But after last night, he might consider himself lucky.

The Carlsbad running back squeezed in a floating pass that proved to be the difference in a 34-21 San Diego Section Division I playoff quarterfinal win against host Chula Vista.

Barbour floated a wobbling pass that grazed the finger tips of a defender before dropping into the arms of Mark Miranda.

A quick turn of the body up field and Miranda was in the end zone to complete a 32-yard touchdown play.

“I knew I probably wouldn't get another trick play again if I throw the ball like that,” said Barbour, who was fortunate to wear his usual No. 23 white jersey.

The play wasn't pretty, but Barbour, who also scored on a 3-yard run, will take it.

Barbour thanked Miranda for making the catch. He can also thank his mother, Cheryl, for arriving in time with his jersey. He had forgotten it at teammate Jordan Garcia's house.

“It wouldn't have mattered to me,” said Barbour, who wore No. 30 during warm-ups. “Hopefully, I would have made No. 30 (Patrick Beal) look good.”

Miranda's catch not only made Barbour look good, but it changed the game's momentum.

Had Cesar Costelo knocked down Barbour's pass, which came on a fourth-and-5, the No. 4-seeded Spartans (7-4) would have taken over on downs with the game tied at 21 with 37 seconds left in the third quarter.

Instead, Carlsbad's nomadic season continues.

The Lancers (7-5) haven't played a game on their home field after it was condemned this summer. Arsenic was found in the soil.

But this time coach Bob McAllister's team won't have to go far. Carlsbad will travel to face No. 1 seed La Costa Canyon in a semifinal matchup next week.

“This team has persevered, and I think we're going on a CIF record 13 bus rides,” said Carlsbad coach Bob McAllister. “From practicing on a 40-yard field with no goal post on dirt and a little bit of grass, we've overcome a lot to get to this point.”

Chula Vista, which played only two games at home this year after its stands were condemned, tied the game at 21 with 7:44 left in the third quarter.

Quarterback Victor Perez found Darian Phillips with a 34-yard touchdown pass on a fade route.

Anthony Stanislaus scored on a 9-yard TD run and Taimi Tutogi plunged in from a yard out late in the first quarter to total the Spartan's scoring.

Jonathan Tapia caught a 3-yard pass from Lancers quarterback Michale Leonard, and Michael Taele (16 carries for 98 yards) scored on a 55-yard run.

Connor Sodano recovered a David Cisneros fumble in the end zone for a touchdown for Carlsbad's final score.

“It comes down to making plays when it counts in big games,” said Chula Vista coach Judd Rachow. “Tonight we had some opportunities but we just couldn't get the little things done.”