3-0 Lancers Impressing All but Coach

Although unbeaten Orange Lutheran apparently coasted to a 28-3 victory over Laguna Beach, Lancer Coach Jim Kunau didn’t want championship fever setting in yet.

Sure, Travis Freeman rushed for 127 yards in 13 carries to highlight a balanced attack that rolled up nearly 400 yards of offense in a nonleague game Friday at Laguna Beach High.

And the Lancers, who reached the Southern Section Division X championship game the past two seasons, easily handled Friday’s Division VIII opponent, Laguna Beach, for the fifth consecutive season.

But the Lancers still have plenty of glitches.

“It was a listless performance on offense,” Kunau said. “We must have made 25 major mistakes.”

Orange Lutheran’s defense made fewer mistakes, limiting Laguna Beach to two second-half first downs and 88 total yards.

While Laguna Beach (0-3) sputtered offensively, Orange Lutheran (3-0) had its moments.

A four-yard touchdown run by Tim Smith capped a 73-yard, 10-play scoring drive the Lancers used to open the game.

A 52-yard run by Freeman highlighted the Lancers’ second scoring drive, which was culminated by a one-yard touchdown run by Pat Sims to give Orange Lutheran a 14-3 lead just before halftime.

A perfectly executed onside kick to open the second half helped set up a 23-yard touchdown run by Andy Wetzler to make it 21-3.

And Lancer quarterback Nick Odenath tossed a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Renevier early in the fourth quarter.

But the glaring mistakes caught Kunau’s eye, including two lost fumbles, an interception, and 11 penalties for 120 yards, including six holding and clipping penalties.