YORBA LINDA – It was summer 2012 when Yorba Linda coach Jeff Bailey called Chuck Peterson to welcome him to Orange County.
Bailey was one of the first men to reach out to Orange Lutheran’s then-first-year coach, and over time, their relationship strengthened in concert with their professional success.
Talk of scheduling a series between their programs crept into casual conversation, and three years into Peterson’s tenure, Orange Lutheran and Yorba Linda squared off Friday for the first time.
Lancers quarterback LJ Northington amassed 191 total yards and fullback Dominik Austin scored twice as No. 5 Orange Lutheran triumphed, 42-6, at Yorba Linda High.
“We were sharp offensively,” Peterson said. “I don’t like the penalties; we’ll have to clean those up. We’re not good enough yet to overcome penalties. Our defense made progress, but we’re still a long way away.
“We want to play better as we move forward. We’re judging ourselves by what we do, not by who we’re playing.”
Orange Lutheran (2-1) seized the lead on its first possession, scoring on a 28-yard touchdown catch by Hudson Hankins.
Following a missed Yorba Linda field goal attempt, Orange Lutheran doubled its lead on a short scoring run by Austin.
Northington scored later on a 10-yard keeper, and midway through the second quarter Austin dashed 67 yards for his second touchdown.
“We have quality depth on offense, more than we’ve had in the past,” Peterson said. “It’s nice to get ’Dom in there.”
Undersized at nearly every position, Yorba Linda (0-2) found success keeping the ball in quarterback Jake Gigliotti’s hands. He regularly turned potential sacks and minimal gains into big plays, and Mustangs running back Michael Mossett found space running up the middle.
“Phenomenal,” Peterson said of the game’s atmosphere. “This setting is beautiful, this stadium is beautiful. They have a great crowd, we have a great crowd. And there’s a mutual respect between the programs.”
Gigliotti finished with 14 carries for 80 yards, and Brandon Barrera scored on an 18-yard run in the fourth.
Contact the writer: bwhitehead@ocregister.com
