FULLERTON — It couldn’t have been any closer.
Lincoln-San Jose had just gone up by six points with 1:47 to play and needed one stop to win its first state football championship in school history.
Valley Center would have none of it. The San Diego-area school got the ball back at the 22-yard line with 1:42 left and drove 78 yards in five plays and 70 seconds.
The all-important extra point, which Lincoln had missed moments earlier, gave Valley Center the 36-35 win.
Lincoln's Kyan Phillips (21) catches the ball against Valley Center's Brandon Revelas (11) in the second quarter during Division 6-AA state football championship game at Fullerton Union High School District Stadium in Fullerton, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Lincoln advanced the ball to its own 40-yard line, but no further. On the final play, Valley Center’s Casen Dunham intercepted the Lions’ desperation pass to seal it.
“We played well as a team,” said Lincoln senior Kyan Phillips, who scored the go-ahead touchdown late and had four scores overall. “We’ve competed all the way to the end of every game. One point away from winning this game, just like all the other games. That’s all I can say.”
Lincoln (11-3) opened the scoring with a 1-yard run by Phillips, taking a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Valley Center (8-6) responded with a 5-yard rushing score by Joeisha Ryan Tirado, giving the Jaguars a 7-6 lead later in the frame after a successful PAT.
The Lions retook the lead when Leo Molina nailed a 31-yard field goal.
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Earlier in the CCS D-IV playoffs, the third-seeded Lions beat No. 6 Scotts Valley 24-21 and No. 2 Willow Glen 49-14.
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Lincoln’s crowd cheers for them before Lincoln plays against Valley Center during Division 6-AA state football championship game at Fullerton Union High School District Stadium in Fullerton, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Lincoln's Hudson Buzzard (12) jumps to block the ball against Valley Center's Dilan Gonzalez (75) in the second quarter during Division 6-AA state football championship game at Fullerton Union High School District Stadium in Fullerton, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Lincoln's head coach Kevin Collins speaks to the team before playing against Valley Center during Division 6-AA state football championship game at Fullerton Union High School District Stadium in Fullerton, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Lincoln runs on the field before the game against Valley Center during Division 6-AA state football championship game at Fullerton Union High School District Stadium in Fullerton, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Lincoln High School walks off the field during halftime after playing against Valley Center during Division 6-AA state football championship game at Fullerton Union High School District Stadium in Fullerton, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Hence then, the article about heartbreaker lincoln gives up td in final minute loses 6 aa state final was published today ( ) and is available on mercury news ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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