Last-second touchdown stuns Crater

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CENTRAL POINT — Just when the wackiness appeared all but over, Shasta High of Redding, Calif., had one more twist to add to a miraculous game against Crater on Friday at Dutch Meyer Field.

With one second to play in what was an emotional back-and-forth game, Shasta senior quarterback Brooks Beaudette rolled to his right from the Crater 21-yard line with his team trailing 28-22. Beaudette, who had five interceptions in the game, eluded pressure on the corner and lofted the ball into the end zone where senior wide receiver Stephen Somers came down with the ball in the back of the pack for the tying score.

He was mobbed by his teammates in the end zone and Shasta received a 15-yard penalty, setting up a dramatic 35-yard extra point by Wolves kicker Chris Coleman, but his kick was perfect for the 29-28 victory.

"Our coach just said to keep cool," Beaudette said. "We knew it was going to be a battle. Even though I didn't have a great night, I had guys telling me to stay in it. I was replaying over and over in my mind, the Colorado, Kordell Stewart play. The Doug Flutie play. It's a dream come true."

The final play was just part of the improbable story that unfolded in the home opener for Crater (0-2) and season opener for Shasta.

The game featured 12 turnovers and 24 penalties combined by both teams.

The Wolves appeared in complete control early, building a 15-0 lead at the half and 22-0 after the first drive of the third quarter. But Crater turned the tide with its defensive pressure and the Comets recorded their first two scores of the game with defensive touchdowns.

Junior defensive back Ryan Sonday returned a Beaudette fumble 35 yards with 6:18 to play in the third to make it 22-7 and senior linebacker Kenny Fahndrich returned an interception of Beaudette 68 yards.

Crater converted one of its two onside kicks on the ensuing kickoff, which Darrio Mobley recovered at the Shasta 45. Fahndrich's 30-yard run to the Shasta 5-yard line, set up quarterback Josh Lokeno's 1-yard touchdown run with 9:13 to play in the game.

Lokeno's two-point conversion attempt failed and Shasta held a 22-20 lead.

Fahndrich made another huge defensive play, intercepting Beaudette and returning it 37 yards to the Shasta 3, setting up his own 1-yard touchdown run to put Crater in front with 7:35 remaining.

Fahndrich, in addition to his two standout defensive plays, led Crater in rushing in place of last season's leading rusher, D.J. Pree, who is out for the season with an ACL injury. Fahndrich rushed for 85 yards on 19 carries.

"How many teams can come back from 22-0?" Fahndrich said. "Their last pass (of the game), there are no excuses. That's football. A lot of people would get down, but we bounced back. That's Crater football."

Crater twice had opportunities to put the game out of reach with the ball inside Shasta's 25-yard line. But the Comets missed a 39-yard field goal and turned the ball over on downs late, giving the ball back to Shasta with under one minute to play at the 20-yard line.

Beaudette was stellar on the drive, completing 4 of 5 passes — his one incompletion was a spike — for 74 yards. He finished 10-of-28 passing for 129 yards and five interceptions.

He found Somers for 18, plus a personal foul for a late hit, then found Nick Preston for receptions of 12 and 23 yards, the latter on a spectacular grab near the sidelines that put the Wolves down to the Crater 20. Preston had seven total catches for 86 yards.

After a false start, Shasta opted to run the ball with Evan Taylor on a draw play and he was stopped for a 4-yard gain as the clock ticked under 10 seconds. Beaudette just barely got the team to the line in time for a spike with one second to play, setting up his final toss.

Beaudette said the play was not executed properly, as two guys ran to the same spot, but he couldn't argue with the end result. "I had a lot of help from my receivers," Beaudette said. "I had a rough outing but I told the guys if they gave me a minute, I could make something work." Said Somers: "Coach just said get over the goal line and I went and sat at the back (of the pack). It was just one of those unbelievable things. Crater was relentless but we didn't get rattled. This team persevered."

Crater also persevered and the Comets' effort was not lost on coach John Beck.

"We didn't quit," he said. "There was no panic. Our kids expect to win.

"Give them (Shasta) credit, they executed down the stretch. They are a very solid football team."

Shasta first got on the board with a 2-yard run from Taylor, who finished with 120 yards rushing on 29 carries. That run came one play after Lokeno was intercepted on the 2-yard line after his pass was tipped. Taylor powered the Wolves to another score in the second quarter, rushing for 38 yards on a drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from Beaudette.

Shasta capitalized on a Crater miscue on the opening kickoff of the second half when a Crater player failed to pick up the ball. Shasta grabbed it at the 23 and Taylor later scored from 10 yards out to make it 22-0. In addition to that drive, Shasta started five possessions inside the Crater 40-yard line in the first half.

Crater had 152 yards of total offense to 277 for Shasta.

"I'm proud of our kids," Beck said. "The effort was excellent."

Reach reporter Luke Andrews at 776-4469, or e-mail landrews@mailtribune.com

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