Verdugo Hills Sees Red in Victory Over Lincoln

TUJUNGA — Buzz Johnson has had a tough time as football coach at Verdugo Hills High.

The Dons had not won a football game since last season’s finale, and earlier this week he announced his resignation, effective after next week’s final game against Hollywood.

“I’m basically doing it for health purposes and personal reasons,” said Johnson, after he watched his team defeat Lincoln, 20-14, Friday in a Northern Conference game at Verdugo Hills.

Johnson, who has a 5-22-3 record in three seasons, may have borrowed from the Notre Dame handbook to inspire the Dons (1-6-2, 1-4-1 in conference play), when his team took the field in new red jerseys for their homecoming game.

However, it was the effort of an unlikely contributor that really ignited Verdugo Hills.

Verdugo Hills trailed, 7-6, early in the fourth quarter when Casey Thompson intercepted Adrian Pulido’s pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown. Thompson, normally a receiver, hadn’t played in the defensive backfield since last season on the junior varsity. Injuries to two regulars earlier in the game led to the switch.

Quarterback David Kelly followed Thompson’s touchdown with a two-point conversion on a sneak over left tackle, giving the Dons a 14-7 lead.

Kelly completed five of nine passes for 106 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown to Ryan Brouchett late in the third quarter.

Jason Evans gained 71 yards in 13 carries for the Dons, and Jon Marino added a 16-yard scoring run as fourth-quarter insurance.

Verdugo Hills needed it.

Pulido, who completed 13 of 18 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns for Lincoln (2-7, 2-4), connected with Jose Guevara for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 1 minute 50 seconds left.