Orange Lutheran gets dramatic victory

Orange Lutheran’s 28-25 victory over No. 15 Santa Ana Mater Dei Friday at Orange Coast College marked five consecutive wins over its Trinity League rival.

And it wasn’t decided until the final moments.

After both teams traded two timeouts with 19 seconds remaining, Orange Lutheran quarterback Mike Markovsky connected with wide receiver Brandon Turner on a six-yard, fourth-down touchdown pass. He then found Gabe York in the end zone for the two-point conversion.

Mater Dei (3-3, 0-1) made one last effort for a comeback. And it came close.

On Mater Dei’s 20-yard line, quarterback Max Wittek scrambled before connecting with wide receiver AJ Roth downfield. But he was tackled at Orange Lutheran’s 20-yard line when time expired.

The game featured eight lead changes, four failed two-point conversions and plenty of big plays. Most of those came from Mater Dei wide receiver Victor Blackwell, who caught 12 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns.

His 34-yard touchdown catch gave the Monarchs a 25-20 lead with 9:04 remaining. After Orange Lutheran (3-3, 1-0) and Mater Dei failed to score on the next two possessions, the Lancers orchestrated a nine-play, 78-yard drive in the last 2:47 that ultimately resulted in the winning touchdown.

-- Mark Medina

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Narbonne wins

Call it ugly, but Harbor City Narbonne ) overcame a 20-8 halftime deficit, plus 16 penalties for 137 yards, to pull out a 23-22 victory over Marine League rival San Pedro (4-2, 0-1) in a matchup of last year’s City Section co-champions.

Melvin Davis’ three-yard touchdown run and Bryan Douglas’ two-point conversion reception with 1:29 left in the third quarter gave the Gauchos (3-3, 1-0) a 23-20 lead.

San Pedro (4-2, 0-1) came up with a safety after a 59-yard punt by Donald Jarrin pinned the Gauchos at the one-yard line. Quarterback Chad Dashnaw was tackled in the end zone with 9:15 left.

But Narbonne’s defense refused to budge. San Pedro quarterback Ron Galosic, who passed for 168 yards in the first half, was limited to 27 yards in the second half.

Chase Clayton had two interceptions for San Pedro and caught touchdown passes of 65 and 29 yards.

Dashnaw completed 14 of 24 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns.

Taylor McDaniel and Devon Wallace contributed key sacks for Narbonne in the second half.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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Two-minute drill

Woodland Hills El Camino Real improved to 6-0 with a 47-24 victory over Lake Balboa Birmingham (0-6, 0-1) in its West Valley League opener. Running back Rashon Harper scored six touchdowns for the Conquistadores. . . . Los Angeles Loyola (3-3) won its first game for interim Coach Adam Guerra and handed West Hills Chaminade (5-1) its first defeat with a 42-3 victory. . . . Austin Rios threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Parker Norton late in the fourth quarter as Newport Beach Newport Harbor (3-3, 1-0) defeated No. 9 Los Alamitos (5-1, 0-1), 23-20. It was Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley’s 200th career victory.