarter, Saporito capped a 13-play, 94-yard scoring drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Hunnicutt on fourth-and-9.

Sunny Hills answered with a 71-yard scoring march. Khan tossed a 2-yard TD to Elias Vorathavorn on third-and-goal as the Lancers knotted the score 7-7 early in the second quarter.

Saporito and Hunnicutt connected again in the middle of the second. Saporito threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Hunnicutt to push the Vikings lead to 13-7. Yurem Vergara added the extra point.

Sunny Hills’ defense signaled its intent late in the first half with a fourth-down stand from its 15.

Last season, Marina defeated Sunny Hills 21-6 en route to a share of the Lambda League title and 9-2 mark.

Next week, Marina plays host to Valencia at Westminster High on Friday, Oct. 10. Sunny Hills plays host to Beckman on Buena Park High on the same night.

Beckman and Kennedy tied with Marina for the league title last season.