Lancers Tie Los Amigos in Last Minute

Orange Lutheran quarterback Jason Whieldon hit tight end Eric Lerch for a 21-yard touchdown with less than a minute to play, leading to a 14-14 tie with Los Amigos in a nonleague game Friday night at Garden Grove High School.

The Lancers tied the score on a two-point conversion run by junior running back Dee Meza with 38 seconds remaining. Meza was stopped at the two-yard line but his second effort carried him into the end zone. Meza had recovered a fumble about a minute earlier to give the Lancers their last chance.

The fumble recovery and subsequent tying conversion came shortly after Meza had fumbled on his goal line. Los Amigos linebacker Anthony Faletoi recovered the ball in the end zone, giving the Lobos a 14-6 lead early in the fourth quarter.

“That typifies [Meza’s] character and the character of this team,” Lancer Coach Jim Kunau said.

Los Amigos running back Najja Kee, who rushed for 1,189 yards last season, led the Lobos with 111 yards and one touchdown in 23 carries. Los Amigos quarterback Javier Acevez, completed 11 of 14 passes for 102 yards.

Leading 7-6 in the fourth quarter, the Lobos drove deep into Orange Lutheran territory, but were stopped at the two when Kee was stopped after gaining two yards on fourth and three. However, on the Lancers’ first play from scrimmage, Meza was hit at the goal line and fumbled, leading to the touchdown.

Meza returned the kickoff to the Lobo 43. The Lancers then drove to the Lobo 10-yard line, but couldn’t capitalize as, under heavy pressure, Whieldon threw a pass that was intercepted by James Brewer.

The Lobos were trying to run out the clock before Kee’s fumble that led to Orange Lutheran’s last-minute drive.

Los Amigos started the scoring in the second quarter with a seven-play drive culminated by Kee’s one-yard touchdown run. Orange Lutheran was held scoreless in the first half but began the second half with a nine-play drive that covered 68 yards and finished with a three-yard touchdown run by Meza.