Paraclete’s Offense Missing in Action, 28-0

Orange Lutheran High tailback Che Holloway gave the Lancers the lead in a Southern Section Division X semifinal against Paraclete, but it was the defense that earned the victory.

The Lancers limited the Spirits to 140 yards of offense--and only one first down in the second half--en route to a 28-0 victory Saturday night before 4,000 at Antelope Valley College.

Orange Lutheran (10-3) advances to the championship game Saturday against Rosamond.

Holloway led the Orange Lutheran rushing attack with 85 yards in 19 carries, scoring on runs of one, 13 and five yards.

The Lancers used a combination of power sweeps and option plays to wear down the Paraclete defense.

Quarterback Nick Odenath gained 78 yards in 11 carries and halfback Greg Cook gained 65 in seven carries.

“We kept getting yards in little bunches,” Holloway said. “Then they would get tired and we would break a longer one.”

Orange Lutheran chewed up the clock, rushing for 278 and limiting Paraclete (7-6) to 13 plays in the second half.

“They just controlled us up front,” Paraclete Coach Steve Hagerty said. “Our defense never got in sync to stop them.”

Paraclete was held to 15 rushing yards. Ben Joyce completed six of 17 for 125 yards with one interception and was sacked four times.

Holloway scored in the second quarter on a one-yard dive for a 7-0 lead. The Lancers had a chance to score again before halftime after a 29-yard punt return by Holloway to the Spirits’ 19-yard line, but Orange Lutheran turned the ball over on downs at the three-yard line.

Paraclete then put together its only scoring threat.

Joyce, who hadn’t completed a pass, directed a drive that included a pair of 35-yard pass completions, one on a fourth-and-18 play.

Paraclete drove to the Lancer seven with one second remaining in the half. Rather than try a field goal, Paraclete went for the touchdown, but defensive back Tim Smith knocked down Joyce’s pass in the end zone.

Holloway and Cook each scored on 13-yard runs in the third quarter. Holloway capped the scoring with a five-yard run in the final period.