N. Torrance Beats South in Last Seconds

North Torrance High quarterback Brian Jurado had it in the clutch Thursday night.

Jurado (13 of 21, 225 yards) guided North to a 19-13 win over visiting South Torrance on the Saxons’ final series.

With about 6 minutes remaining and South holding a 13-12 lead, Jurado brought his team to its own 35-yard line, completed 4 passes for 37 yards and scored on a 1-yard run with 25 seconds left.

“I knew the pass was working,” Jurado said, “and my receivers helped me the whole game by coming back to the ball.”

The victory secured second place in the Ocean League (Morningside beat Centennial for first place) and a berth in the Division VII playoffs for North (7-1, 6-1 in league). Because Redondo finished second with a victory over Mira Costa, South (5-5, 4-3) drops out of the playoff picture unless the Spartans are awarded the Division’s at-large berth.

North’s Anthony Cole took the spotlight away from much-heralded receiver John Morton of South, who caught only 2 passes for 18 yards to Cole’s 7 catches, 174 yards and 1 touchdown.

Jurado’s heroics came after he had thrown an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eric Hansen late in the third quarter and South had moved ahead 13-12 with 6:27 left in the game on Brian Lee’s 20-yard field goal.

In the first quarter, South recovered a fumble by North’s Eric Bendy on his own 8-yard line and capitalized on the next play when Chris McLellan (22 carries, 60 yards) walked in for the score. Lee kicked the extra point for South’s 7-0 lead.

North’s troubles continued on its next possession when Dennis Stevens snapped the ball over the head of punter Ron Hanze and South recovered at the North 5. Four plays later, Lee’s 21-yard field goal gave South a 10-0 advantage.

Luck, however, blessed the Saxons on their next series. On second and 12 from his own 20, Jurado rolled out of the pocket and threw deep for a well-covered Cole. A North defender tipped the ball at the South 40 and Cole grabbed it and raced for an 80-yard touchdown completion. Juan Restrepo missed the PAT, but North had closed to 10-6.