El Dorado Misses Last-Second Chance to Upset Diamond Bar

PLACENTIA — Mike Zurhellen’s 46-yard field goal attempt as time ran out came up just short as Diamond Bar held on to defeat El Dorado, 15-14, in a nonleague game Friday at Valencia High.

The Golden Hawks (1-1) turned the ball over four times against the Brahmas (2-0), but still had a chance to win the game.

Trailing, 15-14, El Dorado drove 34 yards to the Diamond Bar 27 with 18 seconds left in the game. Despite having no timeouts, El Dorado managed to get its kicking team on the field, but Zurhellen’s try was just short.

El Dorado took a 7-0 lead with 8:02 left in the first quarter when Steve Warfield went around left end for a four-yard touchdown run. The touchdown was set up by Tim Fairfield’s fumble recovery.

The Brahmas, the defending Southern Section Division VI champions, took a 12-7 lead on a pair of first-half touchdown passes by quarterback Joe Spicer. With 3:54 left in the first quarter, Spicer hit Alvin Graham for a 31-yard scoring pass.

With 4:40 left in the half, Spicer threw a 76-yard scoring pass to Ruben Rivas.

El Dorado bounced back to take a 14-12 lead when Warfield again went in from four yards out with 12 seconds left in the first half. Warfield finished the night with 152 yards rushing in 28 carries.

Diamond Bar took the lead for good with 3:26 left in the game when Masaya Yamazaki kicked a 26-yard field goal.