FONTANA — The last time Jurupa Hills football game lost a game, Michael Ephraim missed an opportunity to force a turnover. The junior defensive back wasn’t going to let that happen in Friday night’s CIF Southern Section Division 8 championship game.
Ephraim forced a fumble from Charter Oak quarterback Corin Berry with 5:40 remaining in the second quarter. He juggled the ball and returned the fumble 32 yards for a touchdown. The play gave Jurupa Hills a 21-0 advantage. Ephraim also intercepted a pass with 25 seconds remaining to secure the Spartans’ 21-14 victory and program’s first section championship since 2013.
“They were called for an illegal procedure penalty on the previous play,” Ephraim said. “The quarterback started to run that play and I thought they would run the same play.”
In the final regular-season game, a 14-13 loss to city rival Summit, Ephraim remembered he failed to force a fumble. That loss left Jurupa Hills with a 4-6 record and questionable prospects for gaining a playoff position.
Since then, Jurupa Hills (8-6) has recorded four postseason victories. They will have an opportunity to play in the CIF State regional playoffs against an opponent to be selected on Sunday.
In addition to the fumble return, the Spartans blocked a field goal in the first half and intercepted two passes in the final 3:15 of the fourth quarter. The blocked field goal came after Jurupa Hills quarterback Caleb Ruiz was intercepted in the first minute by LaVar Arrington. Charter Oak took over at the Spartans’ 24-yard line, but Jurupa Hills made a defensive stop.
A 37-yard field goal attempt by Mitchell Gibbens was blocked by Damarrion Hall with help from Arthur Rodriguez.
“My job is to take the lineman down and give Damarrion a chance to block the ball,” Rodriguez said. “There was a mental determination and we felt we had to get it done.”
The blocked kick gave the Spartans an emotional lift, and also ignited an 8-play, 75-yard drove that was completed when Jordan Pernillo ran for a 2-yard touchdown.
Charter Oak had two chances to tie the contest in the closing minutes. Berry’s first pass was batted down, and Malachi Reed intercepted a deep pass at the Jurupa Hills 38.
Charter Oak’s second drive was more successful. The visitors were able to move the ball and conserve time with excellent short passes. With 25 seconds remaining, Ephraim intercepted the ball in the end zone.
“We knew they had good receivers, but our defense stopped their running attack,” Ephraim said. “I was in a middle zone and just played my area.”
