Tie Seems Like Right Score

It seemed fitting Thursday night’s football game between Orange Lutheran High and Newport Beach Newport Harbor ended in a 7-7 tie at Brea Olinda High. Neither team played well enough to win.

But Orange Lutheran Coach Jim Kunau was first in line to accept blame, citing a poor call on the final snap of the game.

The Lancers (1-0-1) were on Newport Harbor’s eight-yard line when the referee started the game clock with 17 seconds remaining. Robby Hobbs hit wide receiver Anthony Vernaglia with a quick pass over the middle, but Vernaglia was tackled at the one-yard line with about six seconds remaining.

Orange Lutheran tried to gather at the line of scrimmage and stop the clock with an incomplete pass on third down, but couldn’t do it in time.

Kunau said afterward that he should have called a play that sent the receiver into the end zone. “I cost our kids this game,” he said. “I’m totally disappointed.”

But Kunau didn’t play a part in the two long touchdown passes by Orange Lutheran that were called back by penalties.

The Lancers had a 77-yard touchdown reception by Tony Zegers erased late in the first half because of an illegal procedure penalty, then lost an 83-yard touchdown reception by Zegers midway through the third quarter because of a holding call.

Newport Harbor also lost two fourth-quarter fumbles.

The Sailors’ huge offensive line helped running back Dartangan Johnson rush for 180 yards in 26 carries, including a two-yard first-quarter run.

Orange Lutheran came back on the opening drive of the second half and tied the score with a 13-play drive that was capped by Zegers’ nine-yard touchdown reception.