SULTANS SCHEDULE Overall: 4-7-0 Grossmont North League: 1-3-0 Date Aug. 31 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 23 Opponent at Patrick Henry at Christian (@Valhalla) Imperial Sweetwater at EC-Southwest Madison *at West Hills *at Grossmont BYE *El Cajon Valley *El Capitan **BYE **at Mission Bay Score 27-32 21-42 35-13 45-14 48-07 34-41 7-25 7-12 21-17 14-46 7-40 CHEERLEADERSTeam Photo yet to be submitted

JUNIOR VARSITY (6-4, 1-3 GNL) Date Opponent Score Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 10 Wk 11 Patrick Henry Christian Imperial Sweetwater El Centro-Southwest Madison *West Hills *Grossmont *El Cajon Valley *El Capitan 00-07 21-00 18-14 16-00 42-06 07-06 14-27 10-21 34-26 00-27 FRESHMEN (2-7, 0-3 GNL) Date Opponent Score Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 10 Wk 11 Patrick Henry San Ysidro Imperial Montgomery Olympian Madison *West Hills *Grossmont BYE *El Capitan 14-24 09-00 14-13 07-38 07-19 07-14 00-13 18-48 13-34

WEEK 13
Baxter, Bucs bounce Santana

© East County Sports.com
PACIFIC BEACH (11-24-07) -- As one-sided as the score was in Mission Bay High's 40-7 rout of Santana to open the CIF-San Diego Section Division IV quarterfinals, one key play in the early minutes swung all the momentum toward the top-seeded Buccaneers.

"We dodged one there," said Mission Bay running back Dillon Baxter. "Santana was big, but slow, but they made a big hit."

The hit saw Santana defenders JACOB PODPORA and NIK HODGE crash through the Mission Bay line, forcing a fumble which the Sultans covered deep in Mission Bay territory.

However, after the turnover was erased due to a face-masking penalty, Baxter took the ensuing handoff 75 yards for a touchdown to launch Mission Bay to a 33-0 halftime lead.

"It was a big break, especially after we started slow and needed to get on pace," added Baxter, who rushed for 174 of his 184 yards in the first half. "Then we had a little pep talk on the sideline, and the blockers started to open some holes."

Mission Bay utilized its speed advantage to the outside for chunks of yardage.

"That play did kill us, there's no question," said Santana coach DAVE GROSS. "They're a good team and you can't make mistakes like we did (4 interceptions), but you need a little luck. After that play, it snow-balled, but they have a great deal of talent, too."

KYLE ROMERO salvaged some Sultans pride in the final minutes, snapping the shutout by throwing a 7-yard touchdown pass to TYLER AUBREY, his life-long friend. The duo connected for three completions for 47 yards in their final high school contest.

"They got outside all game and just ran," said Romero, who got the start at quarterback, completing 9-of-17 passes for 97 yards. He had 160 yards of total offense. "That play was a killer, but that's football and it just happens. At least our offense and our defense -- everyone -- gave it their all."

Romero and Aubrey have been giving it their all together for years. Playing together since the second grade, their parents said they are best friends, along with Romero's twin brother, BRETT. The seniors own grade-point averages of above 4.20.

On the scoring toss, Romero waited for Aubrey to run around the tight end on the left side of the line, then crossed in front of the linebacker over the middle to become wide open.

However, the Sultans (4-7) couldn't recover from a 5-0 turnover ratio, as Mission Bay (8-2-1) recovered all three of its own fumbles.

"We had our breaks and they had theirs, but we did something with ours," said Bucs senior cornerback Lorance Davis, who forced a fumble and registered an interception. ""We capitalized on ours and that's all what counted."

Santana had its moments on defense. Although Podpora lost his forced fumble, the senior lineman came back to register a pair of quarterback sacks. In addition, Santana's KRIS KIMMEL blocked a pair of Mission Bay extra-point attempts.

Following Baxter's score, Mission Bay scored 27 points in the second quarter, capped by a 30-yard Baxter TD catch. He switched to quarterback in the second half, scoring his third TD on a 1-yard run.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (11-10-07/Modified 11-11-07) -- It was a record-breaking finish to a shattered season for the El Capitan Vaqueros in Friday night's (Nov. 9) Grossmont North League finale.

Realizing that a loss could conceivably knock them out of the playoffs, the visiting Vaqueros came out firing, playing perhaps their best of the 9-game regular season.

Junior quarterback TANNER RUST set a San Diego CIF record by passing for 597 yards, completing 25 of 38 as the Vaqueros vanquished host Santana 46-14 in a Grossmont North League blowout.

Rust's record roll included 7 touchdown passes, which ties a Grossmont Conference record held by his current quarterback coach LON SHERIFF, who made 7 scoring pitches as a West Hills senior against Valhalla in 1996. El Cajon Valley's ABRAHAM MUHEIZE also grabbed a share of that record against Castle Park in a 2005 playoff game.

"We had a lot of confidence and everything felt good coming into this game tonight," Rust said. "But to tell you the truth, I had no idea that I was compiling those kind of numbers."

Rust finishes the regular season with 2,927 yards and 29 touchdowns with 170 completions in 285 attempts for the Vaqueros (5-4, 1-2 GNL).

"Our receivers did a good job doing what they were supposed to do," said Rust, who garnered a Grossmont Conference with 615 total yards.

As a team El Capitan compiled 659 total yards, which is second on the Grossmont Conference tables to Helix' 707 compiled against Valhalla in 2001.

"Year, sure I like to make records," Rust said. "And I like it even more when my teammates write their names in the record books too."

Senior receiver TILA CASE caught 10 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown. The multi-talented Case moved into third place on the SDCIF section books for receiving yards in a game, trailing former teammate A.J. CONTI (14-326, 2006) and GLEN KOZLOWSKI (Carlsbad-Miami Dolphins, 1980).

El Capitan junior PHILLIP COOK enjoyed a breakout game with 5 receptions for 151 yards and 4 touchdowns. One of Cook's scoring plays was a 93-yard pass from Rust. That long-range strike was 2 yards short of the Vaqueros' record set by SID MELERO on a pass from JASON HEISE against Santana in 1989.

Cook also tied A.J. Conti for the Vaqueros record for TDs receptions in a game.

"We started a new season here tonight," Rust said. "One of my greatest fears coming into this game was that it might be the last of the season, but I was determined to make sure that it wasn't true. I was just hoping that my teammates would follow my lead, and I think they did."

Santana (4-6, 1-3 GNL) had to be pleased that junior quarterback JAMES NEEDY returned to his early season form, clicking of 17 of 24 passes for 201 yards and a pair of scoring passes to TYLER BLACKLEDGE. Blackledge led the team with 6 receptions for 48 yards.

Santana's TYLER AUBREY generated 126 all-purpose yards for the Sultans, including 5 pass receptions for 83 yards.

El Capitan opens the San Diego CIF Division III playoffs at Mount Miguel on Friday (Nov. 16) at 7:30 p.m. Santana will open the Division IV playoffs a week later at Mission Bay (7-2-1) in a 1 p.m. kickoff.

“Yeah, you probably want to know how a team can get only 53 yards total offense and still score 21 points,” said a bemused Gross. “We just find a way to score.”

Obviously, not by putting together lengthy drives.

After averaging nearly 250 yards passing in the first four games, the Sultans’ offense has begun to sputter of late. Yet, despite its paltry yardage output in Friday’s (Nov. 2) Grossmont North League game against visiting El Cajon Valley, Santana (4-5, 1-2) was able to snap a 3-game losing streak by playing longball.

After blowing a 14-3 lead in the 4th quarter, the Sultans fought back to win on TYLER AUBREY’s 90-yard kickoff return with 6:31 to play.

“You have to hand it to our defense and our special teams,” said Gross. “Our defense was really great. It seemed like our defense was out there forever, but they did a great job.”

The Sultans forced 5 turnovers – 3 interceptions and 2 fumbles.

Gross singled out KRIS KIMMEL for his defensive leadership.

Kimmel’s 5th interception of the season set up a Santana touchdown in the 2nd quarter. His 39-yard return led to a 1-yard run by quarterback JAMES NEEDY, giving the Sultans a 7-3 halftime lead.

Santana forced a turnover early in the 3rd quarter as DANIEL CAREL recovered a fumble on the El Cajon Valley 25-yard line. Needy eventually culminated the drive with a 9-yard scoring pass to Aubrey, making it 14-3.

As usual, Aubrey was all over the field for Santana. He also made a key field goal block.

The Braves were further frustrated when NIK HODGE recovered a fumble, and the ROMERO brothers, KYLE and BRETT each had an interception.

Four of El Cajon Valley ’s turnovers came in the red zone.

“That really hurt us,” commented El Cajon Valley coach DANNY GOODRICH. “We were down 7-3 at halftime and had four turnovers, and that set the tone for the rest of the game. We should have been up 21-7 at halftime.”

El Cajon Valley took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter when freshman DANNY PETERSON booted a 20-yard field goal with 2:44 left.

The Braves (2-6, 1-1 GNL) looked as if they were going to pull out a victory on the strength of the passing arm of ISAAC SOLIZ. The junior quarterback, who completed 15 of 34 passes for 184 yards, fired scoring strikes of 5 and 32 yards to KEVIN KELLY (7-113) in the final quarter, putting El Cajon Valley on top 17-14.

But Santana’s Aubrey foiled the comeback with his scoring kickoff return.

“Our defense played well but were on the field too much,” Goodrich noted. “It was a very frustrating game.”

A ferocious Hillers defense slapped Santana all over the field, rarely allowing the guests past midfield. But when quarterback JAMES NEEDY found TYLER BLACKLEDGE on a quick slant to the left side for a 53-yard touchdown with 2:31 remaining, suddenly Grossmont faced the prospect of another barnburner finish.

Even the Grossmont faithful became uncomfortably quiet in a game which could've been one-sided yet turned into another nail-biter. Would it be a repeat of the Valhalla disaster or the late triumph over El Capitan?

"We came out stronger after the El Cap game and we got the 'W' -- it felt good," said defensive end ANDRES CHAVARIN, who was huge with three sacks, a forced fumble and an interception return of 40 yards. "We wanted to pressure them and force them to make poor passes and some mistakes."

To make things worse, in addition to the Santana TD, a roughing-the-passer penalty allowed Santana to kickoff on the Grossmont side of the 50. However, BOBBY LOPEZ overcame an accidental kick to the helmet to cover the onsides kick.

"I had to come through for our team, so I took one for the team," noted Lopez, a senior outside linebacker. "It's kind of upsetting that we had to keep picking up our offense, but you know what, next week is a another week. At least everyone gave a 100-percent effort."

Quarterback JOSH SIMMS then broke free on a 30-yard burst for a first down which allowed Grossmont to run-out the clock. The long run gave Simms an even 100 yards for the contest, while KHALID WATERS finished with 93 yards on 18 rushes, 62 of it coming in the first half.

But the focus was on the Grossmont defense, which extended Santana's scoreless streak on offense to nearly 8 consecutive quarters before the Sultans made things interesting in the waning minutes.

Along with Chavarin's 3 sacks, Lopez reached Needy twice for sacks, including one when he forced and recovered a fumble. Meanwhile, defensive back NICK FLOYD was a part of 10 tackles while tipping away a pair of passes.

"We stepped it up on defense," said Lloyd. "The whole team -- special teams, defense and offense -- were ready to play."

With the triumph, Grossmont (6-2, 2-0) expects to meet West Hills (3-4, 1-0) -- both undefeaten in league -- for the Grossmont North title (although that was before it was known that El Cajon Valley stunned El Capitan to also remain unbeaten in the GNL).

"I expect West Hills to be a great game," added Lloyd. "It'll be just like the playoffs, so it will be a big game."

Santana (3-5, 0-2) posted its own share of defensive stops, but could only force a single turnover on the game's opening play from scrimmage when junior linebacker KRIS KIMMEL intercepted Simms.

The Sultans also registered four stops in the red zone, forcing Grossmont to settle for field goals. Simms, who also serves as placekicker, was perfect by converting a kick in each quarter with connections from 20, 20, 36 and 19 yards for all of the team's scoring.

The four field goals by Simms is one short of the San Diego CIF record of five, first set by SCOTT WEBB of Helix in 1982, then equaled by Ramona's Tim Valencia in 2001. Four others have also kicked four FGs in a game, including JOE NIKODEM of Helix in 1983.

And Simms' 12 points ties him for 8th place on the SDCIF all-time list for kick-scoring in a contest.

At quarterback, Simms completed 15-of-28 passes for 149 yards, including six receptions to Floyd for 65 yards. TERREL CHAPPLE and MICHAEL GRAHAM added three catches each.

For Santana, Needy was 18-for-38 for 217 yards, including seven strikes to Blackledge for 118 yards. TYLER AUBREY added four catches for 49 yards, while KYLE ROMERO caught three balls for 34 yards.

On the defensive side, Grossmont linebacker ERIC SPRINGE led with 10 tackles. Safety DOMINIQUE BRADLEY added 8 stops. Lopez added 2 sacks, 4 tackles and recovered a fumble.

Seeing his offense blanked in three of its first six starts had to concern West Hills first-year head coach CASEY ASH. But the beginning of GNL play provided an emotional spark as did the annual battle for the Santee Mayor's Cup in Friday's (Oct. 12) against crosstown rival at West Hills.

"We were able to throw the ball early," said Ash of his Wolf Pack (3-4, 1-0 GNL) which claimed a 13-0 first quarter lead.

Senior quarterback CHRIS MISENSOL engineered the Pack's fast start, firing scoring passes of 40 yards to ERIC FIEGE and 3 yards to LEVI JACOB. Misensol hooked up with Fiege for a 60-yard TD pass giving West Hills a 19-7 halftime lead. Fiege also collected one of West Hills' two interceptions. JUSTIN STANPHILL picked off the other.

It was Misensol's finest passing night of the season. The 5-10, 190-pound senior transfer from Granite Hills, was efficient, too, completing nine of 14 passes for 155 yards and the three scores. He also rushed for 29 yards on five carries.

It was also another Fiege field day, as the 5-10, 170-pound senior caught four passes for 121 yards. Fiege also rushed for 40 yards on 10 chances.

"Our offensive line was much improved this week," Ash praised. "They opened up some big holes for our running game and blocked well for the passing game."

West Hills senior running CHRIS BLUMKA accounted for all the scoring in the second half, toting the ball 6 yards to the end zone in the third quarter. Blumka led a strong Wolf Pack running game with 67 yards on 13 carries. CHRISTIAN FONSECA added 57 yards on 8 carries.

"Defensively, we controlled the play pretty much. Our defensive backs played really well," Ash said.

Shutting down the Santana offense is no small chore. The Sultans 3-4, 0-1 GNL) brought a 35-point scoring average across the Santee Lakes Bridge. But they did little against the Pack defense, totaling less than 200 total yards.

All the Santana faithful had to cheer about was a 75-yard punt return by TYLER AUBREY for a second quarter touchdown. Aubrey's effort is the second-longest return of a punt in Santana's 42-year history. DON KEY set the Sultans' punt return record of 71 yards in a 1971 game against Monte Vista.

Santana junior QB JAMES NEEDY connected on 16 of 31 passes for 120 yards. KYLE ROMERO caught 10 of those passes for 88 yards. None of the receptions led to gains longer than 11 yards. Needy led an anemic Santana rushing game with 30 yards on 11 carries.

By defeating the Sultans, West Hills won the Mayor's Cup for the 5th consecutive year.

MADISON 41, SANTANA 34 – The Sultans officially dedicated their new Field Turf playing field Friday night (Oct. 5), but visiting Madison tainted the festivities, taking a 28-7 halftime lead.

Credit the Sultans (3-3) for a stout 2nd-half comeback.

In spite of completing only 8 of 30 passes, including 3 interceptions, Santana junior quarterback JAMES NEEDY accounted for 4 touchdowns. He passed for 74 yards, including a 17-yard TD strike to KYLE ROMERO, early in the 3rd quarter, which cut Madison ’s lead to 28-13.

The Warhawks would score 2 more touchdowns after intermission, while Needy found the endzone 3 times for the Sultans on short bursts of 1, 5 and 5 yards. Needy accumulated 137 yards total offense, including 63 yards rushing on 11 carries.

The problem for Santana, which saw its 3 game winning streak end, was spotting Madison a 21-point halftime lead.

TYLER AUBREY enjoyed a major all-purpose yardage night, accumulating 283 yards for Santana. He accounted for the Sultans’ only 1st-half score with a 37-yard run.

KRIS KIMMEL picked off his 3rd pass of the season for Santana.

Madison’s pint-sized running back Robbie Rouse (5-foot-6, 145-pounds) shredded Santana’s defense for 342 yards and 3 touchdowns on 26 carries to lead the Warhawks (3-2). According to the SDCIF Record Book, Rouse’s performance is the 10th best in section history.

In their latest conquest on Friday (Sept. 28) night in El Centro the Sultans somehow turned 186 total yards into 48 points.

“We’re not taking care of the ball like we should be,” EC Southwest coach Jack Trujillo told the ivpressonline.com. “We gave them 5 touchdowns.”

Seven EC Southwest turnovers – 4 interceptions and 3 fumbles – led to 35 Santana points.

Defensive end NIK HODGE returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown, giving Santana a 21-7 lead after one quarter.

Linebacker KRIS KIMMEL finished the scoring by returning an interception 30 yards for a TD late in the 3rd quarter.

HOA NGUYEN and BRETT ROMERO also had interceptions for the Sultans.

How weird a night was it? Santana had 151 yards in interception returns and 268 yards in overall returns.

TYLER AUBREY returned 3 punts for 80 yards in addition to scoring on a 3-yard run.

The game could easily have been more lopsided had the Sultans turned loose quarterbacks JAMES NEEDY and BRIAN BURGIO. Between the two, they completed 5 of 9 passes for 56 yards. Burgio delivered the only scoring strike, hitting KYLE ROMERO from 9 yards out to give Santana a 34-0 halftime lead.

Needy, who came into the game ranked as the No. 2 passer in the San Diego CIF with a 228.5 yard average, released only 4 passes, completing 2 for 20 yards. A 6-foot-4, 200-pound junior, Needy did score a pair of touchdowns on runs of 1 and 11 yards.

JAMES ANAGNOSASTOPOLIS paced the Sultans with 62 yards on 8 rushes, including a 17-yard TD run.

Santana further spread the wealth in the kicking game. After sure-footed starter ANTHONY MORENO converted 4-of-4 PAT boots in the 1st half, DUSTIN SACKETT was 2-for-2 in point-after-kicks in the 2nd half.

Outcries that Santana can’t run the ball, can’t play defense and have a passing game that some believe is a Wal-Mart version of El Capitan ’s Nordstrom attack allow the Sultans to be dismissed as serious contenders in the Grossmont North.

The first half of the first quarter of Friday’s (Sept. 21) non-league encounter against Sweetwater might lend credence to the critics’ claim.

Three turnovers and an errant punt snap allowed Sweetwater to take an early 14-0 lead. Instead of folding up shop, the Sultans (2-2) came to life and scored 45 unanswered points.

KYLE ROMERO collected two of JAMES NEEDY’s four touchdown passes to turn the game into a rout. The second of Romero’s scores came on a one-handed catch in traffic that led to a 24-yard touchdown and a 31-14 Santana lead.

“I was just running out the seam and I kinda got clipped but (Needy) threw it far enough away from the defender so I could just put one hand out and got a little tip on it and grabbed it,” said Romero of his circus catch.

Asked if he’d practiced that play, Romero laughed and said “No way!”

Romero finished with 5 catches for 52 yards and the two scores.

“After we got those early turnovers out of the way I thought Needy was throwing the ball pretty well, hitting his spots every series,” said Romero.

Although the Sultans had the game in hand and Needy did not play in the final quarter, the junior QB finished with 19 completions on 25 attempts for 227 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Backup quarterback BRIAN BURGIO threw for 56 yards in relief.

All purpose TYLER AUBREY collected 5 passes for 131 yards, intercepted a pass that set-up a touchdown, recovered a fumble that set-up a touchdown and returned 2 kickoffs for 61 yards.

Junior RYAN STUTZ caught 5 passes for 72 yards, including a 19-yard score.

ANTHONY MORENO reeled in 6 passes for 109 yards and one TD. Moreno also was perfect on 6 PAT kicks and added a 22-yard field goal to close the first half.

JAMES ANAGNOSASTOPOLOS paced Santana’s oft-anemic running games with 56 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries. Burgio added 33 yards rushing on 3 carries, and Needy rushed for 26 yards and a TD on 10 carries.

Since then Gross has hip-hopped around Southern California, spending some time at the community college level (Antelope Valley), but now seems to have secured a home base at Santana.

This is the seventh school where Gross has hung his hat. When he and the Sultans caged the visiting Tigers on Friday night (Sept. 14), it marked the 101st victory of Gross’s coaching career. That ties him with former Monte Vista coach ED CARBERRY for fourth in the all-time Grossmont Conference record book.

Naturally the grizzled veteran doesn’t get caught up in such trivia. More pleasing to him was that the Sultans posted their first win in three starts this season.

The final score indicates this was an easy conquest for Santana, but the outcome wasn’t decided until the Sultans punched in two touchdowns in the final quarter.

Junior quarterback JAMES NEEDY led the Santana charge, completing 13 of 27 passes for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns. Needy directed an 8-yard scoring pass to TYLER BLACKLEDGE, and an 11-yard aerial to TYLER AUBREY and a 45-yard bomb to KYLE ROMERO. Romero’s TD was the one that locked up the win for the Sultans.

For good measure, KRIS KIMMEL barged off-tackle for a 17-yard scoring run. It was Kimmel’s only carry of the game.

Aubrey led Santana’s best rushing game of the season with 51 yards on 6 carries. JAMES ANAGNOSASTOPOLIS chipped in with 50 yards on 6 carries, while Needy added 31 yards on 11 carries.

Uncharacteristically, Santana displayed a balanced offense – 201 yards passing and 200 yards rushing. Romero paved the way with 4 pass receptions for 103 yards.

Santana’s often-overshadowed defense had a big night, forcing 7 Imperial turnovers.

ANTHONY MORENO, who was 5-for-5 on PAT kicks, caught 3 passes and accounted for 63 all-purpose yards. He also had an interception.

CODY CAMPBELL and HOA NGUYEN also picked off passes for the Sultans.

The Patriots (2-0) took control in rapid fashion, posting a 21-0 lead late in the 2nd quarter.

“I don’t know why people think that we perceive ourselves as better than anybody else,” Christian coach MATT OLIVER said. “We certainly don’t have a superiority complex. We like our team and we respect our opponents. It’s that simple.”

Christian quarterback ERICK ALLEN completed 70 percent of his 10 passes for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. One of those scores went to EMMANUEL WALKER, and the other ­- a 41-yard strike ­– to SAM HERNANDEZ.

“We played well, made some big plays,” Oliver said. “But that Santana quarterback is a very good player.”

Santana junior JAMES NEEDY is that quarterback in charge of the Sultans offense. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Needy completed 19 of 48 passes for 207 yards. Ironically though, Needy scored all three of Santana’s touchdowns on short rushing plays while accumulating 41 yards in 9 carries.

“We had two choices as a defense,” Oliver said. “Rather than bring a lot of pressure we decided to drop seven guys into (pass) coverage.”

Christian can do that, knowing that 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior linebacker PAT KELLY is holding down the middle.

“He was unbelievable out there,” Oliver said of Kelly, who had 2 sacks and 10 tackles. “He’s the best guy I’ve ever coached since I’ve been here (now in his 8th year as head coach).”

Kelly had to share the defensive limelight with junior corner CALEB FARREL, who intercepted two passes, returning one for a 21-yard touchdown. Farrel returned his second pick 88 yards but was tackled a yard short of the endzone, according to the officials.

“I thought we were more physical, thought we out-hit them,” Oliver said. “That’s what we ask of our kids and that’s what we’ve gotten so far.”

Needy was not Santana’s only standout.

Senior TYLER AUBREY caught 10 passes for 118 yards and totaled 174 all-purpose yards. KYLE ROMERO caught 5 passes for 75 yards for the Sultans (0-2).

Following early TD scoring passes of 22 and 69 yards from JAMES NEEDY, TYLER AUBREY collected a quick slant out of the right-side slot for a 13-yard TD – his 3rd in the game ­– giving the Sultans a 27-26 advantage with 55.1 seconds remaining.

Soon after the Sultans reclaimed the lead, Henry quarterback Darrin Alix directed the Patriots some 68 yards to pull out the triumph, capped by a 14-yard rush by Malcom Coleman -- his fourth touchdown of the ballgame -- with 6.4 seconds remaining.

Trailing 3-0 after a 23-yard field goal by Patrick Henry’s Christian Corriera – the first of two 3-pointers he had in the game – Santana coach DAVE GROSS inserted Needy to direct the offense. Needy came through, passing for 294 yards on 17-for-33 accuracy without an interception.

"Offensively, we can strike at any time. We may not drive the ball all the time, but we're capable of scoring from anywhere at any time and the kids believe in that," said Gross. "But we just couldn't stop them -- they're very physical."

Aubrey collected seven of the aerials for 143 yards and 3 TDs, while ANTHONY MORENO (58 yards), KYLE ROMERO (55) and TYLER BLACKLEDGE (34) also registered three receptions each. Needy also accounted for Santana’s first score on a 1-yard quarterback sneak, which gave the Sultans a 7-3 lead in the second quarter.

In this battle of point-counterpoint, the Sultans still came up short.

"It looks like we got worn down -- we needed to make a big play and it didn't happen," added Gross. "Henry is a lot better, but we had our chances."

"Henry's a big school -- a Division I school - and we're just a Division IV school now, so we're going to be fine. There are a lot of positives we can take from this game."

The last-second loss also tainted Santana's remarkable record, which was a 12-1 showing over the previous three seasons. The Sultans are only a matter of seconds from going 14-0 during this stretch. The previous loss in this span was a came by a matter of 2 points.

Meanwhile, the Patriots snapped an 11-game home-field losing streak at Giddings Stadium, although one ballgame came back via a forfeit last season.