Orange Lutheran slows, but can’t stop St. John Bosco

Orange Lutheran's Malone Mataele sits dejected in the end zone as St. John Bosco players celebrate Terrence Beasley's third-quarter touchdown Thursday.
It takes several Orange Lutheran players to bring down St. John Bosco running back Sean McGrew in the second half of Thursday's game.
Orange Lutheran's Arran Bianchini gets photo bombed by his uncle Frank while he gets a smooch from his grandma, Vera, during a senior night ceremony.
Orange Lutheran's Lance Dravis brings down St. John Bosco's Devin Fleming in the first half of Thursday's game.
Orange Lutheran's Nick Avellino knocks St. John Bosco's Quentin Davis out of bounds in the first half of Thursday's game.
Kennedy Smith-Kutyla gets in a text before Thursday's game. She sang the national anthem for Orange Lutheran.
Orange Lutheran's Brian Meckley isn't able to bring down St. John Bosco's Cross Poyer during the first half of Thursday's game.
St. John Bosco's Traveon Beck draws a penalty for running into Orange Lutheran kicker Jerry Fitschen on a first-half field goal attempt.
Orange Lutheran fans cheer on the Lancers during Thursday's game against St. John Bosco.
Orange Lutheran ballboy Casey Borba warms up before the game under Thursday Night Lights.
Orange Lutheran's Jimmy McLean poses for a senior night photo with his family before Thursday's game against St. John Bosco.
Orange Lutheran's Jordan Williams tackles St. John Bosco's Anselem Umeh in the first quarter of Thursday's Trinity League game. St. John Bosco won, 31-12.

By Dan Albano | dalbano@scng.com | Orange County Register

October 29, 2015 at 11:06 p.m.

COSTA MESA – Orange Lutheran produced against St. John Bosco on Thursday like no opponent has, but the Lancers weren’t interested in a moral victory.

They wanted the real thing.

Orange County’s third-ranked team became the first team not to endure the dreaded running clock in the fourth quarter, but the Braves still claimed at least a share of a fourth consecutive Trinity League crown with a 31-12 victory at Orange Coast College.

In winning their Trinity League-record 20 consecutive game, the Braves (9-0, 4-0) led, 21-12, going into the fourth period and then dominated the final 12 minutes against the Lancers (5-4, 2-2).

“It isn’t a moral victory that they didn’t run the clock,” Orange Lutheran coach Chuck Petersen said. “We came to win the game, and I thought we had a chance. If we convert some drives early in the game … instead of scoring field goals, you never know. But they’re a heck of a football team.”

Postgame Talk: How St. John Bosco finally put away Orange Lutheran

Related: Trinity League Podcast

Running back Sean McGrew rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Braves while quarterback Quentin Davis completed 17 of 25 passes for 213 yards.

Davis’ biggest pass was a 33-yard connection to Berkeley Holman, who made a spectacular, leaping catch along the sideline to the Lancers’ 17 with 10:28 left in the fourth. On the next play, McGrew raced untouched for the score as the Braves opened a 28-12 lead.

Lj Northington tossed a 7-yard TD to Milshon Lathan with 5:03 left in the third quarter as the Lancers cut the Braves’ lead to 14-12.

The Braves answered the score to take a 21-12 advantage into the fourth quarter.

“Yeah, it was the toughest game we played all year. OLu did a great job,” Braves coach Jason Negro said. “Coach Petersen can coach them up. They did a great job in the first half limiting our possessions.”

St. John Bosco took a 7-6 lead at the half. The Braves drove from their 28 for a 3-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds left by Cross Poyer, who narrowly dragged a tackler into the end zone on third-and-goal.

Orange Lutheran held the high-scoring Braves to five first downs and 85 yards in the first half.

The Lancers led, 6-0, on field goals of 32 and 39 yards by Jerry Fitschen.

The second boot came after Orange Lutheran started the Braves’ 49 after a sack by Andrew Carlson and a tackle for loss by Jordan Williams derailed a St. John Bosco possession.

Orange Lutheran opened the game by holding the ball for 5:41 before a 32-yard field goal by Fitschen. The left-footed senior got a second chance for the field goal after a roughing the kicker penalty on a 39-yard miss about a minute earlier.

The Braves slowed the Lancers in the fourth quarter with two interceptions, including one that led to a field goal and the final points. But Orange Lutheran still finished with nearly 200 yards rushing and three sacks of Davis.

“We’re a good football team and we’ve lost to (the top) one, two, three and four (ranked teams) in the state,” Petersen said. “We’ll give a great effort next week against JSerra.”

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com