CONCORD — When California scored a touchdown and two-point conversion as the clock ticked down to two minutes on Friday night, everyone in the stadium at Clayton Valley Charter had to be wondering if history would repeat itself? Six weeks ago, California scored with 15.5 seconds remaining to beat the Ugly Eagles by one point.
There would be no miracles on this night. Rahsaan Woodland recovered the Grizzlies onside kick attempt and Clayton Valley ran out the clock for a 24-21 victory that will send the Ugly Eagles to the North Coast Section Division I championship game next Friday night at Pittsburg.
Clayton Valley (9-3) had seemingly locked down the NCS Open/D-I semifinal a few seconds earlier when quarterback Brenden Bush scored his second touchdown of the evening on a 9-yard run. Shane Nelson’s extra point made it 24-13.
But California took the ball at its own 35, and quarterback Teddy Booras threw an inside screen to favorite receiver Jake Calcagno that turned into a 65-yard touchdown.
Because the Grizzlies (8-4) had their point-after blocked following their previous touchdown, they had to go for two. It was good until an official called it back because of an ineligible receiver downfield.
The Grizzlies moved five yards back and tried again, and Booras hit Nabi Wahab to make it a three-point game. This time the officials let it stand.
But Woodland was Johnny-on-the-spot on the onside attempt, effectively ending the game, and preventing Booras and Calcagno from working their magic one more time.
“Nine and four are our concern,” Clayton Valley coach Tim Murphy said of Booras and Calcagno. “Are they seniors?”
Yes, they are. That final touchdown was the 20th time they had hooked up this season for six points.
Clayton Valley never trailed, taking a 7-0 lead on Woodland’s 9-yard in the second quarter. California tied it with 1.5 seconds to go in the half when Booras threw a 25-yard strike to Nabi Wahab.
Bush broke the tie midway through the third quarter on a 3-yard run that capped a 52-yard drive in 10 plays. It was set up by Micah Avery’s 37-yard kickoff return to open the second half.
Shane Nelson’s 29-yard field goal made it 17-7 early in the fourth quarter, then after California cut the margin to 17-13 on a 7-yard pass from Booras to Dominick Tuyor, Bush scored his second touchdown from 9 yards out to make it 24-13.
“Rahsaan ran the ball really good,” Murphy said of Woodland. “So did (Jordan) Barbadillo, and Bush managed the game really good.”
California played without leading runner Trevor Rund. He injured his hand in practice Wednesday and was wearing a soft cast. He played defense, but his 1,289 yards and 13 touchdowns this season were sorely missed.
“It hurt,” California coach Dan Calcagno said. “But we knew they were going to be hard to run on. We knew we had to throw the ball.”
Calcagno also was upset with himself for taking chances on fourth down and coming up short. Clayton Valley stopped the Grizzlies four times on fourth down, but it only came back to haunt the Grizzlies one time — Nelson’s three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
When Clayton Valley visits Pittsburg next Friday night, it will be the first time the teams have met since 2018, when the Eagles surprised the Pirates 38-31 in overtime. That game broke a five-game losing streak for the Ugly Eagles against Pitt.