Ocean View Comes Back for Victory

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Randy Karliner, after being knocked out on Ocean View’s previous series, came back to throw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Al Cano in the corner of the end zone with 1:09 left in the game to knock Saddleback out of the lead, and Ron Lightner’s extra point gave Ocean View a 14-13 victory Friday night at Huntington Beach High School.

Ocean View’s hopes for victory appeared to dim when Karliner was knocked to the ground by Hernan DeSantos while lunging for a first down on a fourth-down scramble. Karliner fell two yards short, giving Saddleback the ball on its 30 with 3:56 to play.

But the Seahawk defense forced Saddleback to punt after three plays and, after Dennis Eichen’s 29-yard return, Ocean View had a first down at the Roadrunners’ 36.

Two minutes was all Karliner needed to catch his breath. After an incompletion, the 6-2 senior hit Jeff Bush on a crossing pattern for 22 yards and then drilled the ball to Cano to tie the score.

Saddleback (0-1) scored first when DeSantos capped a 63-yard, 14-play drive by diving over from the one. DeSantos added the extra point and the Roadrunners led, 7-0.

Ocean View (1-0) answered on its next possession when Karliner threw 47 yards to Bush to cap a three-play, 67-yard drive. Lightner hit the extra point and the score was 7-7 at halftime.

After Saddleback received the second-half kick, Paul Delgado capped a 79-yard drive with a 31-yard pass to Robert Reyes. The extra point failed after the Roadrunners were assessed a 15-yard personal-foul penalty. That made the extra point a 28-yard effort that DeSantos missed wide right.