2022 Week 11 B: Overtime, How it Began; Lincoln Regular-Season Champion

Granite Hills’ epic, four-overtime, 46-44 win over Helix for the Grossmont Hills championship represented the longest game in San Diego County history, although the first overtime contest also was long, for another reason.

From the 1976 season narrative:

NEW TIE-BREAKER TESTED

“History-making events are supposed to be heralded with sounding trumpets and helium-filled balloons,” wrote Steve Brand of The San Diego Union.

But the writer noted that a 6-6, semifinals playoff  tie between Morse and El Camino resulted in “disappointment and confusion,” all because of new tie-breaking rules.

Brand, on a morning newspaper deadline, was not a happy camper when he described what happened following the regulation tie:

“A twenty-minute discussion between officials, coaches, players, and statisticians over first downs, penetrations inside the 20-yard line, and a mysterious stopping of the clock just before the game ended.”

The teams tied with 7 first downs each and both had made two penetrations inside their opponent’s 20-yard line.  Those represented the first two elements of the new “California Tie-Breaker”  system.

Play resumed when the third tie-breaker kicked in.  Each team was given four plays from the 50-yard line.  Morse lost the coin toss and had first possession.

The Tigers had a net of minus two yards after four plays that included a 15-yard penalty. El Camino took over and essentially fell on the ball four consecutive plays, according to Brand.

The Wildcats were declared winners but the game went into the books as a tie.

The game was played at Vista, a technically neutral site, but the  the clock ‘inadvertantly’ stopped as time was running out and El Camino close to what would be an eighth and tie-breaking first down.”

Brand did make his deadline for the game story and overtime, after some refinements, became an exciting part of the landscape.

HORNETS WIN POLL, BUT…

Lincoln finished first (see below) but there will be a final, final poll at the end of the playoffs.  The Hornets won the head-to-head with Madison, 24-12,  and moved into first place for the first time. The Hornets will have to beat the Warhawks again, in a Open Division game between No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the playoffs’ second round.

Pairings are available elsewhere on the site.  Follow the drop-downs in the “Football” menu to “Scores” or “Teams”.

The San Diego Union-Tribune Week 11 Top 10: