Redlands Stays Unbeaten

Redlands High players sagged like deflated balloons on the sidelines Friday night after Rialto Eisenhower scored two touchdowns in a 24-second span late in the fourth quarter to take the lead for the first time.

The Terriers were in double jeopardy when they got the ball back for one last chance later in the quarter because they had 44 seconds to move the ball 88 yards with a run-oriented offense.

But running back Ryan Rogers jolted his teammates back to life when he caught a 56-yard touchdown pass on a fade route with 10 seconds left to give the Terriers a 24-21 Citrus Belt League victory over the Eagles before 6,000 at the University of Redlands.

It was Redlands’ first victory over Eisenhower since 1998 and put the Terriers, ranked No. 11 in The Times’ regional poll, in excellent position to win their first outright league title since 1974.

“That’s what high school football is supposed to be all about,” said Redlands Coach Jim Walker, who only moments before faced the prospect of his team blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead.

Redlands (7-0, 2-0) built a 17-7 lead behind its ball-control offense. The trouble started for the Terriers with 4:20 left in the game, when Rogers threw a halfback pass that was intercepted by Eisenhower defensive back Stan Webster.

The No. 10 Eagles (5-2, 1-1) scored six plays later when quarterback Idris Moss, showing no ill effects from a dislocated left shoulder suffered last week, scrambled for a two-yard touchdown that drew Eisenhower to within 17-14 with 2:54 left.

Eagle running back Damian Huff recovered an onside kick and two plays later bolted 15 yards into the end zone to give Eisenhower a 21-17 lead with 2 minutes 30 seconds to play. The Eagles appeared to wrap up the game eight seconds later when defensive back Billy Trueheart intercepted a Greg Brock pass at Redlands’ 40-yard line.

But a couple of penalties after the play pushed Eisenhower back to its own 30, and the Eagles failed to get a first down.

Redlands took over at its 12 with 44 seconds left. Brock, who had completed only three of five passes for 43 yards to that point, was up to the challenge, completing a six-yard pass to Herman McBroom and a 26-yarder to Brian Walsh to the Terrier 44. Then Brock hooked up with Rogers on the winning play.