Bragg Is Key to Loyola’s Victory

Trason Bragg rushed for 172 yards and one touchdown in 29 carries for Los Angeles Loyola, which averted an upset bid by Lancaster Antelope Valley for the second consecutive season with a 16-7 victory Friday night at Antelope Valley High.

Bragg, a junior, scored on a six-yard run on the Cubs’ first possession of the second half. It was the first touchdown surrendered by Antelope Valley’s defense this season. The score gave Loyola (3-1), ranked No. 14 in the Southland by The Times, a 10-0 lead.

The Cubs’ victory prevented Antelope Valley Coach Brent Newcomb from getting the 200th victory of his 26-year career. His record dropped to 199-105-3.

Last season, Loyola blocked a 27-yard field-goal attempt with 3.6 seconds left to play to preserve a 21-19 victory over the Antelopes.

Friday, sophomore Andre Crenshaw broke three tackles on a 49-yard reverse to pull Antelope Valley (3-1) to within 10-7 with 5 minutes 55 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Antelopes twice moved deep into Loyola territory in the last 10 minutes but were unable to capitalize.

Matt Appenfelder, who had three catches for 75 yards, gave the Cubs their final points with a four-yard scoring reception from Scott Deke to cap an 11-play, 74-yard drive with 11:55 left. Deke completed 10 of 17 passes for 165 yards.

Aided by a 62-yard run by Kreig Peters (19 carries for 112 yards), Antelope Valley drove to the Loyola four-yard line, but Aaron Wilson was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-one play with 9:15 left.

The Antelopes recovered a fumble at the Cubs’ 26-yard line on the ensuing series but were unable to advance after three incomplete passes and a run for negative yardage.

Lauren Peterson

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Valencia 14, Arroyo Grande 13 -- Sophomore Mike Herrick completed 19 of 26 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown to lead the Vikings to a come-from-behind victory in their homecoming game at Canyon Country Canyon High.

Arroyo Grande (4-1) led, 10-0, at halftime, but Valencia (4-0) drove 41 yards in six plays to start the second half. Jeff Bomberger capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run after returning the second-half kickoff 54 yards.

Arroyo Grande drove to the Valencia 17-yard-line late in the third quarter, but running back Joey Renner was held to a one-yard gain on a fourth and three from the 18. The No. 23-ranked Vikings then drove 83 yards in eight plays, capped by Herrick’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Chris Wright.

Arroyo Grande, which cut its deficit to 14-13 on a 29-yard field goal by Sal Gutierrez with 5:22 left, stopped Valencia on fourth and goal from its one-yard line with 2:27 left. But quarterback Kyle Pollock’s desperation pass was intercepted by Geoff Tisdale at the Valencia two-yard line as time expired.

Pollock completed nine of 19 passes for 161 yards, but he was only four of 13 for 45 yards in the second half.

John Ortega

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Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 20, Encino Crespi 3 -- No longer hobbled by a thigh injury, senior linebacker K.C. Croal of Notre Dame showed why he might be the best defensive player in the Mission League, recording a sack, catching a touchdown pass and spearheading a defense that limited the Celts (3-1) to 129 total yards in a nonleague victory before a standing-room only crowd at Crespi High.

Notre Dame (3-1), ranked No. 12 by The Times, got a dominating performance from its offensive line, which helped Cary Harris rush for 108 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown run, in 13 carries.

Brandon Clayton rushed for 96 yards in 16 carries, including a six-yard touchdown run, and quarterback Garrett Green added 77 yards in 13 carries.

Green, only a sophomore, is one of the fastest quarterbacks in Coach Kevin Rooney’s 23 years at the Sherman Oaks campus. His speed is quickly making the dive option play very difficult for opposing schools to handle.

Crespi, which lost for the 10th consecutive time in the series against its Catholic school rival, led, 3-0, after a blocked punt by freshman D.J. Holt and a 24-yard field goal by Sean Sehnem.

-- Eric Sondheimer