L.A. Baptist Recovers From a Shaky Start

Quarterback Peter Dirksen completed 14 of 25 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns to lead L.A. Baptist past Brentwood, 30-18, in a nonleague football game Saturday night at Palisades High.

Brentwood (1-2) scored on the first play from scrimmage when Rico Saken ran 60 yards to the end zone, but the Knights (2-1) answered with touchdowns on their first two possessions to take a 15-6 halftime lead.

L.A. Baptist extended its lead to 22-6 early in the third quarter on an 11-yard touchdown reception by Ron Atkins. Chris Ross added a one-yard touchdown run to give the Knights a 30-12 lead late in the third quarter.

Atkins had five catches for 76 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, he rushed for 97 yards in nine carries. Tim Feirfeil had six catches for 121 yards and one touchdown.

Saken, the 1995 Southern Section Eight-Man player of the year, rushed for 200 yards in 18 carries and had touchdown runs of 60, 40 and 50 yards.