Fillmore, CA — The Fillmore High football team poses for a photo after beating Hueneme 35-28 at home Friday night to clinch the outright Citrus Coast league title. One week before the postseason, there was just one item left on the Fillmore High football checklist. After missing seven games to a shoulder injury, how could the program's record-setting quarterback Anthony Tafoya fare under the spotlight of a league championship setting. How about completing five passes for 68 yards on a game-winning drive as Fillmore (7-3, 4-0) wrapped up its second consecutive Citrus Coast League title Friday night with a back-and-forth 35-28 win over visiting Hueneme. Tafoya passed for 139 yards and accounted for three TDs, including a 6-yard run. For Hueneme (2-8, 2-2), Robert Maria rushed 25 times for 142 yards and scored three touchdowns. Quarterback Lance Olivarez rushed for 41 yards on 10 attempts. "He (Tafoya) had gone nine weeks without being our starting quarterback," said Fillmore coach Charlie Weis. In Tafoya's absence, David Jimenez had led Fillmore to six wins and clinched at least a share of the title. Going against a Hueneme program that was gaining momentum after losing six games to start the season would be a challenge. "We thought that the changing of the guard should come at an appropriate manner," Weis said. The first person to suggest to Weis that the time was right for Tafoya was Jimenez.Jimenez received the starting nod to maintain team consistency, said Weis. By the second series, Tafoya was calling the signals and leading Fillmore to a game-tying touchdown with a 7-yard pass to Angel Gonzalez. Hueneme struck first with Maria doing most of the damage, gaining 49 yards on six plays, including a 1-yard TD run with 6:45 left in the first quarter. Maria's 22-yard TD on a pass from Olivarez made it 14-7 Hueneme with 1:55 left in the first quarter. The game's biggest special teams play came early in the second quarter. Fillmore's Anthony Porter blocked a Hueneme punt. Jimenez scooped the loose ball and returned it seven yards for TD to tie the game at 14-14. Hueneme was quick to respond. On its next possession, Maria caught a 36-yard pass and added three carries, including a 2-yard TD to reclaim the lead at 21-14. Just before the half, Tafoya tied the game with a 6-yard run around the right end. The drive saw Tafoya complete 3 of 4 passes for 41 yards. At intermission, Fillmore needed to figure out how to slow the Hueneme running game that gained 144 yards on 25 attempts and ate minutes of clock. "Our team's ability to analyze, make adjustments and make changes is one of the main reasons we have been successful," said Weis. "I love the way we communicate at halftime. We have kids making suggestions that we can implement. And when they can take ownership, that is powerful." The opening minutes of the second half were huge for Fillmore. On the second play of the third quarter, Raymond Curiel intercepted a Hueneme pass. Two plays later, Jimenez scored on a 38-yard run to give Fillmore its first lead at 28-21. "David's run was a huge reason we were able to turn it around," said Weis. Hueneme mounted a 16-play, 87-yard drive that consumed 8:23, tying the game on a 1-yard run by Josiah Gipson. Tafoya displayed his mettle with a time-chomping drive of his own. Fillmore had a 17-play drive with Tafoya putting the finishing touches with a 16-yard, game-winning TD pass to Ivan Sandoval. "There is no greater feeling to be playing championship football on a Friday night," said first-year Hueneme coach Jake Goossen-Brown. "We were picked to finish 0-4 in league. I can't believe that these kids were counted out. It's nice to prove people wrong." For Maria, who had rushed for 233 yards against Santa Paula and 255 against Carpinteria, the loss to Fillmore was tough to swallow. "They just wanted it more," said Maria. "I am proud of the team and how far we have come."