COSTA MESA — Orange Lutheran had four takeaways – two for touchdowns and two that led to touchdowns – in a 48-13 victory over JSerra in a Trinity League game Friday at Orange Coast College.
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The Lancers (5-3, 2-1), the No. 3 team in the Orange County rankings, are in a three-way tie for second place in the league standings with No. 2 Mater Dei and St. John Bosco. All three teams have two regular-season games remaining.
Orange Lutheran’s two remaining games are against Mater Dei (Oct. 23) and Santa Margarita (Oct. 30). Both games will likely factor significantly in the final standings and playoff seedings.
“It’s fun to be in Week 9 and still in the conversation,” Orange Lutheran coach Ray Fenton said. “We’re still working on us. We continue to work on these things that will help us grow, not only as football players but as Christians.”
No. 6 JSerra (4-4, 0-3) scored a touchdown to tie the score before the Lancers put the game away with a 35-point second quarter.
Chris Flores started the scoring barrage with a 69-yard touchdown run down the right sideline to give the Lancers a 13-6 lead.
An interception and 30-yard return by Chauncy Washington, caused by heavy pressure on JSerra quarterback Hayes Cloutier, led to a 2-yard touchdown run from Ryder Christianson, his second score of the game.
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Flores scored again, this time on an 11-yard pass from Reagan Toki, who completed 14 of 16 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown.
Then came a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown from King Rich Johnson, followed by a 20-yard interception return for a score on the next play from scrimmage from Raymond Langi.
“I jumped on it,” Johnson said. “Just like an 80-yard pick-six I had against St. John Bosco.”
Cory Panapa had the fourth takeaway for the Lancers, ripping the ball from the running back and returning it to the JSerra 1.
Jamael ran the ball into the end zone on the next play, giving the Lancers a 48-6 lead and triggering a running clock for the final 19 minutes of the game.
Cloutier’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Clark Cockley in the second quarter capped a 77-yard scoring drive for JSerra.
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The Lions’ final two games are against Santa Margarita and Servite.