The opening weeks of California's high school football season have produced some instant classics, and we just got another.
Damien scored the game-winning touchdown with three seconds left to outlast JSerra 34-31 on Friday in an outstanding battle of two CIF-Southern Section football heavyweights.
It looked like the game had effectively ended about half a minute beforehand when Dylan Brown intercepted a pass from Damien QB Arriaza with JSerra up 31-27. But the play was overturned due to a penalty. The Lions had trailed 27-24 for more than a quarter until less than a minute beforehand, when Gino Wang hit Clark Cokley for a 23-yard touchdown with 54 seconds left in regulation.
So, Arriaza had a chance to lead a desperation drive, and on 3rd-and-4 from the red zone, he found an opening and dove across the goal line to win the game.
That actually wasn't the end of the drama. Damien was assessed a penalty for excessive celebration and its following kickoff went out of bounds. Between the two penalties, JSerra got to attempt a 55-yard field goal with a chance to tie the score on the final play of the game. And hitting from 55 yards was well within the realm of possibility for Lions kicker Noah Thayer, who had connected from 53 yards in the second half.
But Damien blocked the kick to secure the upset win.
In the first half, JSerra struck first and led until there were 24 seconds left the in the second quarter.
Will Fredericksen opened the scoring with a 41-yard touchdown run and Damien responded with a touchdown of more than 60 yards from Arriaza to WR Eric Osorio. But the PAT was blocked, and JSerra led 7-6. Fredericksen scored again from upwards of 40 yards out on the final play of the first quarter, this time a receiving touchdown, and JSerra went up 14-6.
That was when Damien got going. Arriaza threw a 10-yard touchdown to Travon Garrison to cut it to 14-12 (thanks to another failed PAT) early in the second quarter. And after Thayer's 53-yard bomb put JSerra up 17-12, Arriaza responded shortly before halftime with a three-yard-scrambling score that involved bouncing off multiple defenders, which was quite similar to his game-winner two quarters later. Damien went for the conversion this time and it was a success, with Arriaza finding Osorio for two points and a 20-17 halftime lead.
Early in the third quarter, Damien took the only two-possession game of the lead at 27-17 on a Malachi McFarland 15-yard touchdown run followed by a successful PAT. JSerra struck back about halfway through the third quarter on a 34-yard touchdown from Koa Smith-Mayall to Cruz Nunez, and 27-24 was the score until the final minute of the game.
Reportedly, Arriaza totaled 410 yards passing yards and Osorio had 13 catches for 228 yards, a touchdown, and a two-point conversion.
Final: Damien 34, JSerra 31
— Michael Huntley (@mikehuntley63) August 30, 2025
Isaiah Arriaza throws for 410 yards with 4 total TDs. Eric Osorio caught 13 passes for 228yds with a TD. 614 yards of offense for Damien. JSerra is 0-2 @latsondheimer @SteveFryer @SGVNSports @GabrielNDuarte_ @Isaiah_Arriaza @DamienFootball_ @ocvarsity
Scroll down for a pregame overview of the game followed by updates and results from kickoff to postgame.
Pregame
JSerra (0-1) hosts Damien (1-0) on Friday in what could prove to be one of the juiciest non-league matchups of California high school football season.
These are some dang good teams – at minimum, among the better teams in the Southern Section – but nobody is sure exactly how good they'll prove to be in 2025. After both had an interesting time in Week Zero, it's time for everybody to see what they're made of.
Ranked 13th in the state, JSerra might be vulnerable after a 35-0 demolition at the hands of Sierra Canyon, or it might be ready to unleash on any team outside the Trinity League besides Sierra Canyon. Damien is poised for a big year and might have what it takes to take down a Trinity League team, but it was merely good – not spectacular – in Week Zero's 20-15 win over Aquinas. On Friday, the Spartans will look to make some noise in what could be a banner year, whereas JSerra could simply benefit from a momentous win over a strong opponent.
Top players on JSerra include 3-star WRs Jared Sersansie (Columbia) and Clark Cokley, 3-star OL Josh Haney (Fresno State), 3-star DL Joseph Terry, and LB Rocco Thompkins. Damien has one of the state's top QBs in 3-star senior Isaiah Arraza and one of the state's top DBs in WR/S Gavin Williams. Additionally, slot receiver Eric Osorio went off for 12 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown in his Damien debut last week after sitting his entire junior campaign following his transfer from Bishop Amat.
JSerra vs. Damien live updates, results
Damien wins 34-31.
FOURTH QUARTER:
0:00: Damien blocks a 55-yard field goal attempt from Thayer, and the game is over.
0:03: Damien 34, JSerra 31: Damien basically cinches it with three seconds left! Isaiah Arriaza dives across the goal line on 3rd-and-4 after either making a great read on a scramble or perfectly executing a draw.
0:52 – JSerra 31, Damien 27: JSerra retakes the lead! Wang to Cokley for a 23-yard score.
4th Quarter: Jared Sersansie with yards after the catch from QB2 Gino Wang in traffic for a first down.
2:44: Rocco Thompkins gets the tackle as JSerra's defense holds in the red zone on 4th-and-3.
4th Quarter: Still clinging to a 27-24 lead, Damien's offense is threatening in the waning minutes of the game.
THIRD QUARTER:
3rd Quarter – Damien 27, JSerra 24: The Lions have a much-needed quick response. Koa Smith-Mayall finds Cruz Nunez for a 34-yard touchdown roughly halfway through the third quarter.
3rd Quarter – Damien 27, JSerra 17: Just like that, Damien has a two-score lead. Malachi McFarland finishes a 67-yard drive with a 15-yard rushing score, and Damien finally executes a PAT.
Damien leads 20-17 at halftime.
SECOND QUARTER:
0:24 – Damien 20, JSerra 17: Arriaza scrambles three yards through heavy traffic for a touchdown to give Damien its first lead. After two failed PATs, Damien goes for two, and Arriaza finds Osorio in the end zone for a conversion.
2nd Quarter – JSerra 17, Damien 12: JSerra's Noah Thayer hits a field goal from 53 yards (!) with a couple minutes left in the half.
2nd Quarter – JSerra 14, Damien 12: Arriaza hits Travon Garrison from 10 yards out as Damien closes the gap.
FIRST QUARTER:
1st Quarter – JSerra 14, Damien 6: Fredericksen has another long touchdown, this time a 40-yarder of the receiving variety to close the first quarter.
1st Quarter – JSerra 7, Damien 6: Damien is on the board with a touchdown of more than 60 yards as Isaiah Arriaza navigated pressure to find Eric Osorio, who broke through the defense and raced it to the house. JSerra blocks the PAT.
1st Quarter – JSerra 7, Damien 0: JSerra has its first score of the year on its second play from scrimmage, a 41-yard touchdown run from Will Fredericksen.
MORE: How to watch JSerra vs. Damien