PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Orange Lutheran Wins, Gets Berth

Orange Lutheran High School cleared up a cloudy playoff picture in the Olympic League with a 33-6 victory over visiting Ontario Christian Saturday to earn a Southern Section Division IX playoff berth.

The victory created a three-way tie for second place in the five-team league among Orange Lutheran (8-2, 2-2), Valley Christian (4-5, 2-2) and Brethren Christian (7-2, 2-2). A coin flip Friday had determined the order of the league’s playoffs representatives in case of a tie.

Whittier Christian (9-0, 4-0) advances as the league’s No. 1 entry and probably will be top-seeded in the division when the pairings are announced today. Orange Lutheran won the coin flip and will be the league’s No. 2 entry. Valley Christian got the third berth. Brethren’s only chance of getting into the playoffs will be as an at-large entry.

“It was a must-win situation for us, and the players responded,” Orange Lutheran Coach Tim Taube said. “We lose, and we’re tied with Ontario Christian and out of the playoffs.”

Orange Lutheran scored two quick touchdowns before halftime to take a 19-0 lead. Tailback Danny Solkamans scored on a school-record 89-yard run and less than two minutes later defensive end Russ Hommey recovered a fumble in the end zone.