Lancers Looking for a Reversal of Fortunes

Orange Lutheran, known in recent years as “The Team That Has Trouble Winning The Big One,” is seeking to change its reputation.

The Lancers have advanced deep into the playoffs in four of the past five years but each time failed to deliver a Southern Section championship. Orange Lutheran has appeared in two Division X title games and two semifinals, losing on each occasion.

Last season, Orange Lutheran’s first in Division XI, the Lancers entered the playoffs as the top seed and lost to Carpinteria, 42-41, in a quarterfinal. But this might well be the Lancers’ breakthrough season.

Orange Lutheran is 10-0 for the first time since Coach Jim Kunau assumed control of the program in 1993. The Lancers are also ranked fourth in the Orange County Sportswriters Poll, the best ranking in school history.

Third-seeded Orange Lutheran and top-seeded L.A. Cathedral share a common thread: an outstanding quarterback.

The Lancers’ Jason Whieldon has completed 36 touchdown passes, thrown for more than 2,400 yards and rushed for just a shade under 1,000 yards.

The Phantoms’ Robert De La Cruz holds several state records, including touchdown passes in a season (61 in 1998) and career (119). This season, De La Cruz has thrown for 3,006 yards and 51 touchdowns in nine games.

“It’s hard to put a price tag on what [Whieldon] means to this team,” said Kunau, whose Lancers meet Yucca Valley in the first round at 7:30 Friday at Cal State Fullerton.

If Whieldon leads Orange Lutheran to its first title, his value will be priceless.