One victory changes a lot for Bishop Amat
In the four-team Serra League, one victory could make the difference between missing the Pac-5 Division playoffs and winning a league title.
La Puente Bishop Amat High entered its game against visiting Encino Crespi winless in league play and emerged on the brink of a possible league title after rallying from a 15-point third-quarter deficit for a 22-21 victory over the Celts, who were ranked No. 6 in the Southland by The Times.
Quarterback Jeremy McClanahan secured the victory with a two-point conversion run with 4 minutes 42 seconds left. The Lancers (7-2, 1-1) could win a share of the league title Friday with a victory over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. However, a loss could leave Bishop Amat in third place and in need of securing the Pac-5’s lone wild-card spot to make the playoffs, since the Serra League has only two guaranteed playoff entrants.
“There’s a lot of things that could happen,” Bishop Amat Coach Steve Hagerty said Saturday. “If we want to assure ourselves of a playoff spot, we have to win next week.”
Crespi (6-3, 0-2) must defeat Los Angeles Loyola on Friday to have any chance at making the playoffs.
Nearly a Locke
For the first time in the history of the Coliseum League, it appears L.A. Crenshaw and L.A. Dorsey will not finish in the top two spots in the league standings.
L.A. Locke’s 24-22 victory over Dorsey -- its first in the series since 2002 -- moved the Saints (5-3, 3-1) into sole position of second place behind Crenshaw (6-2, 4-0). Locke would finish second with a victory over host L.A. Fremont (5-4, 2-2) on Friday.
“It’s a big deal for us,” Saints Coach Wayne Crawford said. “If we can take care of business against Fremont, it would be a real big turning point in our program.”
Locke rallied to defeat Dorsey when running back Tony Bell scored on a 35-yard run in the fourth quarter to give the Saints a 24-20 lead. Davion McGee surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark for Locke.
Win-win
Huntington Beach Edison’s 14-7 victory over Fountain Valley had special meaning for the Chargers because it was the first game senior lineman Luke Gane had attended since being diagnosed with aplastic anemia last summer and undergoing a bone marrow transplant.
Gane’s teammates gave him a victory ride on their shoulders during the postgame celebration. “We really wanted to do this for Luke because we knew he was here watching,” quarterback Matt Viles said. “We definitely had plenty of motivation.”
Trojans watch
Corona Centennial linebacker Vontaze Burfict returned home from the hospital early Saturday morning after he sustained a sprained neck during the Huskies’ 42-30 victory over Corona Santiago. Centennial Coach Matt Logan said he expected Burfict to play Friday against Norco.
Compton safety Chris Metcalf was ejected from the Tarbabes’ 40-13 loss to Long Beach Poly after a scuffle on the sideline and must sit out Compton’s game against Lakewood on Friday.
“It is a big blow,” Tarbabes Coach Calvin Bryant said, “but I tell these guys they have to learn from their mistakes.”
Bruins watch
Arcadia running back Todd Golper suffered a knee injury during the second quarter of the Apaches’ 29-22 loss to Burbank and did not return. Golper, who had already missed two games this season because of a broken toe, was scheduled to be examined Saturday.
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Correspondent Austin Knoblauch and Times staff writer Mark Medina contributed to this report.
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