Orange Lutheran makes case to be among the elite
As if the Trinity League wasn’t tough enough in football with No. 1-ranked Anaheim Servite and No. 5-ranked Santa Margarita, Orange Lutheran sent a message in its opener Saturday that it is ready to rejoin the elite.
Playing a Bingham (Utah) team that had already played and won its first two games, Orange Lutheran received three touchdown passes from quarterback Conner Sullivan and outstanding defensive play from linebacker Deion Williams in a 42-7 victory at the Mission Viejo Football Classic.
Last season, the Lancers failed to make the Pac-5 Division playoffs, which was an unusual occurrence under Coach Jim Kunau. The Lancers appear to be back in a big way.
Sullivan, a standout baseball player who has committed to Duke, won the starting quarterback position and showed he has mastered the option play, making good judgments while taking advantage of playing behind a top offensive line that features 6-foot-5, 315-pound junior John Lopez.
“I thought our quarterback played superbly,” Kunau said.
Sullivan completed 13 of 17 passes for 125 yards and also scored a touchdown. Graeme Fraser ran for two touchdowns, and Willie Fletcher and Jordan Greenwood contributed interceptions.
Crenshaw woes
Two-time defending City Section Division I champion Los Angeles Crenshaw struggled on both sides of the ball in a 45-14 loss to Alta of Sandy, Utah, as part of the Mission Viejo Classic.
The Cougars generated little offense, and Alta quarterback Tyson Blackner passed for 279 yards and three touchdowns while also scoring a touchdown.
Crenshaw offered one brief challenge early on. After falling behind, 17-0, the Cougars closed to 17-14. Earl Glinton stripped the ball from Blackner, and Deshawn Jolly picked up the fumble for a seven-yard touchdown. Then Darion Lewis caught an eight-yard touchdown pass.
Alta was playing its third game of the season. Crenshaw, trying to rebuild after the graduation of De’Anthony Thomas, lacked a big-play threat on offense, though Coach Robert Garrett insisted, “Come December, we’ll be better.”
Great comebacks
Venice and Lompoc pulled off memorable comeback victories Friday night. Venice trailed Studio City Harvard-Westlake, 21-0, then scored 27 consecutive points and won, 34-27, on a 34-yard touchdown reception by Gabriel Marks with 13 seconds left.
“It was a pretty desperate time for a while,” Venice Coach Angela Gasca said. “They came out with a new offense. It was definitely a challenge.”
Gasca brought in sophomore quarterback Alexander Diamont, who completed nine of 12 passes for 201 yards to rally Venice.
Lompoc trailed Arroyo Grande, 21-0, and won, 38-28, behind junior running back Lavon Coleman, who rushed for 177 yards in 36 carries and scored three touchdowns.
Resignation
Colton Coach Rick Bray resigned one game into the season, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise. Colton lost to Torrey Pines, 35-7.
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