Lancers Edge Stars in Overtime : Division X: Orange Lutheran earns first championship-game berth with 7-6 victory over Mary Star of the Sea.

Two teams with storybook seasons. Just one would have a satisfying ending.

The smiles go to Orange Lutheran, which needed overtime to finally put away San Pedro Mary Star of the Sea, 7-6, before an estimated 2,500 at Daniels Field. The victory gave the Lancers (11-2), top-seeded in Division X, their first championship berth. Orange Lutheran will play the winner of tonight’s Montclair Prep-Kilpatrick game next Saturday.

Mary Star, seeking to reach its first football title game since 1960, saw its season end at 11-2.

“Don’t say I got them this far,” Lancer Coach Jim Kunau said. “The kids did it. I give credit to their defense for stopping us, but I give more credit to our defense.”

The game was defined by turnovers. Both teams had plenty of giveaways; Orange Lutheran lost two of three fumbles and was intercepted twice, and the Stars were picked off three times while losing two of five fumbles.

The Stars had the toughest defense the Lancers have faced this year, as the Olympic League co-champions were limited to 239 yards total offense.

The Lancers’ Joe Juliano was responsible for 170 yards, with 88 yards passing and 82 yards rushing. He also had Lutheran’s biggest play of the season; on the Lancers’ first overtime possession, Juliano swept around right end for 10 yards and a touchdown--the same play he ran for 39 yards and a score three weeks ago against Valley Christian. Matt Stratton kicked what turned out to be the crucial extra point.

“We wanted it more,” said Juliano, who admitted being frustrated by the Stars’ defense. “They have the best defense I’ve seen--and felt.”

When it was the Stars’ turn in overtime, tailback Danny Pulu scored on a five-yard run. Mary Star went for the two-point conversion, but quarterback Anthony DiLeva was stopped at the one-yard line by Lancer tackle Nick Griffith, who had blitzed on the play.

“There was no question we would go for the win,” Stars Coach Dino Andrie said. “I don’t play for ties.”

While the Stars brought lots of muscle and were content to beat up Orange Lutheran up and down the field, Andrie worried whether his defense would be able to handle the Lancers.

“They are very explosive and very hard to prepare for in just one week,” Andrie said. “We had to make our adjustments, play old-fashioned football and hit them. Their option was my biggest concern; we couldn’t afford to give them anything cheap. We didn’t expect to shut them out, but we had to make them work for everything they got.”

The Lancers’ defense limped into the game. Linebacker and captain Chris Amato suffered a season-ending ankle injury last week and noseguard Jake Anderson was nursing a separated shoulder. There was so much shifting around Kunau half-jokingly suggested Juliano might see time at free safety.

Both defenses were tested early, but the first half was scoreless because each team was stifled by mistakes.