CSD gains share of league lead

From: Oakland Tribune, CA
Nov. 1, 2002

Late field goal turns back Emery 17-14
By Ken Bishop

CORRESPONDENT

UNION CITY -- California School for the Deaf fought off rival Emery High 17-14 in the Bay Football League Thursday night at James Logan.

The victory gave CSD (7-1, 2-0) a one-season school victory record, surpassing the mark of six established several times. The Eagles under new coach Kevin Bella tied idle St. Elizabeth (6-1, 2-0) for the top spot in the BFL, each with two league games remaining.

Val Alvarado's 37-yard field goal with 7:20 to play provided the winning margin for CSD on an artificial surface unfamiliar to both teams. Alvarado's kick, which came after earlier misses of 42, 33 and 32 yards, gave CSD a seemingly safe 17-6 margin.

But the Spartans (2-5, 1-2), stalled by penalties through the game and another solid CSD defensive effort most of the night, threatened in the game's final moments. Defender Leeandre Harris stole the ball from the Eagles' Davey DeHoyos and sprinted 54 yards to score with 6:07 left to play.

Emery's Christopher Liggins then ran for the two-point conversion to pull Emery within 17-14. But the momentum was short lived as CSD controlled the ball for the final 6 minutes in which it rushed for 41 yards.

Quarterback Clint Dickinson ran 10 yards from the 50 on third-and-9, and finished the drive with a touchdown run to ice the victory.

The Eagles missed their sixth consecutive shutout of the season as they won their sixth straight game.

Emery ended a 265-minute, 25-second scoring drought by opponents dating back to Week 2 as Wilkins Owens recovered a blocked punt in CSD's end zone to pull Emery within 7-6 with 10:33 left in the third period.

©1999-2002 by MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers