Costly Win for Orange Lutheran

The noise level on Orange Lutheran’s side of the field grew as the Lancers marched toward their second consecutive Southern Section Division VI title-game appearance Saturday night, but it quieted quickly when quarterback Seth Blackamore crumpled into a heap with 3 minutes 34 seconds left to play.

The top-seeded Lancers held on to beat Villa Park, 21-3, at Orange El Modena, but everyone’s attention turned to Blackamore, the Division VI co-most valuable player last season who missed most of the season with a torn anterior-cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Blackamore, who did not start but led the Lancers (12-1) on three unanswered touchdown drives after taking over for sophomore Aaron Corp late in the first half, re-injured his knee after dropping back on a quarterback draw with Orange Lutheran holding an 18-point lead.

“I pushed off and my foot slipped and [my knee] went out on me,” he said.

Orange Lutheran, which will play second-seeded Newport Harbor (12-0-1) in the title game at 2 p.m. Saturday at Angel Stadium, has outscored its three playoff opponents, 63-0, in the second half.

Fourth-seeded Villa Park (11-2) was held to 21 total yards and two first downs in the second half.

Dan Arritt

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Mission Viejo 48, Upland 21 -- Quarterback Mark Sanchez completed 10 of 15 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns -- all in the first half -- and Chane Moline gained 84 yards in 11 carries and scored two touchdowns for the Diablos, who led, 41-7, at halftime.

Top-seeded Mission Viejo (13-0) will be making its fourth consecutive appearance in the Division II championship game when it meets second-seeded Valencia (12-1) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Angel Stadium. Upland ends its season at 10-3.

Ben Bolch

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Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 49, La Canada St. Francis 14 -- In winning its 21st consecutive game and earning the chance to play for its third consecutive Division III championship, top-seeded Notre Dame (13-0) once again relied on its trio of devastating offensive weapons.

Quarterback Garrett Green completed 12 of 16 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Cary Harris rushed for 97 yards in 10 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of five, 15 and 17 yards. And running back Rodney Glass rushed for 82 yards in 13 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of seven and 14 yards.

Notre Dame, which will play host to second-seeded Compton Dominguez (12-1) in Friday’s Division III final, opened a 28-0 halftime lead and led, 42-0.

Tony DeMartinis had an interception and a sack to lead the Knights, who limited St. Francis (9-4) to 83 yards passing.

Eric Sondheimer

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Ventura St. Bonaventure 28, San Luis Obispo 21 -- Derek Wilson’s four-yard touchdown run with 7:31 left in the game proved to be the difference as the top-seeded Seraphs (12-1) advanced to an unprecedented sixth consecutive Southern Section final with a Division IV victory over fourth-seeded San Luis Obispo (10-2) at Oxnard Pacifica.

Matt Evans of St. Bonaventure connected with Josh Tafoya for a three-yard touchdown with 45 seconds left in the first half and ran for the two-point conversion to tie the score, 14-14. Evans, who platoons with Samson Szakacsy, did not return in the second half after injuring his right hand on the conversion run.

The Seraphs will play Ventura (11-2) in the final on Friday at Ventura High.

-- Mayar Zokaei