HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Lutheran Runs Out of Steam, 13-7

At L.A. Lutheran High, there are things more important than winning. Finding enough players to field a team is one. Avoiding dehydration is another.

When Lutheran moved its campus from Burbank to Mission Hills this year, its enrollment dropped from 425 students to 110. Consequently, the Lions’ roster has only 17 players, 14 of whom were available for Saturday’s game against Capistrano Valley Christian.

At various points in the game, the Lions called timeouts simply to rest take a water break. But in the end, the fatigue factor was too great.

With 10 players forced to play both ways, Lutheran tired in the fourth quarter and lost to the Eagles, 13-7, in a nonconference game at L.A. Baptist High.

“Our guys gave everything they had,” Lutheran Coach Stan Dobler said. “They played their hearts out.”

Lutheran played the second half with only 12 healthy players after losing two starters to injuries, quarterback Jeff Young and lineman Vince Johnson.

Nevertheless, Lutheran led late in the third quarter, 7-6. But then Capistrano Valley’s offense, which had been stopped consistently, put together an 11-play, 63-yard drive and took a 13-7 lead when Rod Hoover scored on a two-yard run.

Lutheran had two possessions in the fourth quarter, but was only able to pick up one first down on each. Lutheran ran only three plays on the second possession before time expired.

Capistrano Valley took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter when quarterback Doug Lindstrom threw a 50-yard scoring pass to Marc Swanson, who had beaten Lutheran defensive back Jim Jacobson. The extra point attempt was blocked by Johnson and Barry Walter.

The Lions only touchdown came in the second quarter on a four-yard bootleg by Young. The drive started on the Eagles’ 37-yard line after Jerry Botoglou intercepted a pass from Lindstrom.

Paul Johnson, who replaced Young at quarterback, led Lutheran with 50 yards rushing on five carries. Young completed 5 of 12 passes for 54 yards with one interception.