Drown’s 2 Touchdown Passes Rally La Mirada Past Katella

Quarterback Chad Drown recovered from a rough start to lead La Mirada High School to a 38-21 come-from-behind victory over Katella in a nonleague football game Friday at La Mirada.

Drown missed on his first six passes as his team fell behind, 14-3. He completed 10 of his final 13 passes--including two touchdowns to Eric DeLaCruz --for La Mirada (4-1). Katella is 2-2-1.

Drown’s passing was complemented by running back Joe Fernandez, who gained 198 yards in 24 carries, including touchdown runs of 15 and four yards.

After two short touchdown runs by Katella quarterback Dennis Briggs gave the Knights a second-quarter lead, La Mirada scored twice in the final 2 1/2 minutes to take a 17-14 lead.

Fernandez cut the deficit to 14-10 on a 15-yard touchdown run with 2:28 left. Moments later, the Matadors’ Jeff Potter recovered a Katella fumble at the losers’ 36-yard line.

Drown hit DeLaCruz with a 15-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds left.