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  • Matt Kinnee, bottom, holds up his son Madden to celebrate...

    Matt Kinnee, bottom, holds up his son Madden to celebrate a JSerra touchdown during Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game against Bishop Amat at Saddleback College. JSerra lost, 24-17.

  • JSerra fans cheer after a touchdown during Friday night's CIF-SS...

    JSerra fans cheer after a touchdown during Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game against Bishop Amat at Saddleback College. JSerra lost, 24-17.

  • JSerra players run onto the field before Friday night's CIF-SS...

    JSerra players run onto the field before Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game against Bishop Amat at Saddleback College. JSerra lost, 24-17.

  • JSerra's Dominic Scotto, center, and Ethan Worden talk with their...

    JSerra's Dominic Scotto, center, and Ethan Worden talk with their teammates before Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game against Bishop Amat at Saddleback College. JSerra lost, 24-17.

  • JSerra football fans cheer for their team during Friday night's...

    JSerra football fans cheer for their team during Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game against Bishop Amat at Saddleback College. JSerra lost, 24-17.

  • JSerra quarterback Nick Robinson, left, tosses the ball to Sam...

    JSerra quarterback Nick Robinson, left, tosses the ball to Sam Philippi during Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game at Saddleback College. JSerra lost to Bishop Amat, 24-17.

  • JSerra's Isaiah Diego-Williams breaks up a pass in the end...

    JSerra's Isaiah Diego-Williams breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Bishop Amat's Brandon Arconado during Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game at Saddleback College. JSerra lost, 24-17.

  • JSerra's Sam Philippi leaps over several players during Friday night's...

    JSerra's Sam Philippi leaps over several players during Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game against Bishop Amat at Saddleback College. JSerra lost, 24-17.

  • JSerra's Aaron Matthews, right, tackles Bishop Amat's Ryder Ruiz during...

    JSerra's Aaron Matthews, right, tackles Bishop Amat's Ryder Ruiz during Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game at Saddleback College. JSerra lost, 24-17.

  • JSerra coaches call out a play during Friday night's CIF-SS...

    JSerra coaches call out a play during Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game against Bishop Amat at Saddleback College. JSerra lost, 24-17.

  • JSerra's Edward Vander, center, gets tripped up by Bishop Amat's...

    JSerra's Edward Vander, center, gets tripped up by Bishop Amat's Trevon Sidney during Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game at Saddleback College. JSerra lost, 24-17.

  • JSerra's Sam Philippi tries to push through the tackle from...

    JSerra's Sam Philippi tries to push through the tackle from Bishop Amat's Andrew Vasquez during Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game at Saddleback College. JSerra lost, 24-17.

  • JSerra's Brody Barrett dips his head on the sidelines as...

    JSerra's Brody Barrett dips his head on the sidelines as the clock winds down during Friday night's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game at Saddleback College. JSerra lost to Bishop Amat, 24-17.

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Associate mug of Kenny Connolly, Anaheim reporter.

Date shot: 12/31/2012 . Photo by KATE LUCAS /  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

MISSION VIEJO – The emotions after the game spoke volumes of how far the JSerra program had come this past season.

The Lions faithful walked out of Saddleback College stunned. Several coaches could be seen with their hands on their knees. And a number of players consoled their teammates on the long walk back to the locker room.

JSerra – a program that won its first-ever playoff game just a week ago – fully expected to be playing into the month of December for a CIF championship.

But Orange County’s top-ranked team was simply outplayed and out-executed by a more physical Bishop Amat of La Puente squad Friday night.

Despite an 11-catch, 175-yard performance from wide receiver Sam Philippi, JSerra saw its best season in school history end in a 24-17 loss to Bishop Amat in the second round of the Pac-5 Division playoffs.

The Lancers (9-3) will travel to play Centennial of Corona in next week’s semifinals. The Huskies ousted Mater Dei from the postseason on Friday night with a 27-24 win.

“I thought we made a lot of mistakes,” Lions coach Jim Hartigan said. “Obviously they came to play which we knew they would. We missed some opportunities to get the ball in the end zone there later in the game, which potentially could’ve made it a tie ball game.”

Third-year starting quarterback Nick Robinson finished his JSerra career with a 226-yard passing performance, completing 16 of 24 passes with one touchdown and one interception.

Robinson and the offense put together three long drives in the opening half, advancing the ball into the Amat red zone on all three occasions. The Lions only scored 10 points on those three trips, and held 10-3 lead with one minute to play in the first half.

The Lancers stormed 80 yards on seven plays to close out the first half, tying the game at 10-10 on a 12-yard TD pass from Ryder Ruiz with eight seconds left.

“The drive before half was really critical for us,” Amat coach Steve Hagerty said. “I really feel that put us in a pretty confident mode coming out in the second half.”

Bishop Amat carried the momentum into the third quarter, scoring on a 12-play, 80 yard drive to open the second half. The Lancers later picked off Robinson, converting that into another touchdown on a 1-yard plunge by Torreahno Sweet.

“It’s been a great season,” Hartigan said. “We got to learn from this. Obviously when you get in the Pac-5 playoffs, we were fortunate enough to get a good draw. We played well last week. When you get to the second round, you can’t make mistakes.”

Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com