Orange Lutheran collects important victory

COSTA MESA - Conner Sullivan tossed three touchdown passes and a hard-hitting Lancers' defense recorded six sacks to lead No. 6 Orange Lutheran to a much-needed 28-0 victory against No. 5 Mater Dei in a Trinity League football game at Orange Coast College on Friday.

"We're not dead yet," Orange Lutheran coach Jim Kunau said. "It was do or die (against Mater Dei)."

Orange Lutheran entered the showdown with an 0-2 record in the Pac-5 Division league but emerges from Week 8 with a 6-2 overall mark and tied for fourth in the Trinity with Mater Dei (3-5, 1-2).

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The Lancers play against JSerra (0-3 in league) on Thursday. Orange Lutheran then closes league against St. John Bosco of Bellflower (2-1 in league).

Mater Dei takes on first-place Servite (3-0 in league) next week at Angel Stadium. The Monarchs left Friday with injuries to defensive back Jonathan Lockett (calf) and tight end Josh Cook (ankle).

"We've got to bounce back," Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said.

Orange Lutheran broke open the score on the second play of the third quarter as wide receiver A.J. Holman made a spectacular 77-yard touchdown catch on a pass over the middle from Sullivan.

Holman, a junior, grabbed the pass over his shoulder against two defenders near midfield. He raced to the end zone to give Orange Lutheran a 19-0 lead.

Ahkeli Rembert caught a pass from Sullivan for a two-point conversion and a 21-0 lead.

Orange Lutheran's defense responded with two critical stops on Mater Dei's next two possessions.

Mater Dei put together one of its best drives and had a first-and-goal at the Lancers 8 after a 44-yard connection between quarterback Ryan McMahon and Thomas Duarte. But Orange Lutheran's defense forced the Monarchs to turn the ball over on downs.

Mater Dei then started its next possession at the Orange Lutheran 37, but again couldn't solve the Lancers' defense.

Defensive lineman Deion Williams and linebacker Jabari Wilson each had two sacks while Darrek Anderson and Demetrius Palmer each added one.

Safety Darien Washington had three big hits in the second half. The Washington commit delivered the hits on Mater Dei's first two possessions in the third and on the Monarchs' final possession, preventing a touchdown with about a minute left.

"We did more hitting drills this past week than I think we've ever done," Washington said. "That really helps us.

Palmer and corner Willie Fletcher had interceptions in the first half but Orange Lutheran didn't turn the plays into points.

Orange Lutheran also held Mater Dei to 19 yards rushing in handing the Monarchs their first shut out loss since 2006. That season, Long Beach Poly beat Mater Dei, 10-0, in the first round of the playoffs.

"I'm really proud of the defense tonight," Kunau said.

Rollinson said because Mater Dei didn't run the ball well, Orange Lutheran's defense "just teed off" on the Monarchs.

Orange Lutheran led, 13-0, at halftime behind two touchdown passes by Sullivan to tight ends Miles Willis and Christo Kourtzidis.

Sullivan tossed a 36-yard touchdown pass to Willis, a junior, to cap Orange Lutheran's first possession of the game. In the second quarter, Sullivan threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to the senior Kourtzidis as the Lancers opened a 13-0 lead with 3:34 left in the first half.

Sullivan finished 13 of 21 for 263 yards and was congratulated by Rollinson afterward during the teams' hands shake.

Wilson capped the scoring with a 70-yard touchdown run with 2:24 left in the fourth. The senior showed his speed and a strong straight-arm on the burst. Wilson finished with 117 yards on 17 carries.

Orange Lutheran played without offensive lineman John Lopez and wide out Brady Roelofs (knee).

Duarte also collected two of Mater Dei's five sacks.