SO. SECTION - DIV. I: LOYOLA WINS WITH SUDDEN IMPACT JAUREQUI'S TACKLE IN OT SENDS CUBS TO FINAL LOYOLA 22, LOS ALAMITOS 15.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

CARSON - At the end of a long, gray afternoon, after sunlight had given way to darkness and a cold breeze pushed away the warmth, Loyola High of Los Angeles linebacker Chris Jaurequi lay face down on the Home Depot Center football turf and paused for a moment.

Nobody deserved the reprieve more than Jaurequi.

A few seconds before, Jaurequi had collided in the air with Los Alamitos running back Josh Jones one foot in front of the Loyola end zone. The impact stopped Jones cold on fourth-and-goal to preserve Loyola's thrilling 22-15 overtime victory over the Griffins in a Southern Section Div. I semifinal Saturday.

Bedlam erupted around Jaurequi as he was on the ground, soaking in his critical goal line tackle and his equally crucial 37-yard touchdown interception return that breathed life into a nearly still Loyola team moments before the end of the first half.

When he finally arose, wearing a mischievous smile and a sweat-soaked jersey, he was engulfed by his thankful Loyola teammates.

A Cubs' season built on the wobbly legs of three losses in the first six games was now poised for a glorious ending. Better yet, the ticket to next week's Div. I championship game was ripped from the sure hands of the defending-champion Griffins, who ended Loyola's season last year in these same semifinals.

``This is unbelievable,'' Jaurequi said. ``It's hard to put it all into words.''

A second overtime seemed a near certainty after Los Alamitos (11-2) converted a third-and-10 from the 25-yard line when Jeremy Childs climbed high into the air to snatch a pass from Jimmy Barnes at the Loyola 4, then a Cubs offside penalty put the ball at the 2.

Loyola (10-4) struck first in the extra period, using a 17-yard pass from Scott Deke to Jim Abbot and Deke's 4-yard touchdown pass to Ian Wilson to grab the lead. Thomas Weber's extra point kick - no sure thing after he pushed one wide in the second quarter and had another blocked in the fourth - made it 22-15.

But there was Los Alamitos threatening to send it into a second overtime with first-and-goal at the 2.

``I thought we were headed for another overtime for sure,'' Loyola coach Steve Grady said.

The Cubs defense had other ideas. With the bruising 6-foot, 205-pound Jones in the backfield, they braced for smash-mouth football.

``We knew they wanted to show they were more physical than we were,'' said Wilson, a linebacker on defense.

Ironic considering it was the Griffins' big-play passing game that paved the way for their first touchdown - Jones' 7-yard scoring catch after a brilliant 46-yard reception by Bryan Gordon - and brought them back from the brink of defeat when they covered 68 yards in two plays to force overtime on Gordon's 48-yard touchdown catch and run and Jones' two-point conversion run with just over a minute left.

Nevertheless, Los Alamitos sent Jones crashing into the line of scrimmage on three consecutive plays, and each time he was met by a swarming Loyola defense. Then on fourth down, the Griffins went to Jones again.

``I knew they were going to run, I just didn't know where,'' Jaurequi said. ``I just knew I had to get there.''

He did, snaking through the Griffins' line, the leaping up to meet Jones just as Jones left his feet to dive into the end zone.

``He's a tough back,'' Jaurequi said. ``I didn't know what he was going to do, so I just went right for his middle.''

Game over.

``To start the season the way we did, and now to have a chance to win the championship, it's pretty unbelievable,'' Wilson said.

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com