JESUS CANO
Prep2Prep Adult Contributor

December 1, 2018

SAN RAMON, Calif. — When Freedom was trailing by 21 points in the first quarter, quarterback Joey Aguilar kept on telling his teammates that they were the better team.

And Aguilar did his part, throwing four unanswered touchdown passes in No. 3 Freedom’s nail biting 35-34 victory over No. 2 California, sending the Falcons to the NCS DI championship for the second year in a row, and their third straight title game appearance counting the 2016 Open Division final.

“We just started playing better, I believe the reason we were losing was we were beating ourselves. So at halftime we put it all together and came out with the victory.” said Aguilar. “When we came back and scored, it showed we were back in the game.”

But it came down to the wire. Cal had scored a touchdown to make it 35-34, but head coach Eric Billeci decided kicking the extra point wasn’t going to be enough. Instead, he went for two points and it still wasn't enough.

The Freedom defense stopped the Grizzlies on a sweep to the right side, and after a recovered onside kick by California couple led to a Tyler Bush missed 46 yard field goal for Cal, Freedom took home the victory.

But Freedom looked more deer in headlights to start off the game.

Cal scored in the first drive of the game. Caden Jarvis capped it off with an 11 yard touchdown run. Cal went with the early surprise onside kick, and recovered. It set up for a 49 yard drive which resulted in a trick play when Asher Golden hit Jahmal Cornwell for a 19 yard touchdown pass.

Matt McCeary added on a touchdown pass in the second quarter to make it 21-0.

Freedom’s offense struggled to hold the ball, recording two consecutive fumbles and four turnovers on the night. Aguilar still managed to Kimahni Tolefree for an 11 yard touchdown, which proved to be a momentum builder for Freedom as it trailed 21-7 heading to halftime.

*We were just playing dumb honestly and we just went to the locker room and told Joey what we saw was open and we knew the defense had to pick it up so that’s what we did.” said Giles Jackson. “That was hands down the craziest games I’ve ever been in.”

And the change in offense was like day and night. Freedom, outscored Cal 28-13 in the second half, with three unanswered touchdowns. Three passing touchdowns by Aguilar, four overall for the day.

Aguilar hit Roy Lee to make it 21-14, then a Freedom defense stop of fourth and goal set up Diego Fratus for a 68 yard run which set up Aguilar to connect with Mekel Ealy.

Aguilar continued to show off his arm, this time sending a sailing pass to Giles Jackson down the right sideline, who brought it in home for a 66 yard touchdown catch to take the 28-21 in the fourth quarter.

Cal kept on attacking we’re able to tie up the game on a Jahmal Cornwell 19 yard touchdown reception, but Freedom’s Diego Fratus one-yard slam put the Falcons back on top.

The Grizzlies had their season on the line, just 10 yards away, and after a series of defensive stops by Freedom which included a Kimahni Tolefree swat, they scored and made it 35-34, took the chance, and came up short.

In his first year at the helm, Freedom head coach Andrew Cotter is picking up where former coach Kevin Hartwig left off, taking the Falcons back to another section title game.

“To come back to my community and help them win something is pretty special,” said Cotter, who grew up in Brentwood and played his high school ball at Liberty. “They believe in themselves and that means everything in high school football.”

Freedom will play the winner of Vintage vs. San Ramon Valley for the NCS DI championship next Saturday at 7 p.m. at Heritage High School.