Van Nuys Is Stopped Short in Clutch, 14-7

Second-guessing the play-calling on his team’s final possession was not on the agenda of Van Nuys High football Coach Mark Pomerantz on Friday night.

“We had to stay with what was getting us here,” Pomerantz said.

Van Nuys failed to convert in Wilson territory and the Mules held on for a 14-7 victory in the City Section 3-A Division final before 2,500 at the Coliseum.

Trailing, 14-7, since the opening series of the second half, Van Nuys drove 30 yards in seven plays and had fourth and six at the Wilson 32 with 1 minute 35 seconds to play.

Quarterback Robert Williamson faked a handoff to Carlos Mack and rolled left. But linebacker Jorge Hernandez rolled with him and dragged down Williamson by the collar for a three-yard loss.

“We were trying to get [Williamson] outside to run or pass, but the guy broke through and got to him early,” Pomerantz said.

Wilson made a first down and ran out the clock to secure its fifth 3-A title. The Mules won consecutive titles in 1975-78.

Mack, who provided the bulk of Van Nuys’ offense in its first seven possessions, was kept out of the final series until the final play.

“I needed to be in there for the last drive,” Mack said. “I was worried because I knew it was gonna be my last high school drive whether we scored or not.”

Mack was replaced by Alex Aguilar, who rushed for two yards in three carries on the final series.

Although the coach’s decision confused Mack, it was clear to Pomerantz.

“I think Carlos was a little winded,” Pomerantz said.

Mack carried 16 times for 35 yards in the first half, with only one carry for more than five yards. The 5-foot-8, 150-pound senior carried only seven times in the second half and finished with 52 yards in 23 carries.

“They keyed on me a lot more than other teams,” Mack said. “I was struggling for every yard I could get.”

Van Nuys (9-5), which finished tied for second in the Valley Pac-8 Conference, converted the game’s only turnover--a fumbled snap by Wilson quarterback Julio Briones--to score early in the second quarter.

After Van Nuys linebacker Gerardo Garcia-Montes recovered the fumble at the Van Nuys 43, the Wolves drove 57 yards in 11 plays, scoring on a six-yard bootleg by Williamson with 9:01 remaining in the first half.

Wilson (10-4), which finished tied for second in the Northern Conference, responded with a 65-yard drive and tied the score on a one-yard keeper by Briones.

The Mules took the lead for good on the opening possession of the second half. Behind the pinpoint passing of Briones, who completed all four of his passes for 55 yards on the drive, Wilson scored on a 10-yard pass play from Briones to Normann Epps, who made a diving catch in the back of the end zone.

It was the only time Van Nuys was scored on in the second half of four playoff games.

Briones, who was 11 of 18 for 173 yards, was under constant pressure from linebacker David Melo, who was double-teamed in the second half.

Van Nuys got the ball at the Wilson 32 late in the third quarter after a 24-yard Mule punt. But 17 yards later, the Wolves missed a chance to pull closer when Fernando Arias’ 32-yard field-goal attempt was low and hit the goal post.

Wilson limited Van Nuys to 142 yards.