ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / PREP EXTRA : CENTURY LEAGUE : Orange Hangs On, Stops Villa Park’s Last-Ditch Effort

ORANGE —  Villa Park has made a habit of pulling out tight games this season, winning four three-point games, and the Spartans were on the verge of doing it again Friday night.

But Orange’s Jay Norman sacked Sam Stremick, who fumbled away the hopes of a last-second victory on the Orange 34-yard line as the Panthers recovered with 29 seconds left in the game and hung on to win, 28-27.

Carlos Heard put the Panthers (4-3, 1-1) ahead, 28-27, on a five-yard run with 6:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Then a Stremick pass bounced off the fingertips of receiver Chuck Reid and into the arms of Orange’s Derald Deason for an interception with 4:03 remaining. But the Spartan defense held and they got the ball back on their 17-yard line with 1:49 left.

After Chris Bell ran for 11 yards, Stremick hit Bell on a screen pass that covered 19 yards. On the next play, Stremick hooked up with Joey Zine for 19 yards, putting the Spartans on the Orange 34. But Norman sacked Stremick and forced the fumble that ended the threat.