It was expected to be an easy football win against a lightly regarded West Valley League opponent, a final tuneup for the City Section playoffs, but the Chancellors' 28-21 victory Friday over visiting Cleveland of Reseda was anything but.

It took a touchdown-saving tackle by Chatsworth on the 4-yard line in the final moments before the Chancellors could finally breathe easy, as Cleveland's J'rdin Bathea was stopped on a fourth-down pass from Paul Lee, as Chatsworth finished 8-2 – one of the school's most successful regular seasons in many years.

"We're 8-2 now and you're always happy to get a win, but I'm extremely disappointed in the week that we had. We had guys take advantage of the situation and think that we were just going to beat this team," coach Jason Camp said. "Some of them didn't come to practice. We had a kid get thrown out of the game last week, and his other good buddy decided not to show up to practice this week, either. You practice like this, and this is what happens. You can't take anyone lightly."

Cleveland is just 2-8 but wanted to finish on a good note, twice jumping to a 7-point lead before Chatsworth eventually came back.

"My hat's off to (Cleveland coach) Vinnie Johnson because, man, they gave us more than we wanted tonight," Camp said. "We didn't look like an 8-2 team. I'll take the win, but that was bad."

Chatsworth's Curtis Ervin completed 15 of 31 passes for 153 yards and four touchdowns – two to Darrel Nelson --and he also rushed for 41 yards but was intercepted four times.

"We expected it to be a close game," Ervin said.

Now it's on to the City Div. II playoffs.

"If we play like this next week, the last-place team in the entire City Section will beat us," Camp said. "So we've got to get to work."

Chatsworth 28, Cleveland 21

Cleve – 7-0-7-7 - 21

Chats – 0-7-7-14 - 28

Cl – Robles 2 rush (Librty kick)

Ch – Nelson 5 pass from Ervin (Caniz kick)

Cl – Robles 1 rush (Librty kick)

Ch – Nelson 23 pass from Ervin (Caniz kick)

Ch – Waters 13 pass from Ervin (Caniz kick)

Cl – Bathea 22 pass from Lee (Librty kick)

Ch – Alexander 7 pass from Ervin (Caniz kick)

Leaders:

Passing

Cl – Lee 10-25-1-1-130

Ch – Ervin 15-31-4-0-163

Receiving

Cl – Bathea 4-74

Ch – Nelson 7-109

Rushing

Cl – Robles 21-102

Ch – Ervin 8-41