California Wins on Last Play

In the waning moments Saturday, Keenan Howry turned what had been a so-so evening into one of the more exciting finishes in the 48 years of the Shrine Football Classic.

His acrobatic--and controversial--37-yard touchdown catch on the last play of the game gave California a 28-25 victory over Texas.

Howry, an all-county wide receiver from Los Alamitos, caught the pass with defensive back Jason Frederick wrapped all over him just inside the end zone at Cerritos College. It appeared that both had the ball in their hands.

Minutes earlier Howry, who finished with six receptions and 101 yards, had caught a 33-yard pass from Long Beach Poly quarterback Chris Lewis, that gave California first and goal on the Texas one-yard line.

Now he cradled the winning football in his arms and looked as dazed as everyone on the California sideline.

“Words can’t describe how I feel,” Howry said.

Midway through the fourth quarter Howry had taken a seat on the bench, shrugging his shoulders. It had not been fun to that point, he admitted.

But for Howry, thoughts of that lonely moment on the bench disappeared quickly.

“There was no way I thought I was going to get in there and get it,” Howry said. “We were struggling for the ball. I tried to fight for it. I think we both had it in our hands. Everybody went crazy and I came down with it.”

Frederick didn’t see it that way. “I had the ball, purely positive,” he said.

Running back Joe Weber of San Bernardino Pacific, who had a scoring reception, won the most valuable player award because the votes were counted with about four minutes left.

Howry, however, held the only trophy he wanted in his arms.

“I never had a chance to do this at Los Alamitos,” he said. “But this is what I strived to do.”

Two Orange County players had outstanding performances leading up to Howry’s winning catch. Mater Dei linebacker Kevin Mitchell, California’s leading tackler with 10, took charge of the defense in the waning moments. And Esperanza kicker/punter Nate Fikse had a touchdown-saving tackle on Sterling Kazee’s 44-yard punt return in the third quarter.