There was never a dull moment at Walker Field in Pleasanton on Friday night.
Four quarters wasn’t enough to decide California and Amador Valley’s epic game, but the Grizzlies found a way in overtime to win 54-48 in what will go down as one of the most exciting games of the high school season.
California running back Jhadis Luckey rushed for a school record seven touchdowns, which included the game-winning score in overtime. Amador Valley and Oregon State-bound quarterback Tristian Tia was involved in every one of the Dons’ touchdowns and had one of the best of the best plays of the night on a wild two-point conversion scramble that tied the game in the fourth quarter.
Amador Valley got the ball to start overtime, but California’s defense denied the Dons a score on their first opportunity. California got the ball back and Luckey scored the game-clinching touchdown on a rush to the right side.
California moved to 8-2, 2-2 with its only losses coming against San Ramon Valley and De La Salle – two teams ranked inside the Top 5 of the Bay Area News Group football rankings.
Luckey continued his stellar season as he now has 30 rushing touchdowns on the year.
Friday’s game also had North Coast Section playoff implications for both teams.
California likely locked up a middle seed in the Open/Division I bracket with the win. An Amador Valley victory could have pushed the Pleasanton school into one of the final spots in the Division I playoffs with a trip to De La Salle or Pittsburg in the first round, but the Dons will likely be one of the top seeds in Division II with a better shot of making an NCS title game.
Amador Valley finished the regular season 6-4, 1-2.
