By CHRIS TOBOLSKI
The Orange County Register

COSTA MESA – Magnolia’s Elijah Laulu launched his final pass of the night toward the end zone, his team trailing by seven points.

Receiver Robert Cruz and defensive back Tikey Mahlow leaped together at the goal line.

However, the ball fell to the ground, preserving Calvary Chapel’s come-from-behind 13-6 victory over the Sentinels in the season opener for both teams Thursday night at Orange Coast College.

“We made some mistakes,” Eagles coach Lyle Lansdell said, “but the hardest thing to do is get the kids to believe they can win. This will help.”

The Eagles opened by driving into Sentinels territory, but their drive stalled on a fumble. Calvary Chapel finished with five turnovers, including four fumbles.

Magnolia drove inside the Eagles’ red zone on three of its first four possessions but came up without any points. It wasn’t until their fourth trip inside the red zone that the Sentinels found the end zone.

Laulu connected with Robert Cruz for a 15-yard touchdown pass and the Sentinels led, 6-0, with 3:25 to go before halftime.

Calvary Chapel capitalized on good field position off of a Magnolia fumble late in the third quarter. After Scott Matsuda came up with the loose ball, Eagles quarterback Daniel Fiero delivered a strike to a wide-open Brandon Perez for a 34-yard touchdown.

The extra-point attempt failed and the score remained tied at 6 with 3:58 to go in the third.

The Eagles took over at their 48 with 8:03 remaining in the game and began what proved to be the winning drive. Calvary Chapel benefited from a roughing-the-passer penalty and eventually moved inside the 10 on a 13-yard run by Perez.

Perez then punched it in from 1 yard out, and the Eagles took the lead, 13-6, with 2:58 remaining.

Magnolia went four-and-out, but it got the ball back on its 49 with 41 seconds left before Laulu’s last pass fell incomplete.

“Turnovers, turnovers and turnovers,” Sentinels coach Dave Perkins said. “We didn’t execute, and we didn’t finish. But you have to give Calvary all the credit.”

Fiero, who was making his first varsity start, said the victory was big for the Eagles.

“We deserved it,” he said. “I can’t tell you how hard we worked this summer.”

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