Football: Emotions overflow at Cerritos College
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It was impossible not to feel both the elation and dejection that played out in overtime tonight during Lakewood’s thrilling 35-34 victory over Servite in a Pac-5 Division first-round playoff game.
When Servite’s Troy Nicolaus couldn’t come up with what appeared to be an easy game-winning catch on a two-point conversion pass from Cody Fajardo, sealing the Lancers’ victory, he made what must have felt like the longest walk of his life back toward the Friars’ sideline.
Meanwhile, jubilant Lakewood players poured onto the field in celebration of a victory that will boost the Moore League’s reputation. After all, the Lancers had just knocked off a co-champion from the Trinity League. They’ll get a chance to knock off South Coast League power Mission Viejo in a quarterfinal on Friday.
This is what playoff football is all about, both good and bad. You hate to see such dejection but at the same time part of you feels happy for the kids who prevailed.
Servite has nothing to be ashamed of after rallying from a 28-14 deficit with fewer than four minutes left in regulation, with Fajardo completing a pair of touchdown passes along the way.
--Ben Bolch