HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

L.A. Lutheran 31, L.A. Baptist 6--L.A. Lutheran took advantage of four second-half turnovers by L.A. Baptist and used three touchdowns by senior running back Chris Johnson to turn its Alpha League homecoming game into a rout Saturday.

Johnson steered the Lions toward their first win of the season on an 80-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, but L.A. Baptist pulled within a point, 7-6, when senior fullback Miquail Broadous scored on a three-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

But the Lions (1-5, 1-1 in league) wasted no time putting the game away in the second half as Johnson scored on a 70-yard run on L.A. Lutheran’s first play of the third quarter.

L.A. Baptist running back Cliff Robinson fumbled on consecutive series in the third quarter, giving L.A. Lutheran good field position and several easy scoring opportunities.

L.A. Lutheran’s defense forced another Knight mistake when senior quarterback Troy Lawrence fumbled after being sacked, allowing Johnson to pick up the loose ball and run 31 yards for his third touchdown.

Robinson led L.A. Baptist (2-3, 1-1) with 113 yards on 14 rushing attempts, while Broadous carried five times for 20 yards and a touchdown.

Johnson carried the ball only eight times but gained 158 yards. Senior Mark Tietjen of L.A. Lutheran scored 13 points. He caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Young, kicked a 22-yard field goal and four extra points.