Brea-Olinda, Penalties Take Villa Park to Task

ORANGE —  Penalties lost the game for Villa Park.

In a defensive struggle against Brea-Olinda, the No. 10 Spartans held the Wildcats to seven points and 230 total yards, but gave up 110 yards in penalties and the game, 7-6.

The most crucial infraction came midway in the fourth quarter with Brea holding that one-point lead. Villa Park fullback Justin McCully rushed 26 yards to the Wildcat 30, but the play was called back because of an illegal block, and the Spartans had to start over from their 30. They wound up giving up the ball on downs, and the Wildcats ran out the remaining five minutes for the victory.

Villa Park scored on its first possession on a 20-yard field goal by Matt Brady and led, 6-0, at halftime thanks to Brady’s 43-yard field goal.

But the second half belonged to Brea. The Wildcats scored the game-winning touchdown on a 14 yard pass from Paul Chiotti to Casey King with 5:08 left in the third quarter.

Brea’s defense then went to work, and Villa Park was unable to cross midfield in the second half. The Wildcats also held Spartan tailback Grant Pearsall to only 66 yards on 16 carries. Pearsall had three touchdowns and 131 yards in a victory over Valencia last week.

The Wildcats were led by the rushing of King, who carried 25 times for 106 yards. Chiotti completed seven of 14 for 84 yards.