Orange Lutheran’s Reagan Toki (2) passes during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Hansen Makaafi (14) chases down Orange Lutheran’s Ryan Christianson (28) without a helmet during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Nico Bland (8) battles for extra yardage during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Raiden Velasquez (11) hauls in a pass and turns it into a touchdown in front of Servite’s Devin Brown (24) uring a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Raiden Velasquez (11) enjoys his touchdown with Orange Lutheran’s Hudson Ploog (10) during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Servites’ Kenneth Ashley Jr. (27) throws Orange Lutheran’s Ryan Christianson (28) down by the facemark during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Kenneth Ashley Jr. (27) grabs the face mask of Orange Lutheran’s Ryan Christianson (28) during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Gino Wang (3) gets sandwiched by two Orange Lutheran defenders during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Benjamin Harris (6) finds himself surrounded by Orange Lutheran defenders during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Gino Wang (3) tries to find some running room during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Rick Garretson, head football coach at Servite High walks the sidelines during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s defense celebrates after recovering Servite’s Benjamin Harris (6) fumble and running it in for a touchdown during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Ryan Christianson (28) celebrates another touchdown while Servite’s Cole Castillo (44) reacts in the background during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Gino Wang (3) looks to pass during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Parker Covin (10) battles his way into the end zone during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Hudson Ploog (10) pulls in a first down reception during a high school football game between Servite High and Orange Lutheran High in a Trinity League contest at Orange Coast College on October 2, 2026.(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
COSTA MESA – Servite played without its most important offensive and defensive football players Friday night.
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That might not have mattered, though, given how well Orange Lutheran played.
Orange Lutheran cruised to a 56-21 win over Servite at Orange Coast College in the Trinity League opener for both teams.
The Lancers improved to 4-2 overall. Servite is 3-3.
Orange Lutheran sophomore running back Ryan Christianson rushed for 115 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries. It was Christianson’s fourth straight game of more than 100 rushing yards
Lancers senior quarterback Reagon Toki completed 13 of 18 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
Toki usually shares game time with sophomore quarterback Ezrah Brown, but Brown was unable to play Friday because of a broken pinkie on his left hand. Brown is right-handed.
Orange Lutheran sophomore receiver Raiden Velasquez had 153 yards on four receptions, three of which were for touchdowns. Velasquez also had a 2-point conversion reception.
Various injuries kept Servite junior running back Jorden Wells and Friars junior linebacker Cinco Kennett out of Friday’s game. Wells is Servite’s leading rusher, averaging 129 yards a game. Kennett through five games was tied for the team lead in total tackles and was the Friars’ sacks leader.
Also missing because of injury was Servite starting safety Jace Wells, a junior who was fifth in total tackles coming into this week.
Orange Lutheran coach Ray Fenton was quick to acknowledge after the game that his team had defeated a shorthanded opponent.
“They were missing some really good guys,” Fenton said.
He did like what he saw from his group, including the running back. Christianson (5-9, 190) can push the pile between the tackles, can turn a corner like a cat from some breakaway yardage and will drag tacklers for more.
“He’s a ‘YAC’ guy, right?” Fenton said. “‘Yards After Contact.’”
Orange Lutheran scored on its game-opening possession that started at the Servite 45-yard line. Christianson carried the ball on five of the drive’s seven plays, scoring on a 2-yard run. The point-after kick was wide, leaving the Lancers with a 6-0 lead.
Fenton was happy to see the Lancers offense so crisp on that opening drive, with the team having not played last week.
“It was good to see us come off the bye week and play pretty sharp,” said Fenton after getting a victory in his first Trinity League game, having been hired as Orange Lutheran Coach earlier this year after leading Los Alamitos to the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship last season.
“Take the opening kickoff and go down and score right? That’s pretty hard to do coming off the bye week,” Fenton said.
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Servite responded quickly, with the quick Benjamin Harris scoring on a 78-yard run. Harris, last track season’s CIF State champion in the 100, cut to the right sideline and pulled away from everyone once he got there. The kick by Eli Gonzalez was on target, giving the Friars a brief 7-6 lead.
The Lancers took the lead for good with 47 seconds to go in the first quarter on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Toki to Nico Bland. Toki connected with Hudson Ploog on a two-point conversion pass to put Orange Lutheran on top 14-7. Ploog, a transfer from Troy, became eligible this week upon the expiration of the sit-out period required for transfers who do not make the residence change that grants immediate athletic eligibility.
Christianson’s 4-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter stretched the Lancers lead to 21-7. He added a 5-yard touchdown run with 2:11 to go in the half ; again the point-after kick was no good, keeping the Orange Lutheran lead to 27-7.
The Lancers scored another touchdown less than one minute later. Orange Lutheran receiver Raiden Velasquez was wide open at the left sideline when the Servite cornerback fell, so Toki made the easy toss to Velasquez for a 38-yard scoring play. Bland caught a two-point conversion pass from Toki for a 35-7 lead, which would be the halftime score.The lead expanded to 41-7 on Christian’s 10-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Servite’s Parker Covin scored on a 5-yard run to make it 41-14.
On the Lancers first offensive play after that Toki and Velasquez connected on a 68-yard touchdown completion and Velasquez the two-point conversion pass for a 49-14 lead 46 seconds into the fourth quarter. With a 35-point margin in place, as required by rule the remainder of the fourth quarter was played with a running clock.
Orange Lutheran’s James Tuia stripped the ball from a Servite ball carrier and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and a 56-14 lead. Servite quarterback Gino Wang scored on a 1-yard sneak late in the fourth quarter.
Servite already has enough wins to get into the playoffs. Teams that do not finish high enough in their league’s finals standing can still get a playoff berth if their overall record is .300 or better. With three wins, Servite will finish at .300 at least. A lot has to happen for Servite to get into the playoffs, but a playoff berth remains attainable for the Friars.
Orange Lutheran plays at St. John Bosco in a league game next Friday. St. John Bosco defeated JSerra on Friday.
Fenton was looking forward to that and other league games.
“There’s a lot of teaching we still have to do,” he said. “And we’re in the process of doing it. These guys have responded really well every time we’ve given them direction.”
Orange Lutheran has previous wins over Basha when Basha was the No. 1-ranked team in Arizona. San Diego’s Cathedral Catholic and Serra of Gardena. The Lancers lost to Sierra Canyon, No. 2 in the HSratings.com state rankings, and to Central of Miami, Fla. which is the No. 23 team in the HSratings.com national rankings.
Servite’s other losses are to Corona Centennial and to Centennial of Peoria, Ariz. They have defeated St. Paul, Murrieta Valley and Damien.
The Friars play Orange County No. 1-ranked Santa Margarita next Friday at Saddleback College.
Orange Lutheran is No. 3 in the Orange County Top 25 that has Servite at No. 7. In the HSratings.com rankings of CIF-SS teams, Orange Lutheran is No. 6 and Servite is No. 10.
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