The Score: South City 29, El Camino 22.

The Star: South City running back Falah Salem ran for 177 yards on 22 attempts and scored two touchdowns as the Warriors prevailed in a taut battle in the Bell Game. Salem positioned South City for the game-winning score with a clutch 2-yard run on fourth down late in the fourth quarter.

The Turning Point: Trailing by a single point, South City faced a fourth-and-2 situation on the El Camino 17-yard line. Warrior running back Falah Salem, arm fully extended, just barely reached the first down -- the play needed a measurement -- with 52 seconds left. On the next play, South City's Brad Los connected with Robert Johnson for the game-winning, 15-yard touchdown.

The Quote: "We were one inch away. I thought we had it." — El Camino's Justin Eclavea, emotional after a chain measurement gave South City a late first down that set up the go-ahead score.

The Bottom Line: South City topped rival El Camino in the Bell Game for the seventh straight year, and in dramatic fashion. Falah Salem's playmaking ability was a decisive factor for the victors. The loss was heartbreaking for El Camino, which nearly broke its long skid against the crosstown Warriors. The Colts, primarily known for their rushing attack, relied on quarterback Omar Kharroub, who threw for three scores.

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With tears still visible on his face, El Camino High head coach Mark Turner held up two fingers — one inch apart.

"One inch," he said, moving his hand, almost in disbelief. "One inch … that's all I could think."

For six straight years, South San Francisco had defeated neighboring El Camino in the locally celebrated Bell Game – the last game of the regular season.

Turner's underdog squad seemed destined to snap that streak, taking a one-point lead into the final minute in an inspiring effort.

But ultimately, El Camino still fell short as host South City squeaked by with a dramatic fourth-down conversion and an ensuing touchdown to cap a 29-22 thriller on Saturday afternoon.

El Camino seized a 22-21 lead with 2:42 left with Omar Kharroub's 5-yard TD toss to Tajah Childs and Nathan Huey's successful run for a two-point conversion.

Then El Camino attempted a risky onside kick, looking to secure the win by preventing a late Warrior drive, but South City recovered on its own 49.

Seven plays later, the Warriors faced a fourth-and-2 at the El Camino 17. South City running back Falah Salem made the most of his carry, stretching out to barely reach the 15 with 52 seconds left.

An official measurement showed that he had gained the first down by less than an inch.

"I worked real hard to get that first down," Salem said. "Thank god we came through."

On the next play, South City scored as junior quarterback Brad Los hit Robert Johnson with a 15-yard TD strike with 36 seconds left.

El Camino got one first down on its desperate last possession, but then time ran out.

"We were one inch away," El Camino's Justin Eclavea said, fighting back tears. "I thought we had it. You don't realize football is a game of inches …"

South City basked in its come-from-behind effort. The Warriors fell behind early after an interception by El Camino's Peter Martin led to Kharroub's 16-yard TD strike to Eclavea for the opening score.

But South City answered immediately on its ensuing drive. On the first play, Salem exploded for a 59-yard rushing score.

"I just try real hard to get us up," said Salem, who rushed 22 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

South City found the end zone again in the second quarter after capitalizing on Johnson's interception of Kharroub. J.J. Vaioli recorded a 1-yard TD run.

The pendulum continued to swing as El Camino answered with a score of its own before the end of the half -- Kharroub's 5-yard toss to Tyler Rios.

All three of the Colts' scores came courtesy of Kharroub's arm. South City was able to stop Huey, limiting El Camino's top runner to 82 yards.

"This is a good running team," said South City head coach Frank Moro, highlighting El Camino's strength and the Warriors' strategy to stop the run. "That was the game plan. We did it and we did a heck of a job. Darren Tufono and Ramzy Azar played lights out."

Los was confident his offense would deliver on its final possession.

"There was two minutes and 30 seconds left," Los said. "That's too much time. I threw it up … and (Johnson) just came down with it."

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South City 29, El Camino 22

SSF — 7 6 0 16 — 29

EC — 7 7 0 8 — 22

EC — Eclavea 16 pass from Kharroub (Reinke kick)

SSF — Salem 59 run (Torres kick)

SSF — Vaioli 1 run (Torres miss)

EC — Rios 5 pass from Kharroub (Reinke kick)

SSF — Salem 2 run (Salem run)

EC — Childs 5 pass from Kharroub (Reinke kick)

SSF — Johnson 15 pass from Los (Bildhauer pass from Los)

RUSHING:  EC: Huey 24-82, Peluso 19-118, Kharroub 6-17, Rios 1-1, Sampson 1-5. Totals 51-223.  SSF: Salem 22-177, Vaioli 3-14, Los 3-14, Johnson 2-3, Tufono 1-2-minus, Bildhauer 1-2-minus. Totals 31-204.

PASSING:  EC: Kharroub 6-16-1-50.  SSF: Los 8-18-2-104.

RECEIVING:  EC: Eclavea 2-28, Rios 2-17, Childs 1-5, Team 1-0.  SSF: Vaioli 3-30, Bildhauer 2-27, Salem 1-18, Johnson 1-15, Moro 1-14.

FUMBLES/LOST:  EC: 2/1. SSF: 0/0.

RECORDS:  South City 5-4. El Camino 5-5.