DANA POINT — Down by 17 points late in the second quarter, the Aliso Niguel football team needed a spark to get back in the game.

Two key interceptions and a fumble recovery turned the game around for the Wolverines, who pulled off a comeback victory over Dana Hills 38-24 on Friday night at Dana Hills High.

Aliso Niguel (3-1) scored 21 consecutive points to get back in the game despite Christian Guarascio’s 223 yards rushing for the Dolphins (2-1).

“Hats off to Dana Hills and Christian,” Aliso Niguel coach Michael Calahan said. “They’re a well-coached team and a very good team. I told our guys we didn’t play very well in the first half. We made too many mental mistakes and too many penalties. If we just play our brand of football then things will take care of themselves.”

Postgame interview with Aliso Niguel coach Michael Calahan as his Wolverines complete the comeback victory over Dana Hills!@ocvarsity @aliso_football @alisoathletics @coachcalahan @DH_Football @DanaHills @DanaHSPrincipal pic.twitter.com/jk5BEQa06M

— Manny Alvarez (@MAlvarez02) September 10, 2022

The Wolverines began the game by recovering a squib kick, and that possession ended with a 38-yard field goal by Gavyn Nobles to go up 3-0.

Dana Hills responded with 21 unanswered points, on three touchdown passes from Connor Vernon, to put them up 21-3. At that point, it looked like the Dolphins were on their way to their second straight victory against the Wolverines.

“The team in the first half was not us,” Aliso Niguel senior linebacker CJ Besuzzi said. “We talked to the whole team and told them this is not us. We are not going to lose to that team again. They beat us at home last year and it was the worst feeling ever. I knew the entire time we were going to win.”

Postgame interview with CJ Besuzzi of Aliso Niguel. 2 late and clutch interceptions from Besuzzi seals the comeback victory for Aliso Niguel!@ocvarsity @aliso_football @alisoathletics @coachcalahan pic.twitter.com/1fxUpCw1UP

— Manny Alvarez (@MAlvarez02) September 10, 2022

Quarterback Hunter Najm led the Wolverines to their first touchdown of the game, completing a 37-yard pass to Dylan Kissen, to make it 21-10 at halftime.

The Dolphins drove down the field in the third quarter, seemingly on their way to another score, but Jack Gill intercepted the ball at the 1-yard line for Aliso Niguel.

The Wolverines capitalized on the interception by driving 99 yards that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Luke Jones.

Aliso Niguel went for their second squib kick and recovered the ball again.

Najm connected to Kissen for the second time of the game, this time from 8 yards, to give the Wolverines the lead 24-21.

Dana Hills tied the game at 24 with Deacon Hill’s 28-yard field goal.

The Dolphins made a costly mistake on a punt that led to Aliso Niguel’s Hudson Schilling recovering the ball and returning it 12 yards for a go-ahead score, 30-24.

Dana Hills went down the field on the following drive, but Vernon’s pass was intercepted by Besuzzi, who returned it 60 yards for a touchdown that extended the Wolverines’ lead.

Besuzzi grabbed his second interception on the following Dana Hills drive to put the game away.

“He is a stud,” Calahan said of Besuzzi. “Had 11 (tackles), two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and a couple of catches. This kid doesn’t leave the field. He carried us the whole way.”

Jones rushed for 66 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown. Kissen caught four passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns while Hunter Najm completed 12 of 26 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns.

Related Articles

Vernon was 14-of-25 passing for 243 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Cael Vincent caught five passes for 145 yards and a touchdown, and Chase Barry caught four passes for 42 yards and a score.

Ethan Broughham had 10 tackles for Dana Hills.

Aliso Niguel will take on Fountain Valley at Huntington Beach High on Sept. 23. Dana Hills will host Woodbridge on Friday, Sept. 16.