Peninsula Holds Off Leuzinger, 15-12

After being surprised by a trick play for a touchdown seconds before halftime, Palos Verdes Peninsula High charged out of the locker room and played an inspired second half to beat host Lawndale Leuzinger, 15-12, Friday night in the Bay League opener for both teams.

Peninsula improved to 6-0 after Panther running back Mike Mergolf’s seven-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and two-point conversion closed the scoring.

“We did some good things on defense in the second half,” Peninsula Coach Gary Kimbrell said. “We were in a precarious position.”

Peninsula defensive back Chris Duffy’s interception at the Panthers’ 30-yard line with less than two minutes to play ended the comeback hopes of Leuzinger (3-3).

“It almost makes you want to cry, to know how hard we worked in practice every day, and then come out and lose, 15-12,” Leuzinger wide receiver Jason Sharp said. “It’s real tough.”

Leuzinger stunned the Panthers with a 53-yard halfback option pass for a touchdown that gave the Olympians a 12-7 halftime lead.

With 21 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Leuzinger running back Ron Nickerson threw a long pass to Sharp, hitting him in stride at about the five-yard line for the score.

Sharp, who finished with five receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown, said the Olympians did not practice the play.

“It was desperation time,” he said. “It was the quarterback’s (Jason Simmons) call.”

Peninsula’s James Durroh ran for 139 yards and a touchdown in 18 carries.