Brea Rallies Injured Players to Defeat Western

The week leading up to Friday’s Orange League showdown with visiting Western, Brea Olinda’s practice field looked more like a hospital ward.

The walking wounded were everywhere, including standout running back Scott Lieng, who was nursing a sore ankle. Things got so bad defensively that the 10th-ranked Wildcats were using fourth- and fifth-string tackles in blocking drills. Key two-way players such as defensive back Deonta Birdsong (knee) and wide receiver/defensive back Ron Benigno (leg) didn’t put on pads.

“On Tuesday, you had to be a real believer in Brea football to be positive about the outcome against Western,” Brea Coach Jon Looney said.

Yet, Friday night, Western had the more painful experience. Brea, led by two interceptions by Lieng and 201 yards passing by quarterback Travis Blood, had little trouble defeating the Pioneers, 38-10, to take a giant step toward defending its Orange League title. The Wildcats play Anaheim, which has lost 18 in a row, next Friday.

Western (5-2, 1-1 in league), turned the ball over seven times. Quarterback Jason Baughman, who was under a constant rush, had four passes intercepted. Brea forced three fumbles by ripping balls from the arms of Pioneer running backs.

Brea linebackers Chris Shoemaker, Erik Porter and lineman Scott Dan said the Wildcats spent a nervous week at practice trying to figure out a way to avoid the worst.

“We had key guys down earlier in the week, but that just made us come together,” linebacker Chris Shoemaker said. “It just made [those of us who were left] work that much harder.”

Brea (6-1, 2-0), which has turned over the ball only three times this season, has been an opportunistic team all season.

Western opened aggressively, with Baughman throwing 58 yards to wide receiver Jon Wittman on the opening play of the game. That set up the Pioneers at the Brea 22-yard line, but when the drive stalled, the Pioneers went for a field goal.

But Brea linebacker Jake Dixon broke through the Pioneer front line and blocked the kick. Teammate Steve Atherton picked up the ball at his 37 and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown. But the point after attempt failed.

Western came right back, with Baughman moving his team 82 yards in nine plays for a score on his pass to Darryl Gober from just outside the 10-yard line with 6:24 left in the first quarter. Kyle Stanley made the extra point for a 7-6 lead.

The best Western did after that was a 30-yard field goal from Stanley with 5:29 left in the half.