Central’s dream season comes to an end after critical errors doom state title hopes
Critical drops in the fourth quarter cost the Central High football team a state title.
While it was a 21-14 gut-wrench defeat to Edison-Huntington Beach in the California Interscholastic Federation Division 1-A championship on Saturday at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Grizzlies coach Kyle Biggs probably looked at it as a learning experience for his young team.
Central had plenty of opportunities to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t score a touchdown with the four critical drops.
Edison took advantage and won the game when Jake Minter caught the game-winning touchdown in the slot and raced to the end zone.
The Grizzlies’ chances of another state title for the first time since 2019 faded away.
Central fought in the first half and went toe-to-toe.
The Grizzlies trailed 7-0 before tying the game when sophomore Jelani Dippel found sophomore R.J. Jefferson for a 38-yard touchdown.
The Chargers took a 14-7 lead, but the Grizzlies responded with a touchdown when sophomore Bayon Harris caught a 5-yard pass from Dippel.
Central couldn’t see the end zone again and finished the season at 12-3.
Still, Central found a way to get back to the state title game. The Grizzlies weren’t favored to win the Tri-River Athletic Conference championship, but instead won the Central Section Division I-AA title with a win over Clovis East.
Central faced St. Ignatius at Koligian Stadium in the North and advanced to the state title with a win.
Box score
Edison-Huntington Beach 21, Central 14
Central 0 14 0 0 - 14
Edison 7 7 0 7 - 21
First quarter
E: J. Gillick 1 run (J. Nicholas Bammer kick), 2:46. Drive: 16 plays, 59 yards, 9:08.
Second quarter
C: E. Morgan 38 pass from J. Dippel (D. Pasillas kick), 10:51. Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 3:48.
E: J. Gillick 14 run (Nicholas Bammer kick), 7:20. Drive: 5 plays, 67 yards, 3:29.
C: B. Harris 4 pass from Dippel (Pasillas kick), 4:26. Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 2:47.
Fourth quarter
E: J. Minter 54 pass from S. Thomson (Nicholas Bammer kick), :20. Drive: 3 plays, 68 yards, 0:32.
Central Edison
First downs 19 15
Rushes-yards 21-80 35-150
Passing yards 284 155
Total yards 364 305
Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 2-20 6-52
Rushing: Central, Brandon Smith 17-76, Jelani Dippel 4-4. Edison, Julius Gillick 27-124, Sam Thomson 3-17, Team 1-5, Samuel Edmisten 3-3, Jake Minter 1-1.
Passing: Central, Dippel 17-31-2-284. Edison, Thomson 12-17-1-155.
Receiving: Central, Brandon Smith 6-94, EJ Morgan 5-61, Nate Rodriguez 4-50, Bayon Harris 8-42, Xavior Jones 4-21, Zeb White 3-16. Edison, Minter 5-81, Aidan Brown 5-41, Ayden Degiacomo 4-19, Gillick 2-14.
Tough start hurts Lindsay
Lindsay couldn’t match up with Moreau Catholic-Hayward, thus losing 42-8 in the Division 7-AA title game.
The Cardinals trailed 28-0 at the half.
It was still a good season for Lindsay, which won the section title for the first time since 2001, according to section historian Bob Barnett.
The Cardinals were led by first-year coach Marcus Alonzo.
This story was originally published December 14, 2024 at 7:27 PM.
