SAN JOSE - Eric Elizondo ran for a six-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left to give Leigh its first lead in the game, lifting the Longhorns to a 35-29 home victory over Woodside.
“We executed,” said Elizondo. “We ran our plays and ended up getting in the end zone.”
Conner Mace’s interception on a desperation Woodside throw into the end zone sealed the deal on the final play of the game.
Leigh (2-0) tied the game in the fourth quarter by converting a two-point attempt, after Elizondo scored a touchdown on a 48-yard catch-and-run.
Leigh’s defense forced Woodside into a quick punt, setting up the stage for Elizondo’s go-ahead touchdown.
“We did a good job holding them,” said Leigh team captain Tevita Pahulu. “Everyone on our defense worked hard and that’s why we came back and won this game.”
Woodside went up 14-0 in the first quarter, as Darnell Ellis ran in a touchdown and Joseph King tossed a touchdown to receiver Luis Robles from around ten yards out.
Leigh answered with back-to-back touchdown passes from Kyle Albert to Mace, the first a 24-yard strike and the next a 51-yard catch-and-run. A missed two point conversion prevented Leigh from tying the game.
To end the half, King connected with Andres Villarreal for a 32-yard touchdown to extend Woodside’s lead to 21-13.
Leigh tied the game early in the third, as Elizondo scored on a run from 20 yards out, and Albert’s pass to Elizondo converted the two-point attempt.
Woodside scored their final points on a 38-yard touchdown pass from King to Derek Smith, in the third quarter. Robles then connected with Smith to complete the two point conversion attempt on a trick play, forcing Leigh to try a two point attempt on their own. However, the Woodside defense could not stop Elizondo’s outburst in the fourth quarter.
“We worked hard, but we could not do well down the stretch. They won the battle,” Smith said.
Mace had two receiving touchdowns and two interceptions. Elizondo rushed for 176 yards, and Albert threw for three touchdowns and 230 yards to lead the Longhorns to their second straight victory.
Smith had over 100 yards receiving and King tossed three touchdowns for Woodside, who will play Christopher (2-0) on September 15.
“We’ve had two wins when we’re down late in the game,” said Pahulu. “We all try to play with a lot of heart and leave everything on the field. This team never gives up.”
SCORING SUMMARY
W - Ellis 15 yd run (Smith kick)
W - King 10 yd pass to Robles (Smith kick)
L - Albert 24 yd pass to Mace (Paik kick)
L - Albert 51 yd pass to Mace (run failed)
W - King 32 yd pass to Villarreal (Smith kick)
L - Elizondo 20 yd run (Albert pass to Elizondo)
W - King 38 yd pass to Smith (Robles pass to Smith)
L - Albert 48 yd pass to Elizondo (Albert pass to Alexander)
L - Elizondo 6 yd run (kick failed)
