Orange Lutheran Win a Real Kick

Garrett Augustine’s heart sank when his 35-yard field-goal attempt left his foot Thursday night. When he looked up to check the ball’s trajectory, he didn’t feel much better.

But the ball knuckled nose-first through the uprights as time expired, giving Orange Lutheran a 24-21 victory over Anaheim Katella in an Empire League game at Brea Olinda High.

“It looked like [the field goal] was shot out of cannon, didn’t it?” said Orange Lutheran Coach Jim Kunau.

The Lancers (6-2, 3-0), the only unbeaten team in league, appeared to be headed for a tie after Katella quarterback Tony Savala scored on a one-yard sneak with 33 seconds left.

But after Orange Lutheran began its final possession near midfield, Casey Whieldon threw a screen pass to Brendan Circle, and he ran 40 yards to the Katella 18-yard line with 18 seconds left. After a touchdown run was called back on the next play because of a holding penalty, Whieldon took a knee with five seconds remaining to set up Augustine’s kick.

The Lancers, ranked No. 4 in Division VI, appeared in position to win when Brent Concolino scored on a 10-yard run for a 21-14 lead with 3:17 to play. But Savala connected on consecutive passes of 23 and 29 yards to put the No. 5 Knights (7-1, 2-1) at the Lancer 18. Five plays later, he tied the score on his one-yard run.

Katella drove inside the 20 three times in the first half but settled for field goals of 34 and 35 yards by Kevin Stout.

Both teams had costly turnovers.

Katella’s Mike Vega, who rushed for 189 yards in 27 carries, fumbled at his own 15 in the first quarter, setting up the Lancers’ first touchdown.

Whieldon had an errant pitchout early in the second half recovered by the Knights at the Katella 14. The Knights then marched down the field to tie the game, 14-14, on Savala’s one-yard run and ensuing two-point conversion pass to Brandon Barnes.

-- Dan Arritt

Anaheim Esperanza 42, Huntington Beach 0 -- The Aztecs (7-1, 2-1), ranked No. 10 in the Southland by The Times, rebounded from Saturday’s Sunset League loss to No. 4 Los Alamitos and routed the fast-fading Oilers (3-5, 0-3) by scoring six consecutive times after the opening drive.

Esperanza held the Southland’s leading rusher, Patrick Harrigan of Huntington Beach, who averages 7.5 yards a carry, to 53 yards in 14 carries, including a two-yard loss late in the game on one of two successful goal-line stands.

It was a sloppy effort for Huntington Beach. The Oilers had three turnovers, two fumbles and an interception, the latter stopping a potential scoring drive. They also muffed two kickoffs that led to poor field position and a bad snap on a punt attempt deep in their own territory that led to an Aztec touchdown.

Huntington Beach also let Dustin Snider escape an apparent tackle on a short pass play, and he turned it into a 34-yard touchdown for Esperanza’s first score.

Esperanza quarterback Rick Taloa completed eight of 11 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Shaun Wildenstein carried 12 times for 134 yards and one touchdown.

-- Paul McLeod