Ruben Rios lead the La Serna ground attack in the upset win over St. Francis.
By Duane Barker
(Whittier) The La Serna Lancers grounded and pounded their way to a 38-35 win Friday night over the visiting and favored St. Francis Golden Knights and are headed to the Southeast Division semi-finals for the fifth consecutive year.The Lancers did most of their damage in the first half rushing out to an early 10-0 lead on a nine yard run by Ruben Rios near the midway point of the first quarter.
Needing a big play to keep La Serna from turning the game into a route, quarteback Miles Bryant hooked up with Dylan Crawford ten seconds later deep over the middle for 65-yards and a touchdown.
The Lancers pushed their first quarter lead to 17 points early in the second period when Steven Ruiz collected an Areg Nazarian fumble and returned it to the endzone from 20-yards out.
Back-to- back touchdown drives by the Golden Knights brought them to within three points of La Serna. The scores came via the big play on a screen pass that Jasher Foster took 76-yards to paydirt and a 56-yard bolt of lightning again from Bryant to Crawford.
Enrique Pacheco led the Lancers on a 10 play, 73-yard scoring drive to end the first half. Pacheco hit Curtis Ashton from four yards away leaving only three seconds left to go in the half.
St. Francis came out firing in to start the second half marching 75-yards on eight plays with Nazarian getting the call from five yards away. The score brought the Golden Knights to within three.
With 3:31 left in the third quarter, St. Francis got their first and only lead of the game on a 10-yard pass from Bryant to John Carroll. The drive started deep in Lancer territory when La Serna punter Michael Gallegos had to go to one knee to field a low snap and was whistled down at his own 22.
La Serna’s only score in the second half turned out to be the biggest when they completed a 17 play, 80-yard drive that culminated with a three yard touchdown pass from Pacheco to Jonathan Wise. Pacheco kept the drive alive with a five yard run on fourth and three at the St. Francis 18.
St. Francis had one final shot to get the win after they forced a Lancer punt that set them up on their own 17 with 2:05 left to play. The drive ended on the second play from scrimmage when a Bryant pass sailed over his receivers hands and into the hands of Lancer Anthony Garcia. It was the only but costly error on the night for Bryant who was filling in for the injured Jeremiah Martin.
*** Bryant finished the evening hitting on 11 of 17 passes for 276-yards and four touchdowns and the one interception.
*** Pacheco hit on 10 of 15 for 109-yards and two scores.
*** St. Francis running back Nazarian was held to 47-yards on nine carries.
*** The Lancers amassed 326-yards on the ground.
*** Rios led La Serna with 109-yards on 15 carries.
*** Garcia added 104 on 14 carries.
*** Kevin Ramos added 66-yards on the ground and a reception for 10-yards.
*** Crawford led the Golden Knights with five receptions for 139-yards and the two touchdowns.
*** Foster added three catches for 113-yards and a score.
*** Opening the holes up front for the Lancers were LT Travis Miller, LG Jonathan Kilgore, C Michael Vega, RG Ivan Morales, and RT Dominic Garcia.
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