Routs, thrillers in the playoffs

The Southern Section football playoffs are supposed to be based on competitive equity, but there were plenty of openinground blowouts Friday night, from Division 1 to Division 13.

Among the few games with real drama, there was Saugus kicker Colton Dolder making a 43-yard field goal with one second remaining to give the Centurions a 38-35 victory over Goleta Bishop Diego in Division 4.

Weston Eget threw a 50yard touchdown pass to Jackson Reyes in the final seconds to give Valencia West Ranch its first playoff victory, 35-31 over Silverado in Division 4.

Sophomore quarterback Cooper Meek scored on a one-yard plunge with 12 seconds left, barely getting the ball into the end zone before it was knocked away, to enable Sherman Oaks Notre Dame to defeat La Habra 4134 in Division 2.

Rancho Cucamonga stopped a two-point conversion attempt to pull out a 4240 overtime win over Vista Murrieta in Division 1.

In Division 13, Pomona Garey rallied for a 49-48 win over Torrance Bishop Montgomery, scoring with 1:46 left and getting a game-winning conversion kick from Diego Alas. Sophomore Thaj Stevens-Nguyen rushed for 300 yards and scored six touchdowns.

City Section thriller

Woodland Hills El Camino Real trailed South Gate 16-13 with three seconds left and trying to tie the score, but South Gate’s Lucio Rodriguez blocked a field-goal attempt and Brocmonte Bucio returned it for a touchdown as time expired, giving the Rams a 2213 upset in the Division I playoffs.

Rooney to return

Notre Dame coach Kevin Rooney, who sat out his second game Friday after the death of his wife, is expected to return to duties this week. Longtime assistant Joe McNab served as coach the last two weeks.

“I’m retired,” McNab said Saturday morning. “Undefeated.”

Notre Dame will play host to Los Alamitos in the Division 2 quarterfinals.

Culver City record

Sophomore quarterback Zevi Eckhaus tied a school record with seven touchdown passes in Culver City’s 55-7 win over Santa Barbara in a Division 7 game.

Rematch time

The rivalry between Dorsey and Crenshaw will be renewed in the City Section Division I quarterfinals Friday at Rancho Cienega Park only two weeks after Dorsey defeated Crenshaw 44-35 in a Coliseum League game.

Steady as he goes

Junior James Jimenez is having quite a season for 11-0 Covina Northview. He started the week with 33 touchdown passes and 11 touchdown runs.

He had three touchdown passes, plus a touchdown run, in Northview’s 43-7 victory over Santa Ynez in a Division 7 opener.