Fontana Legs It Out in Overtime

Fontana High’s Trevor Malensek kicked a 28-yard field goal in the second overtime, giving the Steelers a 31-28 victory over La Puente Bishop Amat High in the Southern Section Division I quarterfinals Friday night before an estimated 10,000 at Citrus College in Glendora.

Fontana, ranked No. 2 in the Southland by The Times, improved to 11-0-1 and will meet Loyola in the semifinals next Friday.

Bishop Amat kicker Louis Castro missed a 20-yard field goal in the second overtime, which each team begins on the opponent’s 10-yard line.

That left Fontana with the option of trying to score a touchdown or kick a field goal to win. Steeler Coach Dick Bruich opted to bring Malensek on the field on second down from the 11-yard line.

Fontana running back Andre Perry gave the Steelers a 28-21 lead with a ten-yard run in the first overtime.

Bishop Amat tied the score at 28 when quarterback Dennis Wyrick connected with Doug Knight on a four-yard touchdown pass.

Fontana’s Art Gipson ran 45 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 21 with 3:46 remaining in the game.

The Lancers final bid to win the game in regulation was thwarted when Fontana’s Thomas Howard intercepted a fourth-down pass from Wyrick with 30 seconds remaining.

Bishop Amat had taken a 21-14 lead with 10:43 remaining in the game on a six-yard run by Breon Ansley.

The Lancers trailed, 7-0, after giving up a 70-yard touchdown run by Perry less than four minutes into the game.

Bishop Amat made the score 7-7 when Wyrick scored from one yard out in the second quarter.

The Lancers took a 14-7 advantage with 6:51 remaining in the second quarter when Wyrick connected with Joey Getherall on a 45-yard touchdown pass.

The rushing duo of Gipson and Perry was effective. Perry rushed for 183 yards and two touchdowns in 15 carries and Gipson rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns in 19 carries.