The Our Lady of Lourdes varsity flag football team completed a perfect 4-0 CYO West Foothill Division road record by defeating the St. Bede Chargers 33-32 in a thrilling back and forth game.

The scoring was fast-paced and dramatic all day. Neither team punted the ball and only two defensive stops for the OLL Lions came on an interception late in the fourth quarter by Luke Hunter and a late “Hail Mary” pass that was knocked to the ground by Michael Alarcon. With a strong offense, that was all the OLL defense needed to hold the high-flying aerial attack of St. Bede.

OLL struck first with a 45-yard TD run by Teddy Ibarra off left tackle behind a devastating lead block by Clayton Esparza. The two-point conversion was good and the Lions took a quick 8-0 lead.

The Chargers struck right back with precision pass plays but missed the conversion making the score 8-6. The Lions then hit a 40-yard TD pass from QB Hayden Byrnes to flanker Andrew Petrossian bringing the lead to 14-6.

St. Bede returned but failed to convert the extra point, 14-12. The Lions scored on a quick shovel pass to Ibarra to take a half time lead of 21-18.

St. Bede started the second half by scoring two quick touchdowns, 32-21. But that was all St. Bede had as the Lions scored 12 unanswered to win the game 33-32.

The pivotal play came with 1:30 left in the fourth. Hunter, from his right defensive end position, batted a pass from the St. Bede QB into the air and then came down with the interception. Byrnes then led a game winning drive capped with a tough 5-yard TD run by Ibarra. The win puts the Lions in control of the No. 2 for the playoffs.

The Lions were cheered on by the OLL Spirit Squad who riled up the spectators.

Written by Todd BYER