HEMET — There were no kinks in Lola Carson’s approach, kick or follow-through. Rancho Christian kicker Lola Carson (85), right gets a pat on the head from a coach after kicking a 30 yard field goal to break the 28-28 tie late in the 4th quarter of the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Draven Lopez (13) breaks up a pass intended for Rancho Christian wide receiver Kamryn Jones (4) during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Tyler Trout (15) fumbles the ball on a fake punt as he is hit by Rancho Christian defensive end Nonso Metu (0) during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet James Abner (2) sacks Rancho Christian quarterback Emiliano Villarreal (17) during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Tyler Trout (15) hits and stops Rancho Christian wide receiver Yankee Gutierrez (18) after the catch during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Drew Neal (3) is tackled on Arun by Rancho Christian Will Ford (20) during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian Dylan Cookson (23) tips the ball and Hemet Christopher Washington (19) makes the catch during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian wide receiver Kamryn Jones (4) makes the catch and runs for an 84-yard touchdown against Hemet during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian wide receiver Kamryn Jones (4) flashes a peace sign as he scores on a 84 yard touchdown pass against Hemet during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Drew Neal (3) tries to control the ball on a handoff as Hemet Malohi Sipowicz (51) battles with Rancho Christian defensive end Nonso Metu (0) during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Kee-Esoul Pitchford (1) makes the touchdown catch as Rancho Christian Everett Glover (1) defends during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Draven Lopez (13) breaks up a pass intended for Rancho Christian wide receiver Kamryn Jones (4) during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Russell Huser (29) celebrates after tackling Rancho Christian Matan Conrad (25) on a run during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Draven Lopez (13) is sacked by Rancho Christian defensive end Nonso Metu (0) during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Tyler Trout (15) intercepts a pass and runs it back against Rancho Christian during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Levi Cerda (65) tackles Rancho Christian Matan Conrad (25) in the backfield during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Bradley Salinas (26) is tackled by Rancho Christian defenders during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Mathew Gregory (53) pulls down Rancho Christian Will Ford (20) on a run during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian wide receiver Kamryn Jones (4) makes thew touchdown catch as Hemet Kee-Esoul Pitchford (1) defends during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian quarterback Emiliano Villarreal (17) is hit by Hemet David Williams (66) during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian head coach William Lowe gets a water bath from players after defeating Hemet 31-28 to win the Sunbelt League title in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian Dylan Cookson (23) reacts as Hemet takes a 28-7 lead during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Draven Lopez (13) breaks up a pass intended for Rancho Christian wide receiver Yankee Gutierrez (18) during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet defenders celebrate after stopping Rancho Christian Will Ford (20) short on fourth down to force a turnover on downs during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian wide receiver Kamryn Jones (4) intercepts a Hemet pass during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Kee-Esoul Pitchford (1) breaks up a pass intended for Rancho Christian wide receiver Yankee Gutierrez (18) during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian Dallas Dondel (6) pulls down Rancho Christian Everett Glover (1) on a run during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian Andrew Nassar (9) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against Hemet during the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Kee-Esoul Pitchford (1) is unable to make the hallmark catch against Rancho Christian as the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hemet Cohen Joiner (11) carries Old Glory as he leads the team onto the field to play Rancho Christian before the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian kicker Lola Carson (85), right celebrates with Rancho Christian outside linebacker Owen Matlock (8) after kicking a 30 yard field goal to break the 28-28 tie late in the 4th quarter of the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 32Rancho Christian kicker Lola Carson (85), right gets a pat on the head from a coach after kicking a 30 yard field goal to break the 28-28 tie late in the 4th quarter of the Sunbelt League football game in Hemet on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Expand Carson trotted on the field and calmly drilled a 30-yard field goal with about 20 seconds remaining to complete Rancho Christian’s 31-28, come-from-behind victory over Hemet in a winner-take-all Sunbelt League football game Friday night. “I was not nervous at all. I was so ready to take that kick,” said Carson, now 3 for 3 on field goal tries during the 2024 season. This is not the first time Rancho Christian has seen a girls athlete make kicks in big football games. Emma Baker nailed eight field goals and 75 extra points when the Eagles won section and state championship in 2016. Baker is believed to hold the national high school records for a female kicker with 23 career field goals and 285 career kicking points “She was unbelievable,” Carson said of Baker. “I’ve always wanted to get past her (best season point total of 99). But she is just too good.” Rancho Christian takes a 31-28 lead on a field goal by Lola Carson pic.twitter.com/y5in9V49IY — Eric-Paul Johnson (@CallMeEPJ) November 2, 2024 Rancho Christian (8-1-1 overall, 5-0 in league) faced third-and-10 at the Hemet 18 with around a minute to play. “We were going to throw one more time,” Eagles coach William Lowe said. “We got on the headset and were talking it over and decided we were already in her range, so let’s try to get her a few more yards. That’s why we ran the ball.” Will Ford picked up 5 yards on the third-down run. And with the visiting crowd chanting, “Lo-la, Lo-la,” Carson confidently split the uprights from the left hash. “I feel like I could have gone 10 more yards back,” said Carson, a first-year player whose previous long for a field goal this year was 23 yards. “It’s super-exciting to make that kick with the league title on the line. I’m proud of myself, proud of my team.” Things looked bleak for the Eagles at halftime, after three first-half turnovers buried them in a 28-7 hole. And the score remained that way late into the third quarter, but momentum shifted in a matter of a minutes. Andrew Nassar intercepted a pass with 3:01 left in the third period, and Rancho Christian cashed in when Kamryn Jones caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Emiliano Villarreal with a second left in that quarter. Hemet lost a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and the Eagles again capitalized when Ford muscled in from 5 yards out early in the fourth. And Hemet (9-1, 4-1) could not stop the avalanche. Jones intercepted a pass by Draven Lopez with 9 1/2 minutes left in the game, the Eagles’ fourth interception of the evening. Villarreal capped a nine-play drive when he tossed a 17-yard touchdown to Nassar with 6:12 showing on the clock, and Carson booted the extra point to level the score at 28. “We all went to the locker room at halftime and just focused up,” said Nassar, a senior linebacker and tight end who also recovered a fumble in the game. “We all came back… and then we came back to win. It’s a great team win, for sure.” Hemet looked for an answer but ultimately had to punt after Lopez was sacked by Nonso Metu to force third-and-18. Rancho Christian started that decisive drive on its 13 with 2:44 left to play. Villarreal completed only 4 of 9 passes on the drive, but two were on third downs to move the chains. He finished with 335 yards on 22-of-36 passing Friday night. It was a tough loss for Hemet, which was seeking the program’s first unbeaten regular season in 37 years. “We had too many mistakes in the second half, and the ball just didn’t bounce our way,” Bulldogs coach Jeff Galloway said. “When you play a good team like that, especially in a game for a league title… you make mistakes, they’re going to capitalize.” It was Hemet taking advantage of mistakes throughout the first half, as the Bulldogs scored 21 points off turnovers. Hemet opened with a 10-play drive and took the early lead when Lopez connected with Christopher Washington on a 15-yard touchdown. Rancho Christian answered quickly, as Villarreal and Jones hooked up for am 86-yard touchdown. Julian Subia recovered a fumble for Hemet late in the opening quarter, and the Bulldogs regained the lead after Lopez scored on a 3-yard keeper. Washington corralled a tipped ball and raced away for a 70-yard touchdown, and Lopez threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Kee-Esoul Pitchford. Both of those touchdowns also came after turnovers by Rancho Christian. “During the first half, we were moving and doing everything that we needed to do to win the game,” Galloway said. “The best team that night is the one that’s going to win the game. And that just wasn’t us when the game ended.” Lopez completed 24 of 35 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns but also had four interceptions. Washington caught four passes for 103 yards and had an interception on defense for the Bulldogs. Tyler Trout caught eight passes for 81 yards and intercepted a pass on defense, while Pitchford had eight receptions for 78 yards. Jones caught six passes for 139 yards. He now has 38 catches for 738 yards and eight touchdowns in three games for the Eagles. Everett Glover had five catches for 73 yards, and Ford finished with 76 yards on the ground.