Orange Lutheran Wins, 56-51

A big first quarter made the difference for Orange Lutheran, which claimed at least a share of the Empire League title with a 56-51 victory over La Palma Kennedy on Thursday night at Anaheim Western High.

The Lancers (7-2, 4-0) won their seventh consecutive game as they took advantage of good field position on their first two possessions, starting at the Kennedy 35-yard line after a 35-yard punt return, and at the Kennedy eight after an interception, to build a 14-0 lead.

As good as Lutheran was, though, Lancer quarterback Casey Whieldon was overshadowed by Kennedy junior Robert Becker, who netted zero yards passing in the first quarter but set or tied four school single-game passing records. Becker completed 29 of 45 passes for 419 yards, all Kennedy records, and tied another mark with five touchdown passes.

Lutheran led 42-24 at halftime, largely on the strength of Whieldon and junior receiver Anthony Vernaglia. The pair connected on five touchdown passes, four of them in the first half. Vernaglia finished with six catches for 224 yards and the five touchdown catches, a school record. Whieldon completed 10 of 19 passes for 320 yards.

Kennedy (5-4, 2-2) scored on its first play of the third quarter after a Lancer fumble gave them the ball at the Lutheran 24. After Whieldon passed to Vernaglia for the fifth touchdown to make the score 49-31, Becker passed to Blake Calabrese for a 72-yard scoring play to make it 49-38. Calabrese caught 10 passes for 263 yards, a school single-game record for receiving yardage.

After combining for 107 points in three quarters, neither team scored in the fourth. Lutheran finished with a 586-436 edge in total offense.

-- Eric Maddy

Santa Fe Springs Sante Fe 21, Whittier La Serna 0 -- Adam Sandoval rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown in 19 carries and became Santa Fe’s career rushing leader as he led the Chiefs in a Del Rio League victory at California High in Whittier. Sandoval has 2,091 yards, eclipsing the mark of 2,049 set by Leon Verstegen from 1972-1973.

Sante Fe (7-2, 4-0), ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section Division VII poll, scored three touchdowns in a five-minute span during the second quarter to take control of the game and clinch a tie for the league title.

Quarterback Danny Banzet threw touchdown passes of six and 72 yards to Josh Yost and Nathan Kimbrough, respectively.

Kimbrough had four receptions for 148 yards and he also had an interception.

It was the second shutout in four games for Sante Fe, which has given up only 22 points in four league victories. La Serna is 6-3, 2-2.