Orange Lutheran defeats Gardena Serra in physical battle

TJ Lateef, Orange Lutheran’s proficient senior quarterback who was slowed final season by a shoulder damage, apparently thought he was Superman on Friday evening as he went airborne attempting to hurdle Wesley Ace Jr. of Gardena Serra in the primary half. Lateef made it however officers gave him a 15-yard penalty (you’ll be able to’t attempt to hurdle defenders in highschool soccer).

Lateef, a Nebraska commit, was making some extent that he wasn’t going to let anybody stand in his means. He later scored a landing on a two-yard run and picked up a key first down on a fourth-down run to assist the Lancers to a 21-13 victory.

“I was trying something new,” Lateef stated. “I didn’t know it wasn’t allowed. I got to put that away.”

Lateef accomplished 18 of 25 passes for 185 yards with one interception and had an 11-yard landing go to Tyler Hennessy. The Lancers obtained huge assist off the bench after beginning operating again Steve Chavez was injured on his first carry of the sport. Sophomore Jae Nembard, who performed in the junior varsity recreation Thursday, rushed for 93 yards in 25 carries. The Lancers used their huge, physical offensive line to expire the clock on a closing drive after Serra quarterback Jimmy Butler scored on a 13-yard run with 5:01 left.

“I thought we were super physical on defense,” Orange Lutheran coach Rod Sherman stated.

Junior nostril sort out Auma Jennings had two sacks and teamed with Jireh Moe to go away Serra with none sort of operating recreation.

Serra left the sector at halftime trailing 14-7 and questioning about misplaced first-half alternatives. Three instances the Cavaliers had the ball deep inside Orange Lutheran territory and settled for zero factors on two missed discipline targets (dangerous snap on one) and a dropped fourth-down go in the top zone.

Butler‘s passing was off much of the night even though he threw for 196 yards and ran for two touchdowns. Serra’s star on protection was linebacker Daylawn Reed, who had an interception and a number of other spectacular tackles. CJ McBean caught three passes for 111 yards.

As all the time, Serra’s season often entails a lot of ups and downs relying on accidents as a result of there’s little depth. When the Cavaliers are wholesome, their expertise stage makes them a Division 1 workforce, particularly this season with a veteran quarterback, good receivers and an distinctive secondary. Yet coach Scott Altenberg is all the time cautious figuring out when one lineman goes down, it would imply having to seek out two replacements.

It was the fourth consecutive season Orange Lutheran has crushed Serra in its opener. Both groups often go on to play in the Southern Section Division 1 or 2 playoffs.

“They have some exceptional athletes and are every bit a top-50 team in the country,” Sherman stated of Serra.

As for Lateef doing any extra hurdling, Sherman stated, “I think when you’re a highly recruited and exceptional player you get so excited to make plays. I’m not going to fault a kid on how excited and passionate he was.”