HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SOUTHERN SECTION ROUNDUP

Rio Mesa 35, Santa Barbara 34--Rio Mesa’s Demetrius Henderson blocked the extra point attempt of Alfredo Moreno with 2:46 left to preserve the Spartans’ upset of previously unbeaten Santa Barbara at Rio Mesa.

Rio Mesa (4-4, 3-2) broke a 14-14 halftime tie in the third quarter on a three-yard touchdown run by Henderson and a three-yard scoring run by 315-pound back James Jones to give the Spartans a 28-14 lead.

A 56-yard scoring run by Santa Barbara’s Michael Holguin cut the Rio Mesa lead to 28-21 at the end of the third quarter.

But Rio Mesa quarterback Don DiDomizio, who rarely passes, tossed a soft seven-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Mike Contreras in the corner of the end zone early in the fourth quarter to give the Spartans what would be the winning score and a 35-21 lead.

Santa Barbara (7-1, 4-1) mounted a furious comeback attempt with 9 1/2 minutes left as Spencer connected on 18- and 25-yard touchdown strikes to wide receiver Armando Jimenez.

Santa Barbara, which used an onside kick to lead to one of its fourth-quarter scores, attempted another last-chance onside kick but this time Rio Mesa’s Robert McDuffy grabbed the ball and fell on it. The Dons were out of timeouts and Rio Mesa gained a first down and ran out the clock.

David Berger led the Rio Mesa rushing attack with 123 yards in eight attempts, including a 73-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. DiDomizio added 96 yards in 17 carries and Junior Liufau gained 75 yards in 13 carries, including a 12-yard touchdown run.