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Lancers fall just short of state title
In a back and forth shootout, Francis Parker couldn’t make the last play in the Small Schools State Bowl Game. The Lancers lost 44-40 to Modesto Christian Friday night at the Home Depot Center.
“We had opportunities to make plays and we did. We just couldn’t make that final last push,” said Francis Parker quarterback Deon Randall.
With two minutes left in the game and trailing by four, Francis Parker (11-3) faced a fourth and goal at the Modesto Christian three-yard line. Given a run-pass option, Randall saw a blitz and checked out of the original play – a power run to the left – in favor of a pass.
Randall completed the pass, a bubble screen to receiver Dalante Dunklin, but Dunklin was knocked out of bounds five yards short of the endzone. The Crusaders took over on downs and were able to run out the remaining 1:36 for the victory.
“It was my call. I checked it because I have faith in my guys and it just didn’t work out the way that I wanted it to,” Randall said. “I threw it but we just couldn’t get it in. That was my fault and I’ll take all the blame for the game.”
Lancers head coach John Morrison did not second-guess Randall’s decision after the game. Morrison praised Modesto Christian’s defense for making the stop.
“He did absolutely the right thing and he’s the guy I want handling the ball on the last play of the game,” Morrison said. “I wouldn’t give him a run-pass option if we didn’t feel he could make that play.”
Until Modesto Christian (15-0) made that defensive stop, it looked like the last team to have the ball would win. The Lancers and Crusaders combined for 84 points – a state bowl record – and 972 yards of offense.
“There were great athletes in a lot of space. Both teams showed they had tremendous athletes and they moved the ball incredibly well,” Morrison said. “I wish we would have stopped them a few times.”
Although the game ended in a shootout, it didn’t start out that way. Both teams combined for a field goal in the first quarter and Francis Parker had forced two turnovers and led 10-0 midway through the second quarter.
That’s when quarterback Isaiah Burse and Modesto Christian’s misdirection offense got it going. The Crusaders scored two touchdowns in just more than two minutes – a Burse nine-yard run and an 11-yard pass from Burse to receiver Kevin Roya – to take a 14-10 lead.
The Lancers went ahead 17-14 with 13 seconds left in the half when Randall found receiver Brian Levett for a four-yard score. But the Crusaders had an answer for that, scoring on a Burse three-yard pass to tight end Raymond Nelson on the final play of the half – an untimed down that came as the result of a facemask call against Francis Parker.
“That was a huge play in the game, because the clock would have run out and we would have had a lead at halftime,” Morrison said.
Francis Parker trailed by 10 in the third quarter before coming back to take the lead. With 8:49 left, Randall punched it in from two yards out to give the Lancers a 40-36 lead.
“We had our opportunities and it shouldn’t have been this close of a game,” Randall said.
Modesto Christian took the ensuing drive 80 yards in seven plays, capped by a Keaton Engel two-yard touchdown run with 5:38 left. Engel’s score would end up being the game-winner, as Francis Parker could not come up with an answer on their final drive.
“It was a game that came down to who wanted it more and at the end of the game we just couldn’t finish it,” Randall said. “It wasn’t that we didn’t want it – we just couldn’t finish it.”
In a game that featured two of the best all-purpose athletes in the state, Randall had better numbers than Burse, rushing for 276 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries and throwing for 110 yards and two scores on 8-of-16 passing. Burse rushed for 139 yards and a score and had 89 yards passing with three touchdowns and an interception.
But Burse had help from Engel and Roya, who each rushed turned in 100-yard performances, and ended up on the right side of the scoreboard. The Crusaders finished the game with 456 yards rushing – a state bowl record.
“Other than Mission Bay, that’s the best team we’ve played,” Morrison said.
Francis Parker became the first team from the San Diego Section to lose in a state bowl game. Randall, a senior, expects the Lancers to have a shot at redemption in the future.
“They’re all young, so they’re going to come back next year and I wish them the best of luck,” Randall said. “They are going to be a great team next year and they’re going to be hungry because they didn’t finish this year.”
Francis Parker quarterback Deon Randall (left) and a pair of Lancer teammates walk off the field dejectedly after their loss to Modesto Christian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo9W1nCay9M
Lancers fall just short of state title
In a back and forth shootout, Francis Parker couldn’t make the last play in the Small Schools State Bowl Game. The Lancers lost 44-40 to Modesto Christian Friday night at the Home Depot Center.
“We had opportunities to make plays and we did. We just couldn’t make that final last push,” said Francis Parker quarterback Deon Randall.
With two minutes left in the game and trailing by four, Francis Parker (11-3) faced a fourth and goal at the Modesto Christian three-yard line. Given a run-pass option, Randall saw a blitz and checked out of the original play – a power run to the left – in favor of a pass.
Randall completed the pass, a bubble screen to receiver Dalante Dunklin, but Dunklin was knocked out of bounds five yards short of the endzone. The Crusaders took over on downs and were able to run out the remaining 1:36 for the victory.
“It was my call. I checked it because I have faith in my guys and it just didn’t work out the way that I wanted it to,” Randall said. “I threw it but we just couldn’t get it in. That was my fault and I’ll take all the blame for the game.”
Lancers head coach John Morrison did not second-guess Randall’s decision after the game. Morrison praised Modesto Christian’s defense for making the stop.
“He did absolutely the right thing and he’s the guy I want handling the ball on the last play of the game,” Morrison said. “I wouldn’t give him a run-pass option if we didn’t feel he could make that play.”
Until Modesto Christian (15-0) made that defensive stop, it looked like the last team to have the ball would win. The Lancers and Crusaders combined for 84 points – a state bowl record – and 972 yards of offense.
“There were great athletes in a lot of space. Both teams showed they had tremendous athletes and they moved the ball incredibly well,” Morrison said. “I wish we would have stopped them a few times.”
Although the game ended in a shootout, it didn’t start out that way. Both teams combined for a field goal in the first quarter and Francis Parker had forced two turnovers and led 10-0 midway through the second quarter.
That’s when quarterback Isaiah Burse and Modesto Christian’s misdirection offense got it going. The Crusaders scored two touchdowns in just more than two minutes – a Burse nine-yard run and an 11-yard pass from Burse to receiver Kevin Roya – to take a 14-10 lead.
The Lancers went ahead 17-14 with 13 seconds left in the half when Randall found receiver Brian Levett for a four-yard score. But the Crusaders had an answer for that, scoring on a Burse three-yard pass to tight end Raymond Nelson on the final play of the half – an untimed down that came as the result of a facemask call against Francis Parker.
“That was a huge play in the game, because the clock would have run out and we would have had a lead at halftime,” Morrison said.
Francis Parker trailed by 10 in the third quarter before coming back to take the lead. With 8:49 left, Randall punched it in from two yards out to give the Lancers a 40-36 lead.
“We had our opportunities and it shouldn’t have been this close of a game,” Randall said.
Modesto Christian took the ensuing drive 80 yards in seven plays, capped by a Keaton Engel two-yard touchdown run with 5:38 left. Engel’s score would end up being the game-winner, as Francis Parker could not come up with an answer on their final drive.
“It was a game that came down to who wanted it more and at the end of the game we just couldn’t finish it,” Randall said. “It wasn’t that we didn’t want it – we just couldn’t finish it.”
In a game that featured two of the best all-purpose athletes in the state, Randall had better numbers than Burse, rushing for 276 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries and throwing for 110 yards and two scores on 8-of-16 passing. Burse rushed for 139 yards and a score and had 89 yards passing with three touchdowns and an interception.
But Burse had help from Engel and Roya, who each rushed turned in 100-yard performances, and ended up on the right side of the scoreboard. The Crusaders finished the game with 456 yards rushing – a state bowl record.
“Other than Mission Bay, that’s the best team we’ve played,” Morrison said.
Francis Parker became the first team from the San Diego Section to lose in a state bowl game. Randall, a senior, expects the Lancers to have a shot at redemption in the future.
“They’re all young, so they’re going to come back next year and I wish them the best of luck,” Randall said. “They are going to be a great team next year and they’re going to be hungry because they didn’t finish this year.”
Francis Parker quarterback Deon Randall (left) and a pair of Lancer teammates walk off the field dejectedly after their loss to Modesto Christian