Nov. 29, 2025 6:25 PM PT
Nicholas Fonseca snared a tipped ball in the long run zone for a 39-yard landing on an untimed down as South Gate pulled out a miraculous 63-58 victory over Marquez within the Metropolis Part Division I closing Saturday at Southwest School.
Marquez had taken a 58-57 lead on a one-yard sneak by Angelo Gutierrez and his subsequent two-point conversion move to Elyjah Staples with six seconds left. After a good catch, South Gate took over at its 46 and when Anthony Ford intercepted a move the Gladiators started celebrating, considering they’d gained. Nevertheless, a move interference penalty superior the ball to the Marquez 39 and gave the Rams one final gasp with zeros on the clock.
Quarterback Michael Gonzalez rolled to his proper to purchase time and launched a move right into a maze of gamers in the long run zone. The soar ball was tipped by two defenders into the ready arms of Fonseca, who calmly grabbed it out of midair — surprising even his personal teammates.
The profitable landing move from QB Michael Gonzalez to WR Nicholas Quintanilla that gave South Gate a Metropolis Division I championship. Courtesy Intescholastic Movies. pic.twitter.com/suuBvjKxEF
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) November 30, 2025
“I said to myself I’m not going to go up for the ball, I’m not that tall. … I’m gonna wait for it to come down and that’s what happened,” mentioned Fonseca, who had 10 catches for 152 and two touchdowns and likewise scored on a six-yard run.
“I seen it coming, I saw them hit it down but it went right into my hands and I caught it. This is one of the most special moments of my life!”
Gonzalez accomplished 26 of 34 passes for 450 yards and 6 touchdowns. Ephaunie Lewis had 10 receptions for 193 yards and three scores — the final a three-yard lob from Gonzalez with 52 seconds left, instantly adopted by Fonseca’s two-point run to place South Gate up 57-50.
Marquez tailback Gilberto Cisneros drags Rams defender Jordan Olivares to the objective line within the second quarter Saturday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Occasions)
Nicholas Quintanilla returned the second-half kickoff 85 yards for a rating that pulled the second-seeded Rams (11-3) even and his 39-yard landing catch gave South Gate its first lead, 35-28, late within the third quarter. He completed with 5 catches for 90 yards and rushed 5 instances for 54 yards.
The groups mixed for six touchdowns in a wild fourth quarter.
Angelo Gutierrez-Molina threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns, Marcus Juan ran for 113 yards and one landing in 15 carries and caught 4 passes for 50 yards. He raced 68 yards on a hook and lateral to provide the fifth-seeded Gladiators (11-3) a 50-49 lead with 1:57 left.
Gilberto Cisneros added 84 yards and three touchdowns in 22 carries and Staples had 4 catches for 129 yards and one landing.
“Never give up!” coach Francisco Saldana shouted earlier than elevating the trophy
South Gate misplaced to Chatsworth 38-36 on a discipline objective with no time left within the Division II closing final yr — one of the weird endings in Metropolis playoff historical past.
“On the last play my coach told me to run a corner route to the pylon,” Fonseca mentioned. “Last year we were up late and it bit us. This time we came through and it feels great.”
South Gate captured its third Metropolis title and first since profitable the 3A Division in 1988 beneath Gary Cordray.
