Lancers Rally After Falling Behind by 15

BREA —  They self-destructed last week when they were not able to punch in the winning touchdown late in the game from inside the one-yard line.

So during the third quarter Friday as Orange Lutheran pushed around Cerritos Valley Christian at Brea Olinda High, Lancer Coach Jim Kunau looked up at the scoreboard and was livid.

Despite an overwhelming statistical advantage and numerous would-be scoring drives, the Lancers trailed in their Olympic League opener by 15 points.

What got into Orange Lutheran after that is anyone’s guess, but despite four turnovers it rallied to score 19 unanswered points and upend the Division X champions, 27-23.

Kunau said it was character that suddenly ignited the resurgence. The fact is, Orange Lutheran should never have been in that predicament to begin with. Even Kunau admitted that.

“It was frustrating,” he said. “We know we are capable of playing better than we showed in those first three quarters.”

The Lancers racked up 22 first downs and out-gained Valley Christian, 418 to 223. But they committed 90 yards in penalties and had an interception at the Valley goal line and a holding call inside the Valley one-yard line, stalling two drives. Two more apparent touchdowns were called back on penalties.

It wasn’t until Travis Freeman ran around right end for seven yards on an option pitch from quarterback Nick Odenath with 7 minutes and 18 seconds left to play that put Orange Lutheran ahead, 27-23.

A big play in the comeback was 75-yard punt return for a touchdown by Mike Crawford with 4:00 left in the third quarter to cut the Valley lead to 23-19. It followed a 15-yard scoring run by Odenath.

It all looked like it was going to be so easy for the Lancers when the game began. Orange Lutheran took the opening kickoff and marched 76 in only five plays. Odenath opened the drive with a 34-yard pass down the middle to Crawford and running back Pat Sims finished it with a one-yard touchdown run. A two-point conversion on a busted play followed.

Valley Christian answered quickly. Quarterback Kirk Saarloos drove the Crusaders 75 yards in eight plays, culminating in a 19-yard burst around right end for a touchdown by junior running back Mark Garciano.

Meanwhile, Orange Lutheran continued to shoot itself in the foot.

A 50-yard scoring run by Freeman was called back on a clipping penalty. Then a muffed snap on a punt gave Valley Christian the ball on the Orange Lutheran 45-yard line.

Orange Lutheran held, but on its next possession, Freeman’s 54-yard burst up the middle into the end zone was called back because of clipping. Then Valley recovered an Orange Lutheran fumble.