MidValleySports.Com

By Tony Solorzano

Whittier – Two touchdowns by OJ Medina led La Serna to the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division Finals with a commanding 28-3 victory over Muir Friday night at Whittier District Field.

Facing off against the highly-favored Mustangs (8-5), the Lancers (10-3) shut down the Mustangs’ high-powered pass offense to earn their first appearance in the Finals since winning a CIF championship in 1967.

The Mustangs got on the board on the first possession of the game, driving 47 yards before stalling inside the Lancer red zone, settling for a 36-yard field goal from Jorge Castro with 9:44 left in the quarter. The Mustangs would not get that close to the Lancer end zone until the fourth quarter.

The Lancers would answer back two possessions later, after stopping the Mustangs at mid-field with 4:43 left in the quarter. On a third-and-four on the Mustang 32 yard line, Palmer handed off to Nicholas McCarty, who in turn, launched a perfect strike to Justin Ballesteros with 2:25 left.

In the second quarter, OJ Medina would score the first of his two touchdowns, an eight-yard rush that capped a 79-yard drive with 7:19 left in the half. The Mustangs tried to close out the half with a score, but quarterback Josh Washington failed on four straight passes, turning over the ball to La Serna with 20 seconds left.

In the second half, Medina scored again, capping the Lancers’ first possession of the half with a six-yard run, increasing the lead to 21-3. The Lancers would cap of the scoring with a phenomenal nine-minute drive that went 99 yards and ended with Palmer’s 14-yard pass to John McFarland with 7:37 left in the game.

The Mustangs would have one more opportunity to score, as they put together their own 19-play drive on their next possession. Washington drove the Mustangs to the Lancer six-yard line. However, after Washington was stopped at the one-yard line, the Mustangs were called for a false start, then Washington threw three incomplete passes and turned the ball over to the Lancers.

Despite the loss, Washington threw 21 passes for 217 yards, hitting both Darick Holmes, Kevon Seymour and Tarien Owens each five times for 69, 57 and 21 yards, respectively.  Palmer threw only six of nine passes for 99 yards, with the one touchdown to McFarland, part of his three catches for 46 yards. McCarty had one completion, the 32-yard score to Ballesteros. Medina rushed for 130 yards on 21 carries, with two touchdowns.

The Lancers will host West Covina Friday night at Whittier District Field.

SCORING SUMMARY

Muir 3 0 0 0  3

La Serna 7 7 7 7 28

SCORES

1st Quarter

9:44 – M – Jorge Castro 36 Field Goal

2:25 – LS – Justin Ballesteros 32 pass from Nicholas McCarty, Tavis Guerra kick

2nd Quarter

7:19 – LS – O.J. Medina 8 run, Guerra kick

3rd Quarter

7:33 – LS – Medina 6 run, Guerra kick

4th Quarter

7:37 – LS – John McFarland 14 pass from Frankie Palmer, Guerra kick