PERRIS — Despite nine total interceptions it was still a one-point game in the end.
Agoura senior quarterback Gavin Gray was intercepted six times, but junior slotback George Hastings stepped up to finish the job as Agoura defeated Orange Vista 27-26 in overtime on Friday night in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 quarterfinals.
“I was just the right guy at the right time,” Hastings said. “I always knew we were going to rally and win this game.”
Hastings, who had six catches and three touchdowns last week in a first-round win over Summit, led the Chargers (10-2 overall) with 16 carries for 60 rushing yards and scored the game-tying touchdown in overtime before senior Luke Bussiere kicked the point-after attempt to win the game.
“We got down in the game in the second half and I think this team just wants it more,” Hastings said. “You could see everyone coming together to will us to this win.”
Senior quarterback Khalil Abdul-Aziz was just 9 for 22 with three interceptions and also fumbled twice in his final high school appearance as Orange Vista (9-3) lost for the first time since Week 1.
“We started the game off with fumble after fumble,” Orange Vista coach Shawn Fleming said. “Wet weather definitely affected our quarterback. It took a little bit away from our best player.”
Junior safety Devin Sandville returned two interceptions for touchdowns as Orange Vista battled back from a 17-6 deficit to take a 20-17 lead in the fourth quarter.
“We knew it was going to come down to the wire,” Fleming said. “Our defense played a great game to keep us in it.”
The Coyotes held that advantage until Bussiere kicked a 30-yard field goal to tie the game with less than 5 minutes remaining, and Bussiere even had a chance to win the game with a 37-yard field goal, but it was blocked as time expired in the fourth quarter.
“I feel more fortunate than I’ve ever felt,” Agoura coach Dustin Croik said. “I haven’t been a part of a game that has come down like that, and at the end we just dug it out and did what we needed to do.”
Orange Vista lost the coin flip to start overtime and took possession of the ball. Sophomore running back Bobby Greer (27 carries for 151 yards) got into the end zone in five plays for a 26-20 lead, but the PAT was blocked.
Hastings, who replaced Gray under center late in the fourth quarter, went around the left side for 20 yards in overtime to set up a game-tying 3-yard scoring plunge over the goal line.
“Everybody believes in (Hastings),” Croik said. “They call him ‘Captain America’, and for good reason. He’s the man. He rises to the occasion.”
Bussiere knocked through the ensuing PAT through the uprights to end the 3-hour, 47-minute game.