SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : PREP SCORECARD

TOP PERFORMERS

Kenny Overby, a senior running back, rushed for 156 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns to help Sunny Hills to a 23-10 victory over Valencia in a Division VI semifinal.

Sunny Hills’ Shannon Nipp and Brian Gluhak, both linebackers, each intercepted a pass and helped the Lancers defense hold Valencia quarterback Marc O’Brien to only 10 completions in 25 attempts in a 23-10 Division VI victory over the Tigers.

Tony Solliday completed nine of 16 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown and ran for a another score to help Capistrano Valley upset Mission Viejo, 26-24, in the Division II semifinal meeting of South Coast League teams.

LATE HEROICS

Keith McDonald connected with Reid Pullen on a seven-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left to give unbeaten Esperanza a 38-35 Division III semifinal victory over Hart. The scoring pass was McDonald’s third of the game. He completed 15 of 21 passes for 243 yards.

NOTEWORTHY

Capistrano Valley’s Dave Poltl caught six passes for 142 yards during the Cougars’ 26-24 victory over Mission Viejo and became Orange County’s career leader in receptions with 173.

ODDS AND ENDS

Sunny Hills’ Shannon Nipp and Brian Gluhak, both linebackers, each intercepted a pass and helped the Lancers defense hold Valencia quarterback Marc O’Brien to only 10 completions in 25 attempts in a 23-10 Division VI victory over the Tigers.

Mater Dei had seven turnovers in its 37-7 Division I semifinal loss to Quartz Hill. Quarterback Billy Blanton, who completed eight touchdown passes in the Monarchs’ first two playoff games, threw three passes that were intercepted, and Ray Mendez had a fourth pass intercepted. Derek Sparks lost two fumbles, and Brian Barajas fumbled a punt return.

ON THE RECORD

‘We thought we could just come back in the game. We drove down the field and then I made a mental mistake. It was my fault.’

--Billy Blanton, Mater Dei quarterback, explaining an interception he threw on the Monarchs’ opening drive of the second half in a 37-7 loss to Quartz Hill.

‘The play worked the way it was designed. I was hot and we had two minutes left. I felt that we could do it. It was the last hurrah. Either we would win or we would go home crying.”

--Keith McDonald, Esperanza quarterback, on the touchdown pass that beat Hart, 38-35, with three seconds to play.