MidValleySports.Com

Rashaad Penny…was held to just five touchdowns. (Photo by Alex Gonzalez)

By Alex Gonzalez

(Pasadena)- With 1:19 left in the fourth quarter, Rashaad Penny scored the go ahead touchdown from 10-yards out, and the two-point conversion, to give Norwalk a 35-28 victory over Muir in the Southeast Division semifinals Friday night at John Muir High school. 

Mustang quarterback Dejon Williams, with his team leading 28-27, was picked off by the Lancers Jacob Carr with five minutes left in the fourth quarter. With ball at the Muir 25, Penny and crew quickly turned it into a game winning drive.

Williams, returning after a one game suspension, and the Stang offensive was able to move the ball down field and score on their first possession. Williams rushed in from 13-yards to put Muir up.

Two possessions later Penny broke free and scored his first touchdown from 79-yards out.

Both teams traded blows throughout the second quarter. Penny scored his second touchdown of the half and Muir’s Tony Claxton returned a fumble 39-yards. Muir’s Daniels Cervantes punched it from five-yards out with 1:06 left in the first half. Once again, Muir’s defense stuffed Norwalk and their rushing attack and forced Norwalk to give the ball up.

The Stangs added seven more to their first half lead when Williams connected with Marceles Clash for 38-yards after an endless scramble and then unleashing the ball into the end zone. Muir lead 28-14 at the end first half.

***Penny rushed for 317 yards off 28 carries and scored five touchdowns. 79, 58, 91, 3, 10

***”Got to give credit to the offensive line, they deserve everything out here and they play their butts off.”—Rashaad Penny.

***Lancer offense: 50 rushing attempts for 413 yards.

***Mustangs rushed for 108 yards.

***Penny averaged 11.3 yards per carry.

***Muir’s Dejon Williams: 230 total yards and two touchdowns. One passing and one rushing.

***Lancer defense shut out Muir offense in the second half. Sacked Williams five times in the game.

***Muir offense: 247 total yards.

***Lancer running back Matthew Ortega: 18 carries for 91-yards.

***”This is what we worked for all year long, defense had to stop them in the end and they did. And we got a game next week.”—Norwalk Lancer HC Jesse Ceniceros.

***Norwalk (12-0, 6-0) will play La Serna (11-2, 5-0) on Dec. 7 for the Southeast title game. Site still to be determined.