Santa Ynez Defeats Agoura in 4 California Tiebreakers

Agoura High was unable to match a score by Santa Ynez in the fourth California tiebreaker and was defeated, 27-21, Thursday night in a pivotal Frontier League game at Santa Ynez.

Santa Ynez, which had the ball first, scored on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Dowhower to Vince Baldacchino in the fourth tiebreaker. The conversion kick by Matt Halme was wide to the left, however, giving Agoura an opportunity to win with a touchdown and conversion kick.

Agoura was unable to score, however, as Chris Ostwald, who caught a pass from quarterback Josh Smaler on fourth down, was tackled two yards short of the end zone.

Santa Ynez (9-1 overall, 4-1 in league play) finished second in the league, while Agoura (7-3, 3-2) fell to third. Both teams will advance to the Southern Section Division VIII playoffs.

Smaler hit Chase Ludwig with an 80-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline on Agoura’s first play of the fourth quarter to tie the score, 7-7, and force overtime. Ludwig scored two more touchdowns in the tiebreakers, during which each team gets four plays from the opponent’s 10-yard line.

Santa Ynez scored on its first tiebreaker, and Agoura answered with a five-yard touchdown pass from Smaler to Ludwig.

Both teams missed 27-yard field-goal attempts in the second tiebreaker.

Santa Ynez scored on its third tiebreaker, and Agoura came back with a touchdown on a 10-yard Smaler pass to Todd Cribari.

Smaller, a senior, completed 10 of 28 passes for 160 yards, but was sacked eight times for minus-40 yards.