Corp Leads Lutheran to Win

Aaron Corp’s father, Chris, went up to him after Orange Lutheran’s season-opening, 27-21 football victory Saturday over Santa Ana Mater Dei and told him he had never been prouder.

And for good reason.

With the Lancers missing 18 players, suspended for violating school rules, Corp led Orange Lutheran, ranked No. 17 by The Times, past No. 9 Mater Dei by passing for 142 yards and rushing for 184.

Corp threw two touchdown passes in the first half, both to sophomore Blake Ayles, and peeled off a 76-yard scoring run with 5:57 left in the fourth quarter to break a 21-21 tie. The point-after was blocked but Lutheran’s defense held, with Jake Fey intercepting a pass at the Lutheran 44 with 38 seconds remaining.

“Just a bunch of guys coming together,” said Corp, a junior who became the starter last season because of an injury and led Lutheran to the Southern Section Division VI title. He completed 16 of 24 passes with one interception

Corp’s winning run around the right side was the same option play he had run for 57 yards to the other side on Lutheran’s first play from scrimmage to set up its first score.

“He’s the real deal,” said Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson, whose team ran only 37 plays to Lutheran’s 63. “We hit him good, he threw the ball effectively.... They did a great job of controlling the football.”

Mater Dei took a 21-14 lead on the final play of the first half when Michael Hardwick returned a blocked field-goal attempt 90 yards. Lutheran took advantage of a fumbled punt return to score early in the second half that ended with Ricky Pemasa’s one-yard scoring run. Pemasa rushed 18 times for 66 yards. Mater Dei’s Ahmad Mokhatar rushed 10 times for 118 yards and a 27-yard touchdown for Mater Dei.

Lutheran outgained Mater Dei 409-292. Freshman Matt Barkley completed nine of 15 passes for 107 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown to Mokhatar.

-- Martin Henderson

Senior quarterback Garrett Green of No. 4 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame is questionable for Friday’s game against No. 16 Westlake Village Westlake after spraining a ligament in the thumb of his throwing hand.

Green’s right hand is in a split and will be examined in a couple of days to determine if he can play. He was injured in a 27-22 victory on Friday against Lake Balboa Birmingham.