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WOODLAND HILLS —The San Fernando Valley was pulling for two teams Friday night: Alemany and Sierra Canyon. If each team could win its respective semifinal game, it would produce a game that local high school football fans have wanted for years, especially since both schools are on Rinaldi Street.
Alemany held up its end of the bargain, but Sierra Canyon didn’t, as Orange Lutheran played spoiler in a 42-40 win over the Trailblazers at Pierce College to advance to the CIF Southern Section Division 2 final.
The Lancers will travel to play Alemany – a 56-30 winner over Inglewood – in the championship game.
Orange Lutheran quarterback Logan Gonzalez was fantastic, throwing for 329 yards and five touchdowns on 23 of 33 passing with no interceptions.
“I really wanted to focus on keeping my poise tonight. No stress,” Gonzalez said. “We were prepared and got the win.”
Orange Lutheran quarterback Logan Gonzalez drops back to pass against Sierra Canyon during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Malik Blackmon scores a touchdown despite pressure from Khalil Peart of Sierra Canyon during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Jaylen Lynch can’t make the catch for Orange Lutheran under pressure from Kamari Ramsey and D’shawn Jones jr. of Sierra Canyon during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Jason Jones scores a touchdown against Orange Lutheran in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Jason Terry carries the ball against Sierra Canyon during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Jason Jones carries the ball as Xane Uipi of Orange Lutheran tries to bring him down during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Hayden Faraday against Sierra Canyon during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Daniel Duran drops back to pass against Orange Lutheran during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran quarterback Logan Gonzalez throws a pass against Sierra Canyon during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Desmin Jackson carries the ball against Sierra Canyon during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran quarterback Logan Gonzalez drops back to pass against Sierra Canyon during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Jaylen Lynch can’t make the catch for Orange Lutheran under pressure from Kamari Ramsey and D’shawn Jones jr. of Sierra Canyon during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Jason Jones runs the ball against Orange Lutheran in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Jason Jones carries the ball as Xane Uipi of Orange Lutheran tries to bring him down during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal game at Pierce College Friday night.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Gonzalez threw three touchdowns to Jaylen Lynch and two to Malik Blackmon. Orange Lutheran (9-4) is no stranger to tough games, especially coming from the Trinity League, and Gonzalez felt like it really helped Friday night.
“The level of play compared to the Trinity League is different,” he said. “Everything slows down. Sierra Canyon is a great team, by far the best team we’ve played in the playoffs.”
The Lancers took down Simi Valley (49-13) and Corona del Mar (38-14) in the playoffs before edging the Trailblazers.
Sierra Canyon’s Jason Jones rushed for 195 yards and all five of his team’s touchdowns, which brought his postseason total to 15 touchdowns.
The Trailblazers were down, 35-27, but driving late in the third quarter when wide receiver Darryl West’s 30-yard reception resulted in a controversial fumble. Orange Lutheran recovered and drove down the field to score a touchdown with 9:40 left in the game to make it 42-27.
“That was a questionable call that certainly gave (Orange Lutheran) some momentum,” Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse said.
Jones scored his fifth touchdown with 5:58 left to make it 42-33 and Sierra Canyon scored again with less than 20 seconds left to set up an onside kick, but it was recovered by Hayden Faraday to seal the game.
“We came in respecting Orange Lutheran. We watched film on them playing against some of the best teams in the nation,” Ellinghouse said. “They’re battle-tested and a very well-coached team.”
This post first appeared on ocregister.com
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