Brethren Christian Defense Falters Against L.A. Baptist : DIVISION X

L.A. Baptist High held Brethren Christian to 183 yards and burned the Warrior secondary for 211 yards and three scores in the first half to pace its 43-21 victory Friday night in the Southern Section Division X championship game.

“It’s an absolutely perfect season,” said Knight quarterback Zack Hernandez, who threw three touchdown passes. “We had our goals (set) before the season . . . go undefeated, win our league and win the division.

“This is the best feeling I’ve ever felt in my life.”

L.A. Baptist (13-0), Alpha League champions, scored 27 points in the second quarter and was not threatened thereafter. It is the second division title for the Knights, who won the Small Schools Division in 1971.

“The kids worked really hard week in and week out and had very little letdown,” L.A. Baptist Coach Mark Bates said.

Hernandez, who had completed nine of 11 passes for 211 yards by halftime, set the pace for the Knights offensively, while the Knights’ defense held Brethren Christian’s running game in check.

Brethren Christian, which had given up an average of only 188 yards per game, allowed 308 yards, 235 in the first half. But the Warriors’ biggest gaffe was allowing wide receiver Jim Romero to roam in single coverage in the first half.

“I was surprised when they came out in man-to-man coverage,” Hernandez said. “There’s no way anyone in the division can cover Jim Romero man to man.”

Despite a heavy pass rush in the first half, Hernandez picked apart the Brethren Christian secondary. But no defensive back was more picked upon than junior Michael Harriman.

Harriman was visibly frustrated by the athleticism of Romero, who had caught six passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns by halftime.

Romero got his first reception on the Knights’ second play of the game. One play later, Romero beat Harriman down field on a post pattern and scored on a 36-yard strike only 61 seconds into the game, prompting Harriman to slam his fists into his thigh pads in anger.

Romero scored twice more before Harriman was pulled in favor of Reggie Davis in the second half.

Romero scored on pass plays of 81 and 17 yards in the second quarter.

But it was Dana Berg’s 95-yard kickoff return for a score with less than two minutes to play in the first half that seemed to put an end to Brethren Christian’s hopes.

Brethren Christian turned over the ball four times and could not get its running game rolling. Keith Washington scored on runs of four, one and one yards and finished with 83 yards in 21 carries for the Warriors.