High school football: Hill's clutch catch gives Northridge a dramatic win

LAYTON — All night long, Northridge couldn't find an answer for Layton's dynamic rushing tandem of Adam Bunting and Derek Thomas.

But it turned out to be okay for the Knights, because the Lancers couldn't find an answer for Colton Hill.

The Northridge senior wide receiver had seven catches for 143 yards, including the game-winning grab with 10.1 seconds left, as the Knights edged their crosstown rivals 29-26 Friday night at Northridge High School.

"He's amazing," Northridge head coach Erik Thompson said of Hill. "We got to thank our lucky stars for him. He put us on his shoulders."

The Knights' final scoring drive started from their own 42 with just 1:39 remaining. After an incompletion to start the drive, quarterback Travis Harper connected with Jimmy Nguyen for 10 yards and then Hill for 18 more.

Three plays later, and facing third-and-2 from the Layton 22, the Knights caught a break with a pass interference call that took the ball down to the Layton 11 and gave them a fresh set of downs. After another incompletion, Harper found tight end Chad Colby at the 1-yard line, setting up a first-and-goal. The Knights spiked the ball to stop the clock before Harper connected with Hill in the back corner of the end zone.

"We just called an iso play,"" Hill said. "Throw it up in the corner and see what happens."

What happened was a catch that overshadowed a sketchy defensive effort for the Knights. Bunting had 23 carries for 209 yards and a score. The score was a 97-yard dash in the third quarter that put Layton up 20-14.

Thomas added 99 yards on 19 carries with three touchdowns.

Northridge took a 6-0 first-quarter lead when running back Grant Walker fell on a fumbled snap that ended up in the end zone.

After Layton answered back with two second-quarter touchdown runs by Thomas that put the Lancers up 14-6, Northridge tied the game at 14 just before the end of the half on a 50-yard TD strike from Harper to Hill. Harper found Hill in the end zone again to complete the two-point conversion.

Trailing 20-14 in the fourth quarter, Northridge tied the game once again, this time on a 44-yard pass from Harper to tight end Nate Dodd. But the Knights' second failed point-after attempt of the night kept the score even.

The Lancers put together a punishing drive on their next possession, going 80 yards on 11 plays, all rushes, to take a 26-20 lead. Thomas had the touchdown run, scampering 31 yards on fourth-and-3.

Facing fourth-and-6 from its own 14 and less than two minutes remaining, Layton took an intentional safety, bringing the score to 26-22 just before Northridge's final possession.

Layton, which allowed only 128 points throughout all of 2008, has not been nearly as effective so far in 2009. In three games, the Lancers have already allowed 94 points.

"We didn't play very good defense, and until we learn to play good defense, we're going to be in trouble," Layton coach Jim Batchelor said. "We got some kids in position, but they're not making plays."