Katella Stops Loara Late in Tie Game

ANAHEIM —  Loara placekicker Tony Norris’ 32-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right with 1 minute 5 seconds left in the game, forcing the Saxons to settle for a 14-14 tie with Katella in an Empire League opener Friday night at Glover Stadium.

But the game’s key play came on the previous down, when Katella’s Chad Fassier threw Loara’s Denis Dawson for a two-yard loss on a third-and-one play at the Katella 13-yard line, forcing the field goal attempt. Dawson rushed for 183 yards in 35 carries, but couldn’t escape Fassier’s grasp on the play.

Katella (3-1-2, 0-0-1 in league) and Loara (2-2-2, 0-0-1) were frustrated by penalties that nullified three touchdowns--on runs of 16 and 69 yards by Dawson, and a 40-yard run by Katella’s Juan Viramontes.

Jaret Wright gave Katella a 7-0 lead on the third play from scrimmage on a 40-yard run. Loara drove 56 yards to the Knight 14, but Norris’ 31-yard attempt was deflected by Eric Schirmacher.

Loara closed the gap to 7-6 with a 63-yard drive early in the second quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jim Kirkland to Floyd Talley. But Norris’ conversion attempt went awry on a bad snap and his desperation pass fell short.

The Saxons took a 14-7 lead with 9:59 left in the fourth quarter when two 15-yard Katella penalties helped set up Dawson’s two-yard touchdown run. Kirkland passed to Talley for the two-point conversion.

Pete Siripanupong’s 37-yard kickoff return to the Knight 47 started the Knights’ final scoring drive, which was capped by Tony Rojo’s five-yard touchdown run with 6:12 remaining. Brian Christopherson kicked the conversion to make the score 14-14.