Santa Clara takes third divisional title with OT victory

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Wow! Thanks to a one-yard TD run on fourth down by QB Randi Vines, Santa Clara won its first Southern Section title in 42 years with an incredible 20-14 overtime victory over Bishop Diego in the Mid-Valley Division final.

Junior RB Cierre Wood, pictured and the apple of every recruiter’s eye, finished with 209 yards in 29 carries and scored the tying TD with 1:38 left in regulation.

I knew this one would be close, but even though Santa Clara beat the Cardinals, 42-41, in Frontier League play this season, I thought the Saints would build up a little more breathing room in the rematch. But Bishop Diego put up one heck of a fight and proved that only inches -- not yards -- separate these two excellent parochial programs.

-- Austin Knoblauch

-- Image by Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times