Win shows Lakewood it can handle adversity

Lakewood learned plenty of things in its 27-7 victory Friday over Bellflower St. John Bosco.

It learned its defense can shut down playmakers. It learned its offense can strike the necessary balance between the running and passing game. And it learned it can respond to adversity.

After the Lancers’ 49-0 victory over L.A. Locke last week in their season opener, Lakewood Coach Thadd MacNeal struggled in drawing a definitive conclusion about his team. But after the Lancers (2-0), ranked No. 4 by The Times, finished their effort against the Braves, MacNeal said he knows at least one thing:

“We can compete in the Pac-5,” he said. “If we put this together and stay healthy, we’re going to be a pretty strong ball club.”

Lakewood proved why against St. John Bosco (1-1).

The Lancers’ defense held Braves junior quarterback Rene Medina to a five of 22 for 50 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Lakewood limited St. John Bosco junior wide receiver Bryce Treggs to only two catches for 26 yards.

And Lakewood allowed St. John Bosco to put points on the scoreboard only when Justin Johnson’s 43-yard touchdown pass to Rodney Morgan on a reversal cut the Lancers’ lead to 13-7 with 19 seconds left in the second quarter.

In only his third varsity start since replacing Jesse Scroggins, now a freshman at USC, senior quarterback Tyler Schultz went 14 of 19 for 227 yards with two touchdowns, both of which went to Jordan.

— Mark Medina

Mission Viejo dominates Loyola

Mission Viejo quarterbacks Alex Bridgford and Tre Madden were double trouble for Los Angeles Loyola during the top-ranked Diablos’ 42-7 victory at L.A. Valley College.

Bridgford completed 11 of 17 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns, and Madden ran for 90 yards and a touchdown in only five carries for Mission Viejo (2-0), which pulled away with 28 points in the second half.

“Bridgford’s our starter and Tre comes in and shocks them,” said Diablos Coach Bob Johnson, who sometimes had his quarterbacks alternate taking snaps on the same drive. “It’s a nice combination and defenses will continue to have a tough time with that.”

No. 17 Loyola (1-1) also had great difficulty moving the ball until quarterback Jerry Neuheisel led an 80-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter against Mission Viejo’s second-string defense.

Neuheisel, who didn’t play in the first three quarters after sitting out practice earlier in the week because of a stomach ailment, completed eight of 10 passes for 91 yards with an interception.

Cubs tailback Jared Baker had 59 yards in 18 carries, including a 10-yard touchdown.

— Ben Bolch

Quick hits

Valencia running back Steven Manfro finished with six touchdowns as the Vikings (1-0) defeated Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (0-2), 49-32... Kawan Rally rushed for 126 yards and four touchdowns and blocked an extra point with 11 seconds left as Woodland Hills El Camino Real (1-1) rallied to defeat host Palisades (0-1), 36-35.