Lancers Fall Short of Third Section Final

Orange Lutheran was denied a third consecutive trip to the Division X finals as the Lancers lost, 21-17, to Ventura St. Bonaventure in front of an estimated 5,500 Saturday at Ventura High.

All the scoring took place in the first half. And the Seraphs (11-1-1) had the big plays--David Chaparro intercepted two passes from Lancer quarterback Nick Odenath.

His second interception was the most crucial, stopping a Lancer drive at the St. Bonaventure two-yard line at the end of the third quarter.

St. Bonaventure will face unbeaten Ojai Nordhoff, the division’s top-seed team, on Saturday in Ojai.

Orange Lutheran ended its season 11-2.

“I’m extremely proud of our kids,” Lancer Coach Jim Kunau said. “With only five starters back we had to have a lot of kids step in and step up to get this far.”

Leading the Seraphs was quarterback Teohua Sanchez, who passed for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Pepe Villasenor caught 10 passes--establishing a Ventura County record in career receptions (103)--for 77 yards. But tight end Joe Byrum really hurt Orange Lutheran, with seven receptions for 136 yards. His two touchdown catches in the second quarter gave the Seraphs the lead for good.

Odenath completed nine of 17 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown and running back Travis Freeman rushed for 110 yards and a score.

In the Lancers’ first two playoff games, they gave up only six points. But St. Bonaventure surpassed that total on its first two possessions, getting a five-yard touchdown pass from Sanchez to Villasenor, and a Chris Lombardo 43-yard field goal.

The Lancers got a break it in the second quarter on a botched St. Bonaventure punt attempt, setting up Orange Lutheran at the Seraphs’ 48.

Freeman would later score on a 23-yard run.

Suddenly confident, Orange Lutheran held off the Seraphs, and took their next possession 85 yards in seven plays. The payoff was a 25-yard touchdown pass from Odenath to Jeff Renevie.

But the Lancers got greedy. A personal foul on St. Bonaventure gave Orange Lutheran the kickoff at the Seraphs’ 45. They tried an onside kick, but the ball did not travel the required 10 yards, stopping instead at the Seraphs’ 44.

The momentum switched again, as Sanchez and tight end Joe Byrum got hot.