LIONS' ROAR COMES LATE OAKS CHRISTIAN TAKES DIV. III STATE TITLE WITH OT WIN O.C. 27, C.N 20.

Byline: ERIK BOAL Special to the Daily News

CARSON -- It took some timely running from one of the strongest-armed quarterbacks in area history.

It demanded a freshman to demonstrate maturity and poise well beyond his years.

It forced a sure-handed receiver to make the biggest solo tackle of his high school career and required two crucial stops from the most underrated player on the defensive unit.

For Oaks Christian of Westlake Village's football team, it took all of those efforts and a few more Saturday to answer its biggest challenge of the season against Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa in the CIF State Div. III Championship Bowl game.

But in front of 5,000 spectators at Home Depot Center, the Lions rallied from their firstfourth-quarter deficit in three seasons to record a 27-20 overtime victory, tying the Southern Section record with their 46th consecutive win.

Marshall Jones' 7-yard touchdown run on the second play of the first extra period stood up when Cardinal Newman quarterback Ryan Lingle misfired on a fourth-down pass to Scott Magnuson in the left corner of the end zone, marking a thrilling end to the first state championship game in 79 years.

``When he threw the fade, as soon as the ball went over his head and fell to the ground, I looked around to make sure there weren't any flags and then I started celebrating,'' said senior defensive back Brad Freeman, who deflected Lingle's third-down pass and defended Magnuson on the final play. ``I had a feeling they were going to pick on me because our other cornerback (Anthony Gildon) is so good and so well-known. I just wanted to play my coverage and do the best I could.''

Freeman's contributions, combined with 15 tackles, a sack and a 64-yard interception return for a touchdown from freshman Malcolm Jones, helped Oaks Christian -- ranked second in the state by Cal-Hi Sports and No. 6 nationally by USA Today -- complete one of the most impressive seasons in California prep football history.

The Lions, who scored the second-most points (797) in a single season, joined Bishop Amat of La Puente (1992) as the only other team to finish 15-0. Oaks Christian's winning streak moved the program into a tie for fourth in state history, joining St. Helena (1960-65), Temple City (1969-73), Canyon of Canyon Country (1983-86) and Hilmar (1986-90).

``It wasn't pretty, but we'll take it,'' said Oaks Christian coach Bill Redell, who received a five-year contract extension before Saturday's game. ``The kids played so hard and they deserved to win this game. We didn't play well, but we played well enough, and that's all matters.''

Trailing 17-13 with 9:10 left in regulation, Oaks Christian drove 90 yards in nine plays, including three runs by NotreDame-bound quarterback Jimmy Clausen, the most important a 6-yard gain on a fourth-and-three play from the Cardinal Newman 14-yard line.

Clausen, who had rushed for only 84yards all season and 247 in his career before Saturday, finished with 28all-important yards on the ground and didn't take a sack.

``Before the drive, we got together and said `We're going to go, right now,''' said Clausen, who finished 11 of 22 for 94 yards -- the lowest passing total in his 42 games as a starter -- with a touchdown and a career-high three interceptions. ``We had been working for this for four years and we needed to get it done, no matter what it took.''

Marshall Jones, a USC-bound defensive back who was making his fourthstart at running back in place of injured fellow Trojans recruit Marc Tyler, finished with 156 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, including a 2-yard run to give the Lions a 20-17 lead with 5:57 remaining.

But, as it did all game, Cardinal Newman (13-2) responded with an efficient, time-consuming drive, relying on Lingle (165 total yards) and running back Brian Hutton (111 offensive yards) to move inside Oaks Christian's red zone with 45seconds left.

Stanford-bound receiver Sean Wiser, who caught four passes for 18 yards, made the most important tackle of the Lions' season when he stopped Lingle on a draw play at the 9-yard line as the last man standing in between the senior quarterback and the end zone.

``There was no way I was going to let him over-willpower me,'' Wiser said. ``I put all my heart into that play and made sure he wasn't going to get by me.''

Wiser's stop, followed by a Cardinal Newman false start two plays later, resulted in Ellio Torrano tying the score with a 29-yard field goal with 31 seconds left.

After Clausen's Hail Mary attempt from midfield resulted in Chris Potter catching the ball out of bounds on the final play of regulation, Oaks Christian needed just two runs by Marshall Jones to regain the advantage in overtime, which was conducted under National Federation rules, with each series starting at the opponent's 10-yard line.

After two Cardinal Newman rushing attempts moved the ball to the 5-yard line on the ensuing series, Oaks Christian was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief after recording the second-lowest margin of victory -- behind a 21-16 win over Oak Park in the 2003 Div. XI final -- during its unbeaten run.

``People were underestimating us all week, but my guys played a great game'' said Cardinal Newman coach Paul Cronin, whose team opened the season by snapping Central Catholic of Modesto's 61-game winning streak. ``They're hurting now, but they'll look back in 10years and have some great memories about this game.''

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3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Oaks Christian's Jimmy Clausen is congratulated after the Lions win the CIFState Div. III championship bowl game Saturday at Home Depot Center.

(2) Members of the Oaks Christian football team race on to the Home Depot Center field to celebrate their victory.

(3) Oaks Christian's Brad Freeman, right, prevents Scott Magnuson from catching a TD pass in overtime.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer