Tyler Rallies Diamond Bar Past Lancers

Diamond Bar roared back from a 10-point deficit by scoring 28 consecutive points to eliminate Thousand Oaks, 31-19, in a Southern Section Division III quarterfinal at Walnut High.

Trailing, 13-10, at halftime, Diamond Bar (12-0) scored three third-quarter touchdowns to put the game out of reach.

Lathian Tyler put the Brahmas ahead on a nifty 62-yard punt return. He later scored on runs of 11 and five yards. Tyler rushed for 150 yards and four touchdowns. He also had a 63-yard scoring run nullified by a holding penalty in the quarter.

“I knew I had to make a big play; I knew it was just a matter of time,” Tyler said.

After falling behind, 3-0, early in the first quarter, Thousand Oaks (9-3) drove 77 yards in nine plays and scored on an 18-yard pass play from Scott McEwan to Jud Southwell.

The Lancers increased their lead to 13-3 midway through the second quarter when McEwan connected with tight end Jim Ange on a 27-yard pass.

Diamond Bar scored just before the half when a 52-yard option pass set up a six-yard run by Tyler.

“Big plays have hurt us all year,” Thousand Oaks Coach Mike Kelly said. “And they did tonight.”