Head Coach JP Dolliver, along with his coaching staff, congratulates his players for their performance in Cordova’s 400th victory since the first season in 1963. Photo courtesy of Rick Sloan

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The Cordova Lancers secured the 400th win in the history of their illustrious program in the most fitting way possible this past Friday at Mesa Verde in dramatic fashion. A gutsy two-point conversion call by head coach JP Dolliver late in the fourth quarter, combined with defensive heroics thereafter, would give the Lancers a thrilling 15-14 victory in one of the best games in recent memory.

Trailing by a touchdown with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Cordova (2-0) would allow Mavericks' (1-1) senior running back Fred Robinson to break off a 75-yard run that sent him barreling toward the endzone. Lancers' senior defensive back Sunntavion Hall-Carson had other ideas however, as he stopped Robinson at the one-yard line in a play that would turn out to be vital. One play later, a Mesa Verde fumble would be recovered by Cordova junior defensive lineman Aayden Huson, giving his team one last chance to join the record books.

A few plays later, Lancers' sophomore quarterback Trey Wallace would connect with senior wide receiver Donovan Schiffner on a 60-yard touchdown pass. Cordova would elect to go for the lead with a gritty two-point conversion play that sent Wallace into the endzone on a quarterback sneak, in a decision that came easy for Dolliver.

"It was easier than I thought," Dolliver said of the difficulty in making his decision to go for two. "In your head, you always think about what you would do in that situation. It was also credit to Mesa Verde's defense. I thought they had us figured out pretty good, so it was about 'How many more opportunities are we going to have to be right down here on the goal line?' In that sense it almost felt like my hand was kind of forced."

Mesa Verde would march downfield on their ensuing posession but were ultimately denied by Lancers' sophomore defensive back Terryn "TK" King as he would preserve the win with a game-sealing interception in the redzone. Cordova would kneel to run out the remaining time on the clock.

Wallace again put forth an impressive performance in just his second varsity game for Cordova, as he went 11-of-19 passing for 216 yards and the late touchdown. On the ground, he added nine carries for 50 yards and an additional score that came in the second quarter. Schiffner, playing in his first game of the season, provided an explosive three receptions for 109 yards to go along with his late score. Robinson would lead Mesa Verde with touchdown runs of 11 and 21 yards, both of which occured in the second quarter.

The game had another special moment prior to kickoff, as legendary former Lancers head coach Max Miller would speak to Dolliver to wish he and his team luck before they would go on to make history.

Senior wide receiver Donnavon Schiffner goes up high between two defenders for a long reception. Photo courtesy of Rick Sloan

For Dolliver, being a part of the 400th win in team history is not something he nor his team take lightly.

"I guess the thing that strikes me the most is that I got a call from Max Miller last week," Roth said. "He wanted to try to be at our home game (Aug. 23 versus El Camino) and he wasn't able to get there. He said 'Don't wait for me though, go get the 400th on the road,' and it just struck me because he was a part of all of those wins from his time at Cordova. Sometimes, you hear little pieces like that about the history, and you know this isn't just any other program. It's a very storied program going back many decades with a lot of people who are invested in it. It's a really neat thing to be a part of."

Cordova returns home to Lancers Stadium this Friday, Sept. 6 as they host Valley Christian. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game has been nominated to be the KCRA 3 "Game of The Week." Poll results were not final prior to press time.