MidValleySports.Com

La Serna squeaks by Bonita.

(La Verne) – La Serna took advantage of two Bonita third quarter turnovers to stay undefeated with a 21-20 victory.

Faris Nesheiwat recovered a Bearcat fumble on the Lancers 35-yard line and took it to the end zone for the game-winning score with 1:46 remaining in the third quarter.

Frankie Palmer went six of 11 for 100 yards and an interception for La Serna in the win.

Bonita responded quickly to La Serna’s score on its next possession. Cam Griffin took a hand-off from Tanner Diebold (10 of 20 for 148 yards and two touchdowns), sliced his way past the Lancers front line to find a crease of daylight for a 61 yard score. It brought the Bearcats to within one point. Bonita failed on the extra point kick.

On its next possession La Serna turned the ball over at its own 47-yard line due to a fumble by Luke Gonzalez. Bonita came up empty as the Lancer defense caused two tackles for losses and a three and out.

With La Serna trying to milk the clock and a slim lead, the Bearcat defense caused another turnover at the Lancer 43-yard line that was recovered by Ryan Ramirez. This time Bonita looked on the verge of taking the lead with momentum swinging its way. After Diebold was sacked, La Serna committed a pass interference penalty that allowed the Bearcats to set up shop at the Lancer 32-yard line. Unfortunately for the Bonita the drive stuttered and then fell apart after a fumble and a block in the back penalty had the offense looking at a third and 25.

One last opportunity knocked for Bonita’s offense with 51.9 seconds remaining in the game. The Bearcats needed just 57 yards to get into the end zone; they called upon the chemistry of Diebold to Garrett Horine (3 catches for 56 yards and touchdown) not once but twice. The first resulted in offsetting penalties. The second resulted in Horine drawing an unsportsmanlike penalty on La Serna to set Bonita up first and ten at the Lancer 42-yard line.

Bonita hurt themselves with costly turnovers.

With 18.8 seconds remaining, Diebold went back to pass, flung it down the middle of the field. Horine was near the vicinity but so was James Torres who grabbed it out of the outstretched arms of Horine to ensure the Lancer victory.

With the win, La Serna improves to 3-0 with La Mirada next on the schedule. The loss drops Bonita to 1-2.