RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A 12-yard touchdown pass from Donovan Smith to Destin Harston, with just over three minutes to go in the game, proved to be the deciding blow as Los Osos rallied to beat visiting James Logan on Friday night, 16-14.
Logan got one more crack at the host Grizzlies as time was winding down, but the Los Osos defense held on fourth down at their 22-yard line, preserving the season-opening victory.
"We knew we were going to be in for a dog fight, and we just didn't finish the game," said James Logan coach Ricky Rodriguez. "Our offensive and defensive lines played outstanding, and at the end of the day, if you hold a team to 16 points, you feel like you should win."
The visiting Colts had taken a 12-10 lead early in the fourth quarter, when quarterback Shamoun 'V' Duncan-Niusulu scored from two yards out, erasing a 10-6 halftime deficit after both teams went scoreless in the third quarter. Los Osos had built a 10-0 lead in the first half, on a 26-yard field goal by Anthony Lucero in the first quarter and then a 15-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Solomon Davis with five minutes remaining in the second quarter. Logan cut into the deficit with another two-yard scoring by Duncan-Niusulu.
"We battled. Los Osos is big, fast and well-coached," Rodriguez added. "Now we have to prepare for a bounce-back week against Dublin."
James Logan will look to rebound at home next Friday against the Gaels.
