FACTS AND FIGURES : 1996 in Review

Orange Lutheran and Cerritos Valley Christian once again did the one-two in 1996. This time it was the Lancers squeaking out a dramatic 27-23 comeback victory over Valley Christian in the league opener and then cruising through their remaining games to win the league title.

A year earlier, Valley Christian produced a stunning 36-31 victory over the Lancers in the final seconds to win the league title by a game.

In last year’s game, Orange Lutheran was coming off a tough nonleague loss to Corona del Mar, in which the Lancers had the ball on the one-yard line late in the game but couldn’t score.

Against the Crusaders, Orange Lutheran found itself down 15 points in the third quarter. But a 15-yard touchdown run by Nick Odenath and Mike Crawford’s 75-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the third quarter cut the lead to 23-19.

Then with 7 minutes 18 seconds left in the game, Travis Freeman ran around right end for a seven-yard touchdown, giving the Lancers the lead for good.

Despite having one of the best quarterbacks in the state in David Priestley, who’s now at Ohio State, Brethren Christian had a losing record.

Whittier Christian won the battle of winless teams against Calvary Chapel in the final game of the season, 12-6.

Capistrano Valley Christian went undefeated in Victory League play to capture the title, but was ousted in the first round of the playoffs by La Canada Flintridge Prep.

St. Margaret’s lost to Freedom League champion Lucerne Valley for its only league defeat. Southern California Christian was winless in Christian League play. Heritage Christian reached the semifinals in the eight-man small division.

Olympic League standings

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League Standings W L T Orange Lutheran 5 0 0 Valley Christian 4 1 0 Ontario Christian 3 2 0 Brethren Christian 2 3 0 Whittier Christian 1 4 0 Calvary Chapel 0 5 0

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Overall Standings W L T TP PA Orange Lutheran 11 2 0 446 181 Valley Christian 7 4 0 262 257 Ontario Christian 7 4 0 303 216 Brethren Christian 5 6 0 246 262 Whittier Christian 1 9 0 88 221 Calvary Chapel 0 9 1 146 328

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