'DOUBLE PASS' WORKS FOR TIGERS NEWEST PLAY LEADS TO SAN FERNANDO VICTORY SAN FERNANDO 14, SYLMAR 10.

Byline: LEE BARNATHAN

Special to the Daily News

This is why they play the games.

San Fernando, despite three lost fumbles and three interceptions, defeated host Sylmar, 14-10, on a 36-yard touchdown pass from receiver Stacey Richards to receiver Leon Jones with 7.7seconds to play.

The Tigers (4-3, 2-0 Valley Mission League) won the game on a play that they had already tried Friday, quarterback Rashaad Reynolds throwing high and incomplete to Richards.

They won despite Reynolds completing just 5 of 20 passes for 71 yards and three interceptions. They won with their leading rusher, fullback Mike Solis, gaining 54 yards on 12 carries. They won with 12 penalties for 79 yards.

"Lucky we won, 'cause you lose games playing like this," San Fernando coach Tom Hernandez said.

Also, the Tigers beat Sylmar (4-3, 1-1) on a play that had just been put into the playbook this week. Richards said it was called "double pass." That's it. No fancy name.

Hernandez said he didn't think his team would need it considering the way it played. But as time wound down, and as San Fernando and Sylmar alternated making boneheaded penalties, Hernandez figured, what the heck?

The winning drive began on the San Fernando 27-yard line and stalled at the 43 with the Tigers facing fourth-and-7 when Reynolds broke loose and ran down the left sideline for a large gain, only to have it called back by a holding penalty.

So, the Tigers were faced with fourth-and-17 from the 33, and Reynolds' pass to the north sideline was incomplete.

But on the other side of the field -- and nowhere near the play -- a Sylmar defensive back got called for a personal foul, giving the Tigers new life at the 48. Reynolds ran four yards for the first down, and there was less than a minute to play.

A delay-of-game penalty followed a Reynolds incompletion. Then Reynolds ran for 16 yards and a first down with 15.7 seconds remaining. After an incomplete pass, "double pass" found the end zone.

Josh Pons led Sylmar with 40 rushing yards on eight carries. Charles Roberson gained 34 yards, including a 3-yard run late in the first half for a 7-0 halftime lead. Sylmar quarterback John Perales completed 2 of 17 passes to Roberson for 49 yards, 40 of which set up Sylmar's touchdown. He also threw two interceptions.

San Fernando tied the score at 7-7 late in the third quarter, marching 99yards in 12 plays that ended with Reynolds running in from 1 yard out, helped by Solis' push.

Sylmar responded with Jonathon Miron kicking a 33-yard field goal with 7:02 to play for a 10-7 lead.

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