Column: Orange Lutheran chooses best options to defeat Crespi, 43-28

It was “Back to the Future” night at Encino Crespi. Think Darrell Royal, Barry Switzer, Texas, Oklahoma, wishbone offense and the 1970s. If only there was someone wearing bell-bottoms, a headband, long sideburns and music blaring from the Ramones in the stands.

I haven’t seen two triple-option teams going at it in high school football since . . . the San Fernando days of Charles White and Kevin Williams of 1974 and 1975. But that’s what Crespi and Orange Lutheran were trying to pull off Friday night.

Crespi runs the veer; Orange Lutheran runs a multiple option attack. Each relies on the quarterback to read defenses and make decisions whether to hand off the ball, keep it or pitch it.

Orange Lutheran (2-0) has added new wrinkles, including a passing attack behind Harvard-bound L.J. Northington, and the Lancers encountered surprisingly little resistance in their 43-28 win.

Dominik Austin rushed for 160 yards in 12 carries and scored two touchdowns. Northington completed five of 11 passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 48 yards. The Lancers led, 43-7, in the third quarter.

“Those first three quarters were about as good as we could play,” Coach Chuck Petersen said.

Crespi (1-1), ranked No. 11 by The Times, set some kind of record for illegal procedure penalties. The Celts were called for 13, including eight in the first half when they fell behind, 29-7. They had 20 penalties overall for 107 yards.

Coach Troy Thomas blamed it on youth but liked that his team responded with 21 consecutive points to end the game, saying, “We grew up a lot tonight. I definitely saw our guys raise their level.”

Orange Lutheran played aggressive defense, led by linebacker Jordan Williams and defensive back Brandon McKinney. The Lancers wouldn’t let Crespi’s 240-pound running back, Jalen Starks, get running room without multiple tacklers taking him on. Starks, though, still broke touchdown runs of 73 and 48 yards in the second half and finished with 197 yards rushing in 20 carries.

Meanwhile, Northington was burning the Celts with play-action passes. He ran for one touchdown from 14 yards and had touchdown passes of 18 yards to McKinney and 49 to Austin Liles in the first half.

Petersen is happy to place his trust in Northington.

“He’s pretty exciting,” he said. “A great leader, a great student, a really good football player.”

The Lancers hope to be a factor in the Trinity League, in which the six teams are a combined 11-1 this season.

“I think we have a lot of potential,” Northington said. “We’re not there yet. We’re going to keep working hard every day.”

Said Petersen: “We knew it was going to be a battle. Any time you play a Troy Thomas team, you’re going to get to get a physical, tough ballgame, and I was happy the way our kids physically came out and played.”

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Twitter: LATSondheimer