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Homecoming King - Welcome Back Kevin O'Connell
By ryanmettee26 | Posted October 11, 2008, 6:33 p.m.
This post taken from www.RawHideNation.com
In 2002, the Mavericks payed a visit to Poway High School to take on the Titans. Both teams were on the bubble, both had aspirations to make it into the playoff and take a run at CIF. The winner of the game would advance to the playoffs. The loser would take a trip fishing. Everything was on the line.
The clock read 1:00 remaining in the fourth quarter. La Costa Canyon needed a victory over a stingy Poway Titans team to get into the playoffs. The Titans had just scored on a 5 yards yard pass and taken the lead, seemingly icing a hard fought game. The La Costa Canyon sideline went dead - it appeared the Mavericks were out of luck.
After a decent kickoff return, with under a minute remaining, the Mavericks found themselves 70 yards away from a trip to the playoffs - enter the Maverick offense and Kevin O'Connell.
A 20 yard pass out of bounds. A quick pass down the middle. Timeout, stop the clock! After a couple failed passes, it came down to this, the down markers reading 4th and 13, with 38 seconds remaining. On fourth and long #7 dropped back to pass. Nothing was open and the rush was coming hard. Scramble! Scramble. Kevin tucked the ball away and sprinted for the first down marker. Out of bounds - first down Mavericks!
Less than thirty seconds remained and the Mavericks found themselves 40 yards away from the playoffs. Could the unimaginable be accomplished? The offense came to the line, the lineman set - "hike." O'Connell spotted Toledo streaking down the right side, 2 feet ahead of his defenders. Throw the ball! Kevin launched it... TOUCHDOWN MAVERICKS!
Game over. The Mavericks advanced to the playoffs.
Three thousand miles is a long ways from New England to San Diego, but not for Kevin O'Connell, the 6'5 225 pound strong armed quarterback. In fact, I'm sure he couldn't wait to hop on the plane and get to sunny San Diego, the place he's called home his entire life.
O'Connell makes a special homecoming when his 3-1 New England Patriots square off against the 3-2 San Diego Chargers Sunday, at Qualcomm Stadium. This will be a particularly special trip for the La Costa Canyon the San Diego State alum who worked hard his entire football career to make it to the NFL. Expect a ton of O'Connell supporters at Sunday's big game.
Kevin played quarterback for La Costa Canyon, graduating in 2003. He went to San Diego and collected the school record for yards rushing by (1,312) and touchdowns rushing (19) by a quarterback. When playing with Kevin throughout Pop Warner and into high school ball, even considering Kevin's prominent physique - perfect for an NFL quarter - I was always impressed by Kevin's leadership, his ability to take control, pull an offense together, and make the big play when the game was on the line.
Tomorrow, turn on the Chargers game and give Kevin a cheer. He deserves it.
You can also check out these two video of Kevin below. One is from San Diego State. The other is on drat day. If you are receiving this post via RSS feed, you must come to the site to view it.
You can read more posts like this at www.RawHideNation.com, the #1 source for North County and La Costa Canyon football.
