Encinal beats De Anza in NCS D-V semifinal with walk-off field goal
John Brindley's kick turns back De Anza, which overcame 21-0 deficit to tie the score
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ALAMEDA — After fumbling the ball deep in its own territory for the second time in three drives, the Encinal Jets watched as the left side of the bleachers — filled with De Anza fans — erupted Friday night.
Their stomps and cheers rocked the visiting stands at the crowd swayed from side to side.
But with a methodical, 54-yard drive, Encinal silenced the fans as kicker John Brindley hit from 26 yards out.
Brindley’s kick, which split the uprights at time expired, lifted the Jets over De Anza 24-21, spoiling a late comeback bid from the Dons.
With the win, Encial advanced to a North Coast Section final for the first time since 2010.
“We were three points better than a good team,” Encinal coach Keith Minor said. “We played well and we played as a team. It all came down to a kick.”.
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Encinal jumped out to an early lead over De Anza, thanks to an 85-yard, game-opening touchdown pass from David Romero-Reinholz to receiver Keirr Stewart.
A one-yard draw from running back Archie Cole and a three-yard scamper from running back Isaiah Smith — both for touchdowns — put the Jets ahead 21-0 heading into halftime.
De Anza, which was unable to move the ball due to a relentless pass rush, responded by scoring 21 unanswered points of their own in the second half.
Dons quarterback Darrion Davis, who was sacked 11 times, led the comeback effort with his legs. He finished with 105 yards on the ground.
Davis also threw a pair of touchdowns to senior wide receiver Jalen Henderson — the second of which tied the game at 21 with 4:13 to play.
De Anza had capitalized on a pair of short fields after Encinal coughed the ball up twice deep in its own territory.
“It’s all about composure,” Minor said. “We tell them all the time that something is going to go wrong. And they have to be tough enough to take it and have faith that their teammates are going to pick you up.”
After enduring nearly 20 minutes of not being able to move the ball in the second half, the Jets orchestrated their best drive of the night by marching 54 yards on 13 plays. When the Jets reached the nine-yard line, Minor sent out Bridley.
“My coach called me over and said, ‘You like this angle?’ and I said, ‘I love it,” Brindley said. “[De Anza] tried icing me out with the timeout but I didn’t let it get to me.”
Unaffected by De Anza’s efforts, Brindley’s kick sailed through the uprights, snuffing the Dons’ hopes for an upset road win.
The same crowd that shook the bleachers in excitement was forced to watch as Encinal students rushed the field to celebrate the school’s first NCS finals berth in nine years.
“We’ve been training for months and months to get to the NCS finals,” Brindley said. “Our eventual goal is state, so it’s just another step in that direction.”