JSerra QB Hayes Cloutier takes over in 2nd-half comeback to beat Bishop Amat

LA PUENTE — JSerra quarterback Hayes Cloutier was a nightmare for Bishop Amat. The senior took over in the second half and zapped all the confidence the Lancers had built up in the first half to take a seven-point lead to the locker room.

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Cloutier made several back-breaking plays on third and long, fourth and long, and he accounted for all of the Lions’ touchdowns in a come-from-behind 37-28 victory over Bishop Amat to hand the Lancers (4-1) their first loss.

Cloutier threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 135 yards and three scores as the Lions (4-1) overcame a 28-21 halftime deficit to pull out the win, shutting out the Lancers in the second half.

JSerra QB Hayes Cloutier talks after an amazing night. He passed for 182 yards and two TDs and ran for 135 yards and three TDs in their 37-28 victory over Bishop Amat. pic.twitter.com/ytaiY4Ut43

— Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻‍💻 (@SGVNSports) September 19, 2026

The play of the game also came from Coutier. Trailing 28-21 on fourth and 3, he scrambled from sideline to sideline for a 27-yard touchdown run to tie the score.

After an JSerra interception, Coutier made Amat pay on another clutch play. On fourth and 5, he ran 11 yards for a touchdown and a 34-28 lead with 3:11 to go in the third quarter.

It was an amazing performance from the lefty.

“We came into half down, and I just continued to see holes and make plays,” Coutier said. “We got punched in the mouth a few times but we kept punching back. We punched them all night until that gritty fourth quarter drive that led to a late field goal.”

Bishop Amat coach Kory Minor tipped his hat to JSerra after an amazing game where the Lancers came up short, 37-28, and were shutout in the second half. pic.twitter.com/U5gpANkcZH

— Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻‍💻 (@SGVNSports) September 19, 2026

That’s how JSerra put it away. It started with the ball in the fourth quarter and used up nearly nine minutes before settling on Evan Leddy’s 39-yard field goal with 3:03 left to give them a nine-point lead, and that was enough.

For Bishop Amat, there was a lot to feel good about, especially in the first half when it scored on every possession.

Justin Clinton rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns, and got Amat going early with a 43-yard touchdown run to go up 7-0.

Lancers quarterback Domenico Doran finished with 134 yards and two touchdowns, but he had two back-breaking interceptions that the Lions would capitalize on.

All in all, Amat showed it can hang with one of the best teams in Southern California. JSerra, from the Trinity League, is ranked No. 9 in the HS Ratings computer rakings for CIF Southern Section teams. Amat was No. 13.

For Amat coach Kory Minor, there were things he liked and disliked, but had to tip his hat to Cloutier.

“We fought, we battled, it was a heck of a game,” Minor said. “Their QB is pretty darn good. He made some amazing plays. I thought in the fourth quarter they made some plays we just couldn’t come back from.”

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Amat’s defense had been the most impressive during its 4-0 start. But Minor was impressed by how their offense was able to move the ball against a very stout defensive team in JSerra.

“Offense is clicking, we just can’t turn the ball over and have success against a great team,” Minor said. “We’ll get better in that department. But that quarterback over their (Cloutier), he made some amazing plays with his legs, give him his credit.”

Bishop Amat RB Justin Clinton talked about the strides their offense made in a 37-28 loss to JSerra. Clinton finished with 151 yards and two TDS pic.twitter.com/9VUxWrCmGG

— Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻‍💻 (@SGVNSports) September 19, 2026

Clinton also thought Amat’s offense showed they have to be dealt with the rest of the way. They just didn’t have the ball much in the second half due to turnovers and the Lions’ long fourth-quarter drive.

“It just wasn’t in the cards for us,” Clinton said. “We came prepared, we were excited. We knew we could compete with this team. The ball just didn’t bounce our way.”

The first half was a fireworks show that ended with Bishop Amat going on a seven-play, 80-yard drive in the final minute of the half to take the lead after JSerra had just tied it up.

Doran threaded a 17-yard touchdown pass to Miguel Tellez with three seconds left to give the Lancers a 28-21 lead at the half.

That’s how the first half went, back and forth.

Amat came out challenging JSerra up front. After a couple runs for a first down, Clinton broke free up the middle for a 43-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead.

The Lancers were looking to double their lead when JSerra’s Braylin Spencer picked off Doran and returned it 55 yards to the Lancers’ 25.

Three plays later, Cloutier found Sam Frederickson in the back of the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown to tie the score.

Amat answered quickly.

Clinton found a hole and ran 67 yards to the Lions’ 13. A couple of plays later, Doran made up for his pick with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jaiden Comball to put Amat back in front 14-7.

JSerra grabbed the momentum back on a 13-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with Cloutier’s 8-yard touchdown run to tie the score, 14-14.

Amat kept pounding the ball.

Doran faked at handoff and went 30 yards deep into JSerra territory. The Lancers worked it near the end zone and finished with sophomore Jairus Suanis’ 4-yard touchdown to go up 21-14.

The Lions would tie the score again when Cloutier found tight end Grayson Matvay for a 6-yard touchdown with 50 seconds left, but Amat would answer before the half to take a seven-point lead to the break.

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