Rancho Cordova, CA (MPG) – Johnele Sanders and Anthony Diaz are going to remember one particular Cordova High School football game for many years to come.

The duo, both juniors, led the Lancers to a thrilling 34-33 non-league win over Rio Linda on the Knights’ field on Friday, Sept. 8^th. With four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Cordova (2-1), which led 20-18 at the beginning of the quarter, found itself behind at 33-27.

That is when the Lancers started their come-from-behind victory after the Knights scored their final touchdown on the ground to take the short-lived lead. As time ticked off the clock to 20.3 seconds remaining in the game, Sanders found Diaz across the middle for a 10-yard touchdown to tie the game at 33-33.

“He just caught a beautiful pass,” said Cordova head coach Darren Nill of Diaz’s catch.

Alvin Banks booted the extra-point that gave the Lancers the win.

Prior to the winning score, the Lancers had the ball but was faced with a 4^th down and long from their own 30-yard line. That led to punting the ball, but the Knights’ punt returner bobbled the punt, which was recovered by Diaz at the Knights’ 30-yard line.

“He came up big,” said Nill of Diaz.

Nill had a hunch his Lancers would have the ball again on offense, but it was sooner rather than later in the final minutes of the quarter.

“Even though we were down by six points, we had two timeouts and I was hoping that we could get the ball back,” Nill said.

The Lancers went with the air game against Rio Linda’s offense, and proved to be successful. Sanders completed 26-of-38 passes for 410 yards and four touchdowns. Banks, who is one of the Lancers’ wide receivers, was on the end of three of those scores, and had 11 receptions for 252 yards.

“We were struggling to get a little offense going on the ground,” Nill said. “We were regulated to passing the ball.”

Wide receiver Calvin Augusta also completed a pass for the Lancers that led to a touchdown. He and Diaz also caught a TD pass in the game. Augusta had 10 receptions for 101 yards. As a team, Cordova had 453 total offensive yards.

On defense, free safety Tyreke Tate, who had started as quarterback for the Lancers in the first two games of the season, had 12 tackles. Outside linebacker Ryan McMoore followed with 11, and fellow outside linebacker Yusef Pugh had eight. Defensive tackle Jaizyn Phelp-Reis finished with seven. The Knights’ offense had 468 total offensive yards against the Lancers.

This Friday Cordova continues its pre-season schedule at Vista del Lago of Folsom. Since the school opened its doors earlier this decade, Vista del Lago (1-2) had played all of its home games at Folsom High School while waiting for completion of its stadium that was completed earlier this year. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

All photos by Rick Sloan