Quarterback Vincent Hourigan scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with about 50 seconds left and Joey Rouly added the go-ahead extra point to help Canyon rally past Spanish Springs of Nevada 41-40 in a wild, season-opening football game in South Lake Tahoe on Friday.
The Comanches trailed 40-20 in the third quarter but used big plays on offense and defense to beat one of the best teams in Nevada.
Canyon defensive back Gabe Gallardo recovered a fumble on the final play to seal the victory but suffered a hip injury in the sequence, Comanches coach Mike Ogas.
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“They just rallied,” Ogas said of his team in a phone interview after the game at South Lake Tahoe High. “It was really fun to watch. … That was a very good team we beat.”
Ogas said safety Justin Bradford set up Hourigan’s score-tying touchdown run by a forcing fumble against Spanish Springs’ standout Jackson LaDuke, a senior committed to Oregon.
Canyon senior running back Jeffrey Holley then broke a long run to set the stage for Hourigan’s touchdown run.
Ogas said a blocked extra point by Dane Yasumura also was a critical to the victory.
“We had a lot of guys step up,” said Ogas, whose team went 3-7 last season but is expected to be improved. “It was a team effort.”
Canyon left on Wednesday for the game and stayed near South Lake Tahoe. Spanish Springs finished 9-4 last season.
In other season-opening games Friday:
Foothill 27, Coronado of Nevada 7: Senior Damien Pasillas returned an interception for a touchdown to help lead the visiting Knights, who outscored Coronado 20-0 in the second half.
No. 14 San Clemente 35, Oceanside 13: Junior Cole Batson returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown to help lead the visiting Tritons, who forced three turnovers. Drayton Joseph started at quarterback for San Clemente.
Next week, San Clemente plays host to Torrey Pines, which beat Los Alamitos 38-10.
No. 2 JSerra 24, East of Utah 14: Junior linebacker Jaden Genova blocked a punt and returned the ball for a 15-yard touchdown in the first half to help lead the visiting Lions. JSerra led 14-0 at halftime.
Fullerton 48, Santa Fe 7: Arthur Shaw rushed for 306 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries to lead the host Indians.
Magnolia 48, Godinez 6: Joseph Lariz rushed for 242 yards and scored twice at Glover Stadium to lead the Sentinels in their first game since a fire destroyed their equipment storage building.
