CENTURY LEAGUE FOOTBALL : Orange Stays Course, Wins Share of Title

Without fanfare or feeling, Orange clinched a share of the Century League championship Thursday night at El Modena High.

The Panthers took a business-like approach in their 17-0 victory over Santa Ana Valley, which gave them at least a share of the title for the second consecutive season. There was little emotion and few worries.

They just did what they do best and won.

“We just keep coming at people,” defensive tackle Steve Sharer said. “We’re not the biggest or the fastest. We wear people down.”

Certainly they exacted a toll on the Falcon offense, which gained only 138 yards. Santa Ana Valley (3-5-1, 1-2-1) got into Orange territory only twice and turned the ball over on fourth down both times.

It was another step in a defensive resurgence for the Panthers (6-3, 4-0), who were reeling through nonleague games. But they have given up only 27 points since league play began.

The Panthers small defensive front overwhelmed the Falcons. They had three sacks, two by Joe Lievanos--a 5-foot-6, 166-pound linebacker. Sharer had the other sack and also hurried quarterback Aaron Tuioti into a critical mistake.

Andre Holmes intercepted the Tuioti pass at the Santa Ana Valley 24. That set up a 38-yard field goal by Micah Knorr, which gave the Panthers a 10-0 lead.

“No one has been able to move it on us in league,” Sharer said.

While the defense was turning in its usual steady performance, the offense made its weekly guest appearance.

The Panthers were neither dangerous nor consistent when they had the ball. They were just able to move it enough.

For the first time this season, the passing game got things going. The Panthers generally rely on tailback Jaime Worthem, but the responsibility fell on quarterback Andy Lauridsen this week, and he completed five of his first seven passes for 86 yards.

Two acrobatic catches by Art Bell helped.

First, he out-jumped and out-pushed defensive back Alfredo Macias for a 32-yard gain in the first quarter. It set up a one-yard touchdown run by Lauridsen.

Then, on third and nine, Bell made a one-handed grab for an 11-yard gain. Worthem later scored on a three-yard run.