SANTA ANA – Nice night Stan Berryhill.
The senior all-purpose player for Orange Lutheran who transferred from Tucson, Ariz., less than a month before the start of this season, scored three different ways Friday night and threw a touchdown pass to lead the Lancers to a 49-33 victory over visiting Mullen (Colo.) at Santa Ana Stadium.
Berryhill caught an 11-yard touchdown pass, scored on a punt return and a kickoff return in addition to his throwing for a touchdown off a double pass as the Lancers blew open what had been a close game at halftime.
Berryhill scored back-to-back touchdowns late in the second quarter to help the Lancers overtake Mullen and carry a 21-13 lead into the break.
The Lancers trailed 13-7 following touchdown runs of 13 and 10 yards by Mullen running back Marcus McElroy, but Orange Lutheran responded on its next drive as quarterback Ryan Hilinski found Brandon McKinney for an 11-yard gain and tight end Elijah Mojarro for 18 more yards before Dominik Austin’s 19-yard scamper put the Lancers in the red zone.
Hilinski then spotted Berryhill on a fade and he pulled down the pass for an 11-yard touchdown with 3:36 left in the half. The Lancers forced a quick three-and-out and Mullen punted the ball directly to Berryhill, who ran it back 42 yards for his second touchdown just 81 seconds apart.
Orange Lutheran ran just six plays in the third quarter, but still outscored the Mustangs 14-0 to take a 35-13 lead into the fourth.
The quarter also proved costly for Mullen as McElroy fumbled on a 19-yard run and suffered a lower leg injury, as did offensive lineman Sean Johnson, who later left in an ambulance.
The Lancers capitalized on the ensuing drive as McKinney caught a 17-yard touchdown pass, and Berryhill then took a lateral from Hilinski on the next series and found McKinney wide open for a 32-yard score.
Berryhill capped off his night with an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
