Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — Orange Lutheran and JSerra arrived at their Trinity League opener Friday with a history of playing close, low-scoring games the past two seasons.
The teams followed that script again at JSerra, taking a tight duel deep into the fourth quarter.
Senior outside linebacker Rocco Panicola helped seal a 24-14 victory for the host Lions by returning an interception about 15 yards for a score with 1:07 left in the fourth quarter.
Orange Lutheran (3-3, 0-1), ranked second in Orange County and sixth in the state by Calpreps, welcomed back injured quarterback TJ Lateef but the night belonged to JSerra (4-2, 1-0) and its defense.
After a JSerra punt pinned Orange Lutheran at its 12-yard line with 1:21 left in regulation, Panicola almost intercepted a pass on first down but it was ruled incomplete. But two plays later, he grabbed the interception, briefly fumbled but recovered the ball to reach the end zone.
The play ignited a wild celebration and helped deliver first-year JSerra coach Victor Santa Cruz his first Trinity League victory.
“It didn’t disappoint at all, and it’s kind of why I wanted to be here, and why the staff wanted to be here,” Santa Cruz, the former Azusa Pacific University coach, said of his first Trinity League game. “Rocco sealing it, I couldn’t be more happy for that young man. He’s a senior. He’s been grinding away here, doing some great things.”
“Everybody says (the Trinity League) is the SEC of high school football,” the coach added. “The scoreboard shows that. It’s exactly an SEC-style game. … It’s big for (our) confidence.”
JSerra coach Victor Santa Cruz wins his Trinity Lg debut but more happy for his players @JSerraAthletics @JSerra_Football @TrinityFBPod @ocvarsity pic.twitter.com/ZZS052erB6
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) September 30, 2023
JSerra, ranked No. 5 in Orange County and 17th in the state by Calpreps, took a 10-7 lead early in the third quarter on a 30-yard field goal by Shayne Daly.
Orange Lutheran answered with an 83-yard scoring drive punctuated by a 22-yard TD pass from Lateef to freshman wide receiver Chris Flores Jr. The Lancers led for the first time 14-10.
But JSerra grabbed the lead right back with a 62-yard scoring drive capped a 1-yard run by quarterback Michael Tollefson with 3:03 left in the third. The junior’s second TD run gave the Lions a 17-14 lead that held late into the fourth.
Tollefson finished with 117 yards rushing on 22 carries.
Orange Lutheran almost tied the score 17-17 but its 35-yard field goal attempt hit the upright with 6:06 left in the fourth quarter.
That was just the start of a challenging final six minutes for the Lancers.
Orange Lutheran’s defense forced a quick punt after the missed field goal but JSerra’s drive was extended by a roughing the punter penalty.
A few moments later, the Lancers appeared to grab an interception but a roughing the quarterback call extended the drive.
An offside penalty resulted in another first down. And by the time JSerra pinned Orange Lutheran at its 12 with 1:21 left, nearly five minutes had burned off the clock and the Lancers had no timeouts remaining.
Orange Lutheran finished with 17 penalties for 142 yards. JSerra was flagged 11 times for 115 yards.
JSerra won the schools’ league game last season 20-7 while Orange Lutheran posted a 9-7 triumph in 2021.
The teams were tied 7-7 at halftime on Friday.
Orange Lutheran knotted the score as Lateef capped a 75-yard scoring drive with a leaping 1-yard touchdown run with 1:05 left in the second quarter.
The Lancers capitalized on two personal fouls a pass interference penalty against JSerra on the drive. The Lions finished the opening half with seven penalties for 70 yards.
JSerra opened a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter on 10-yard TD run by Tollefson with 9:50 left in the half.
The Lions sparked the drive with a trick play on the first play on the second quarter. Tollefson caught a 43-yard reception from Logan Christensen to move the ball to the Orange Lutheran 20.
“Every win, you got to grind and get after it,” said Santa Cruz, who team tried an unsuccessful fake punt in the second half. “We’re trying to make a name in this whole deal, and we don’t want to leave anything on the table.”
JSerra’s defense set up the first score with one of its two stops on fourth down in the first half.
The Lions’ defense also recorded three sacks, all in the first quarter. Sophomores Ryder Barnes and Garrett Dudenhoeffer had two of the sacks.
Defensive back Nick Thompson, linebacker Jack Munro and defensive back Carson Natzke contributed pass breakups.
“They’re playing great team defense,” Santa Cruz said of his defense.
Steve Chavez ran the ball well again for the Lancers, finishing with 130 yards on 29 carries. Lateef passed for 219 yards and rushed for 31 yards,
Orange Lutheran’s defense also played well.
The Lancers held JSerra to 115 yards passing, 43 of which came on the fake pass.
Orange Lutheran welcomed back Lateef but played without tight end AJ Ia and Jired Moe due to injuries, Lancers coach Rod Sherman said. Moe, an All-County defensive tackle, hasn’t played this season.
JSerra played without running back George Perez.
Next week, Orange Lutheran continues Trinity League play against Santa Margarita at Saddleback College on Oct. 6. JSerra plays Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium on Oct. 6.
