OLYMPIC LEAGUE : Ontario Christian Controls Orange Lutheran to Win, 24-13

Ontario Christian Coach Tom Hamming was upset when his captains elected to receive rather than kick off to start the game against Orange Lutheran.

Hamming wanted to start the game on defense. But very little went wrong for Ontario Christian after that, as the Knights beat the Lancers, 24-13, in the Olympic League opener for both teams Friday at Ontario Christian.

The victory ended a 15-game league losing streak for Ontario Christian (5-1, 1-0), dating to 1990.

The Knights controlled the game on the ground, gaining 318 yards rushing. Brett Kennon led all rushers with 136 yards in 19 carries. He also scored the first touchdown on a 53-yard run with 9 minutes 58 seconds left in the first quarter.

Quarterback Eric De Groot raced 70 yards for a touchdown to give Ontario Christian a 14-0 lead with 13 seconds left in the first quarter.

Ontario Christian’s third touchdown was set up when Billy Ofinga recovered an Orange Lutheran fumble on the Knights’ 42. Five plays later, De Groot completed his only pass, a 30-yarder, for a touchdown to Pat Van Zyl with 8:17 left in the half.

Orange Lutheran’s Dan Young returned the second-half kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. The Lancers (3-3, 1-1) scored again on a three-yard run by A.J. Teachman to cut the lead to 21-13 with 43 seconds left in the third quarter.