Football: ‘Greatest comeback victory’

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Oaks Christian Coach Bill Redell is calling it his team’s ‘greatest comeback victory.’

And he’s telling the truth.

How the Lions came back from a 19-0 deficit to defeat Ventura St. Bonaventure, 33-32, in overtime is hard to believe.

St. Bonaventure committed penalties and dropped potential interceptions that could have reversed the result. But in the end, backup quarterback Richie Harrington, a senior who didn’t play last season after transferring from Santa Monica, engineered the comeback with touchdown passes to Brett Medders, Ishmael Adams and Blair Holliday (correction).

‘I had nothing to lose,’ Harrington said about coming off the bench in the second half to lead the Lions in a Marmonte League opener.

It was a devastating defeat for a St. Bonaventure team that had played so well but seemed to let up after taking what looked to be was an insurmountable lead.

Now Oaks Christian might have a quarterback controversy, with Harrington challenging Trevor Gretzky for the starting spot. But on this night, the Oaks Christian nation is celebrating a remarkable victory.

-- Eric Sondheimer