Reflecting on the Golden Tornado’s Near Championship
Plus, UCSB Gauchos Reach Soccer’s Sweet Sixteen, Play Wake Forest on Saturday
Few occasions can bring people together like a high school football championship game, especially when their community has a deep history in the sport. So it was that the stadium at San Marcos High — in the shadow of hills that had seen fire, rain, and snow in the previous four days — was packed to capacity on a wet Saturday night when the Santa Barbara High Golden Tornado made its 12th appearance in a CIF Southern Section final.
It was a showdown between the top-ranked teams in Division 8 — No. 1 Sunny Hills and No. 2 Santa Barbara — and it had everything: long scoring drives (despite the conditions, neither team lost a fumble); lightning touchdown strikes; a goal-line stand that forced a field goal; three lead changes in the fourth quarter; and, with 30 seconds remaining, the outcome literally up in the air.
His team trailing 24-21, Golden Tornado quarterback Deacon Hill rifled a pass from the 19-yard line into the middle of the end zone. He had completed such throws many times before, but this time, Sunny Hills defensive back Wilson Cal made an interception to clinch the Lancers’ comeback victory. Update the weather forecast: Heavy tearfall at 9:30 p.m.
