Golden Knights Edge La Serna To Remain Unbeaten

Michael Bonds leads the Golden Knights to victory.

Michael Bonds leads the Golden Knights to victory.

(Whittier) The St. Francis Golden Knights and the La Serna Lancers did battle Friday night at Sandy Thorstenson Stadium on the campus of California High School. After four quarters of give and take, the Golden Knights came away with a 24-21 victory.The first quarter passed by like a cool summer breeze with neither team finding much in the way of rhythm on offense and no points showed on the board.

The Lancers broke through with 4:38 in the first half driving 64 yards on eight plays when Brandon Jimenez caught a short pass from Justin Moreno and scooted 19 yards to paydirt. Devin Nava booted through the extra point for the 7-0 lead.

Brandon Jimenez scored twice but it wasn't enough for La Serna.

Brandon Jimenez scored twice but it wasn’t enough for La Serna.

St. Francis came back with a score of their own a couple of minutes later when Michael Bonds found Daniel Scott about nine yards over the middle and Scott broke a tackle and raced 50 yards to paydirt.

With 54 seconds left in the second period La Serna took the lead back on a one yard run by Josiah Gomez. The six play 55 yard drive was keyed by big runs from Matthew Marshall.

The Golden Knights cut the lead to 14-10 driving six plays to the La Serna nine. A procedure penalty pushed the ball back to the 14 and Dulles Hanula came on and botted a 31 yard field goal through the uprights.

Late in the third quarter St. Francis grabbed a hold of their first lead on the night. It was the Bonds to Scott connection agains this time from 24 yards out. Hanula was good again on the extra point for the 17-14 lead.

The Lancers took the lead right back on their ensuing drive going 75 yards on 11 plays capped by a 38-yard run by Jimenez. The run came on a fourth and one at the Golden Knight 38.

The score remained 21-17 La Serna until late in the final frame. Bonds led St. Francis on a nine play 64 yard drive the culminated when Bonds found Blake Howard in the flat and Howard did the rest from nine yards out.

La Serna had a chance late to either win or tie the game driving all the way down the the St. Francis four yard line. With 18 seconds left to play, Justin Moreno dropped back to pass and looked for a open receiver in the endzone. Moreno tried to escape the rush but was unsuccesful and the sack pushed the Lancers all the way back to the 16. With no time outs to use the clock ran out and the game was over.

Protecting Bonds on the night were Matt Barriga, Luke Hunter, Nicholas Conrad, Matt Nixon and Matthew Venegas.

Opening holes for Jimenez was Jared Pacheco, Jacob Almeida, Stephen Casillas, Eli Martinez and Michael Martinez.

Bonds finished on the night completing 23 of 31 passes for 249 yard and three scores.

Jimenez had the big night for La Serna with 86 yards and a touchdown rushing and four catches for 51 yards and a touchdown receiving.

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