PREP EXTRA / FRIDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : ARROWHEAD LEAGUE : Southern California Christian Still Has Hope After Victory

Southern California Christian kept its slim playoff hopes alive with a 12-8 victory over La Verne Lutheran Thursday night in an Arrowhead League game.

In addition to their victory, the Flames (3-7, 2-3) also need a Hesperia Christian victory at Arrowhead Christian tonight, which would put the three teams into a three-way tie for third place in the league. The winner of a coin flip would then advance.

“We’d love to go, but I’m not sure we are ready for playoff-caliber competition,” Flames Coach Bert Esposito said. “But we’ll take it.”

The Flames scored two touchdowns on their first three possessions.

Steve Schinofen’s one-yard quarterback sneak with 6 minutes 5 seconds left in the first quarter gave the Flames a 6-0 lead. The opening drive covered 62 yards and the key play was a 40-yard pass from Schinofen to Jeremy Smith that advanced the ball to the La Verne six-yard line.

With 7:31 left in the first half, Mark Caballero went up the middle for an 11-yard touchdown and a 12-0 lead.

The Trojans (2-8, 0-5) scored on their first possession of the second half when Matt Keller pounded it in from three yards. Keller ran in for two points and La Varne trailed, 12-8, with 8:56 left in the third quarter.

The Flames were able to shut out the Trojans the rest of the way with Manny Marquez, Ben Morookian and Ken Buhler making key stops on fourth-down plays.

Caballero led the SCC offense, rushing 15 times for 52 yards. Ken Thomason led La Verne with 92 yards in 18 carries.