From penalties, to missed tackles and dropped passes, nothing could seem to go right for much of East Union’s Valley Oak League finale against visiting Kimball on Friday.

And yet, the Lancers — fighting for a spot in the playoffs —managed to give themselves a chance in the fourth quarter when they scored two touchdowns in a 40-second span to whittle a 20-point deficit down to five.

Kimball’s big-play ability was the difference in the end. On fourth-and-8, sophomore quarterback Josiah Wilson hit Darius Doyle for an 18-yard touchdown with 1:39 remaining. East Union scored again in the closing seconds, but it was too little, too late in the 35-29 defeat that eliminated the Lancers from postseason contention.

Doyle earlier returned an interception 48 yards, giving Kimball a 27-7 lead in the middle of the third quarter.

“I feel for our seniors; great group of young men,” EU coach Mike Kuhnlenz said. “Just started off a little slow and too many penalties. If we had a little more time, we get them.

“Super proud of them. Love my guys. Would have been easy to give up down 20 with 8 minutes left, and they battled back.”

Kimball (2-3 VOL, 5-5 overall) came into the week in a similar do-or-die predicament as the Lancers (0-5, 3-7) but picked up its prerequisite fourth win via forfeiture. The Jaguars were one of the teams to benefit from Tracy having to forfeit four non-league contests for using an ineligible player.

Kimball earned its way into the postseason regardless. Like East Union, the Jags had some trouble keeping a consistent rhythm to their offense as they cycled between two quarterbacks and battled through turnovers (four) and penalties (10). The Lancers had three giveaways and committed 12 penalties, 10 in the first half.  

East Union started with sophomore Kirk Simoni (3 of 9, 16 yards, INT) behind center, as it has all season, but ended with junior Anthony Morales, who flashed his running ability and knack for playmaking off script. The latter completed 23 of 49 passes for 283 yards, four touchdowns and an interception.

“Super proud of him,” Kuhnlenz said of Morales. “Threw him into the fire last week and he rallied. Tonight, he took some shots and we had to take him out for a little bit, but he kept fighting.

“A lot of our guys were dinged up and they didn’t want to come out. Morales showed a lot the last two weeks. We’re excited.”

Morales hit J.P. Abrew (nine receptions, 107 yards) for three touchdowns and Jackson Fay for one. Blake Mount caught nine passes for 163 yards.

After Morales’ 6-yard scoring strike to Fay, Andres Garcia’s onside kick was recovered by Devon Montalvo. Morales then connected on his next three strikes, the last being a 3-yard TD to Abrew.

Garcia attempted another onside kick, but it was recovered by Kimball’s Amin Khan-Madison on the Lancers’ 48.

The Jaguars got the ball back with 3:46 remaining and were able to convert two first downs before the Wilson-Doyle connection put it away.

Wilson finished four-of-10 passing for 58 yards and added 30 yards on six rushes. Richard Sandoval, also a sophomore who is a more traditional pocket passer, started the game hot but his final four passes fell incomplete — two of them interceptions. He ended 7-of-12 for 105 yards and two TDs.

Speedy tailback Jermaine Nance (18 carries, 74 yards) contributed a rushing touchdown for Kimball.

Vincent Hudson and Mount had the interceptions for East Union’s defense. Tony Agueda forced a fumble recovered by Fay for another turnover. Brady Rossi and Carson Sanders each had a sack.

It’s the first time East Union has missed the playoffs since 2019 and the first in Kuhnlenz’s three years as coach. He looks forward to bringing back most of his talented skill players, but there is work to do.

“There’s a lot to clean up, and that’s on me,” Kuhnlenz said. “There’s a lot of stuff for next year that has to get fixed. My boys played hard the entire year, I just have to do a better job for them.”