Encinal kicker John Brindley found himself in a similar position to the previous week, lining up for the game-winning kick in a North Coast Section playoff game. This time, however, Del Norte's Chase Blackburn - who had earlier scored a game-tying touchdown for the Warriors - broke through the line of scrimmage and swatted down Brindley's game-winning attempt, preserving a 14-13 Del Norte victory in the NCS Division 5 title game.
Blackburn's 15-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter gave Del Norte a quick response to an Encinal touchdown in the second quarter, when David Romero-Reinholz found Teddy Oliver for a one-handed grab and the first points of the night, following a scoreless first quarter.
Del Norte took its lead with 1:47 left in the first half, when OJ Calleja plunged into the end zone from one-yard out for a 14-7, after the Warriors had converted on third-and-13 earlier in the drive. Encinal thought it had a shot at the end zone just before halftime, as the Jets thought Oliver had gotten out of bounds inside the Del Norte 20-yard line following a 35-yard gain on a crossing route in the final seconds of the half, but the officials ruled that time expired before Oliver went out of bounds, ending the half.
Both teams played to a stalemate in the third quarter, but Encinal responded with a 68-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Smith with 7:52 left in the game. That brought the Jets to within one point, but an unsportsmanlike penalty was called after the play, and then a false start was added, making it a 40-yard attempt for the extra point, a try that was no good and left Encinal trailing 14-13.
Encinal's final drive nearly did get into field goal range, but Romero-Reinholz scrambled for a 24-yard gain on fourth-and-10 from the Del Norte 40-yard line, and then a penalty at the end of the play moved the ball to the Warriors' eight-yard line. The Del Norte defense allowed only a couple yards from there, forcing Brindley to attempt the game-winning field goal with 16 seconds remaining in the game. Blackburn then made his next big play, sending the Warriors to a CIF NorCal bowl game for the first time, after winning the school's first-ever section championship in football.
"Our players gave a championship effort on every play, especially the field goal block. We have blocked a lot of kicks this year, so we knew there was a chance at it," said Del Norte coach Nick White. "We made great plays at turning points in the game, and that was the difference. I am just so proud of our players and community. This will live on in our program's history."
Del Norte will face CCS Division III champion The King's Academy in Sunnyvale in the regional round.
