Last-second touchdown lifts Simi Valley into CIF-SS Division 6 football final

Not much misses the eyes of Simi Valley High football coach Jim Benkert.

So when Huntington Beach sent offensive lineman Justin Tauanuu as a substitute for its goal-line defense in the closing seconds of the CIF-Southern Section Division 6 semifinal at home, Benkert knew that would poise a problem.

"One-and-a-half yards is tough to get when they put a 6-foot-7, 285-pound USC commit in the middle," said Benkert, who called a timeout to change the play to an off-tackle run.

In a split-second that changed. A Huntington Beach offsides moved Simi Valley dramatically closer. Just close enough for Simi Valley to flip the page back to Plan A.

With 3.2 seconds left in the game, Simi Valley quarterback Jesse Sereno dove into the end zone — with a helpful push from behind by Brice Hawkins — for a 32-29 win.

For the second time in five years, Simi Valley (8-5) has reached a section championship game. And only the second time in program history as a matter of fact.

The Pioneers will be on the road next Saturday against Mira Costa.

Sereno completed 24 of 42 passes for 176 yards and Hawkins rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns.

In a wild second half, the teams combined for seven touchdowns. The lead changed four times.

Led by 6-5, 210-pound freshman quarterback Brady Edmunds, Huntington Beach scored all of its points in the last 24 minutes.

Edmunds' 12-yard TD pass to Hunter Gray gave Huntington Beach a 29-25 lead with 1:41 left in the game.

Simi Valley had prepared for such a late-game situation.

"I told our guys what we were going to do," said Benkert. "Every day in practice we worked on setting it up."

Benkert had banked all of his timeouts for the final drive.

"This group is really resilient," said Benkert. "They just keep fighting. The way we caught the ball tonight was poetry in motion."

Sereno was not about to take credit for the game-winning drive.

"I am nothing without my receivers," said Sereno."Nothing without my line. What more is there to say?"

The Simi Valley defense, which has stood its ground throughout the season, was the difference in the Pioneers taking a 10-0 lead into halftime.

Huntington Beach was limited to just three first downs in the first two quarters, all in one drive.

Dominic Demaio returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown to put Simi Valley on board 7-0 with 7:23 left in the second quarter. Huntington Beach drove to the Simi Valley 4-yard line on the ensuing possession. Isaac Hannans recovered a Huntington Beach fumble and returned it 16 yards.

Simi Valley drove to the Huntington Beach 13 and Jack Reed's 30-yard field goal with one second remaining in the first half extended the Pioneers lead to 10-0.

Edmunds went to work, completing TD passes of 54 and 29 yards in the third quarter as Huntington Beach exploded with a 22-7 run.

Hawkins scored on a 16-yard run as Simi Valley regained the lead 25-22.

"We knew that points would be at a premium because of their defense," said Benkert. "They have some really good dudes."

Simi Valley's three-game run in the playoffs may have caught some by surprised, but not Benkert.

"This team has overperformed all year, overachieved all year, stayed together all year," said Benkert. "I can't be more proud of this group."

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Last-second TD lifts Simi Valley into CIF-SS Division 6 football final