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Sierra Canyon’s Eli Zamorano tries to tackle Orange Lutheran’s Ryan Christianson during a game at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth on Friday on Sept. 18, 2026.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Ryan Christianson carries the ball against Sierra Canyon during a game at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth on Friday on Sept. 18, 2026.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Jaxsen Stokes dives into the end zone for a touchdown against Orange Lutheran during a game at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth on Friday on Sept. 18, 2026.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Nico Bland gains yards against Sierra Canyon during a game at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth on Friday on Sept. 18, 2026.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Sir Homer King Webb carries the ball against Orange Lutheran during a game at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth on Friday on Sept. 18, 2026.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Sir Homer King Webb is tackled by Orange Lutheran’s Matthew Zapien during a game at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth on Friday on Sept. 18, 2026.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Ezrah Brown tries to get a pass off under pressure from Sierra Canyon’s Stephan Harrison and Eli Zamorano during a game at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth on Friday on Sept. 18, 2026.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Jaxsen Stokes carries the ball against Orange Lutheran during a game at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth on Friday on Sept. 18, 2026.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Demarco Hernandez throws a pass against Orange Lutheran during a game at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth on Friday on Sept. 18, 2026.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
CHATSWORTH — Orange Lutheran’s football team concluded a challenging nonleague schedule Friday with a trip to the San Fernando Valley to face its toughest opponent so far.
And if taking on Sierra Canyon wasn’t a steep enough task, the Lancers encountered former Orange Lutheran standout Marcus Fakatou.
Orange Lutheran showed its potential in the second half but fell to a fast-starting and physical Sierra Canyon 28-10 in a penalty-filled game at Sierra Canyon High.
The Trailblazers (4-0), ranked sixth in the nation by MaxPreps and third in California by hsratings, led 21-0 after the first quarter and 28-3 at halftime.
Orange Lutheran (3-2), ranked third in Orange County and eighth in the state, showed progress in the second half.
Chris Flores Jr. caught a 5-yard touchdown from Ezrah Brown on the opening possession. Anthony McClure had an interception and Cory Panapa recorded a sack.
The Lancers also committed only one penalty in the second half after going to intermission with 11 for 115 yards.
“The second half showed that we can play, for sure,” first-year Orange Lutheran coach Ray Fenton said. “The first half was just kind of like finding our legs underneath us. This is Game 5 for us as a program.”
“We did a lot really good things,” the coach added. “We did some things that really hurt us. We got two weeks to clean those things up.”
Sierra Canyon led 28-3 at halftime behind four rushing touchdowns, including two by Jaxsen Stokes.
The senior running back scored on a 13-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter after the Trailblazers recovered a muffed punt at the Lancers 13.
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On the next Sierra Canyon possession, Stokes broke a season-long 73-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead.
Stokes, who is committed to Cal, finished the first half with 134 of his 166 yards.
The Trailblazers added a 19-yard TD run by wide receiver Sir Homer King Webb and 7-yard scoring run Faruq Muhammad.
Sierra Canyon employed defensive linemen Fakatou, Kasi Currie and Stephan Harrison as tight ends in a physical blocking scheme.
On defense, Fakatou fueled a strong pass rush that collected five sacks.
The senior, who is committed to Ohio State, contributed to Sierra Canyon’s goal-line stand on the final play of the first half.
The Lancers fumbled a run from the Trailblazers 1 and Fakatou wrapped up the ball carrier.
Fakatou finished with 1 1/2 sacks.
“They’re a Trinity (League) level team,” Fenton said of Sierra Canyon, which beat JSerra 42-21 earlier this season.
Sophomore Ryan Christianson was bright spot for Orange Lutheran. He rushed for 101 of his 127 yards in the first half en route to his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game.
Christianson had four catches for 42 yards.
Sierra Canyon finished with 15 penalties for 165 yards.
Orange Lutheran held its own against one of the most difficult nonleague schedules in the nation.
After opening with a one-point loss against Miami Central of Florida, the Lancers defeated Cathedral Catholic, Basha of Arizona and Serra.
Next week, Orange Lutheran takes its bye before opening the Trinity League against Servite on Oct. 2 at Orange Coast College.
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