By Tim Peterson
(Pasadena) – La Serna turned the ball over six times but still managed to pull out a 15-14 win over Pasadena Friday night at Maranatha High.
The Lancers were down 14-2 at halftime but shut out Pasadena in the second half and rallied for the victory. Jayden Northrup picked off a pass in the endzone with five seconds left to seal it.
Pasadena took possession of the ball down by one on the La Serna 33 yard line with 2:55 left in the fourth quarter but couldn’t capitalize. A sack of quarterback Indiana Wijay knocked the Bulldogs back to the 40, but a 22-yard Wijay pass to Cameron Mitchell set them up at the 18. But a penalty, a completed pass and another sack left them at the 24 with one last shot. Wijay heaved it into the endzone but Northrup leaped up and pulled it down for the pick and the Lancers were five seconds away from the celebration. One kneel down and the party was on.
La Serna quarterback Jake Long was intercepted five times including four times in the first half. Pasadena finally took advantage mid-way through the second quarter when Wijay threw a 26-yard touchdown strike to Idrique Carmichael for a 6-0 lead. The extra point was missed.
On the Bulldogs next possession Wijay was sacked in the endzone for a safety to cut the lead to 6-2. However Pasadena struck again late in the first half taking advantage of a short field. The Bulldogs needed just five plays to go 25 yards with Marian Wilson crossing the goal line from four yards out with 21 seconds left. Wijay hit Mitchell with a pass for a two point conversion and Pasadena was up 14-2 at the half.
It seemed all good for Dena. And then it wasn’t.
In a bizarre turn of events La Serna pulled within six. On the Lancers first possession of the second half they drove down to the Pasadena one-yard line. But on the next play they fumbled at the one and Michal Liggins recovered for Pasadena.
On the very next play Wijay threw a pass to the left flat that Owen Long stepped in front of and walked into the endzone for a pick six. A two-point conversion failed and it was 14-8.
Pasadena tuned the ball over on its next two possessions, both on fumbles and La Serna was in business. After Mitchell fumbled the Lancers took over at the Pasadena 20. Four plays later Adrian Castro bulled in from the one for the score. Jake Long added the extra point and with 9:41 left in the fourth La Serna had its first lead at 15-14.
The Bulldogs had three more possessions but were unable to score. Northrup’s pick in the end zone was the dagger.
Sean Jones had two interceptions for Pasadena of the five in all but Jake Long and the Lancers were able to withstand it.
“We knew if we stayed disciplined on defense we had a chance. We’re a fourth quarter team,” said La Serna head coach Andy George.
For Pasadena Wijay completed 18 of 27 for 153 yards and a touchdown, but also had the two interceptions. Mitchell had 13 catches for 108 yards and Wilson led the ground attack with 42 yards on 10 carries, but it wasn’t enough. Pasadena had two crucial fumbles along with the pair of picks.
For La Serna Owen Long rushed for 54 yards on 13 carries. The Lancers didn’t have the big numbers on offense but the defense was stout and they did come away with a big letter – the W.
I would like me team to get 11 highly rated transfers. How do you go about doing that? Promises, are they relatives, new shoes , what?
Another transfer loaded team for Maxie and still can’t win a big game…but of course the excuse is ” we didn’t have all our transfers cleared” This happened to him at while at Cathedral and Arcadia when it came to big games. Maybe it’s the coaching? Don’t be blinded by the red is better campaign, all it is more propaganda to boost Maxie’s ego.
maxie crying on Twitter again. Begging for attention as always. Win a game, coach your own players and stop crying for once. Then we’ll listen. Till then you’re a clown. No respect
This is what happens when you have a blowhard coach full of hype. I’m sure Maxie will have an excuse. Hats off to LaSerna for showing up and gutting out W program over big mouth!!
What happened to the win Maxie guaranteed? 6 turnovers and still can’t take the W? AND shutout in the second half. I guess he doesn’t “get guys open” anymore
Defense wins games.
Pasadena is hot garbage just like that clown maxie that calls the plays. Red is sorry
A reminder that building a program is better than building on transfers. It’s an ugly win but I’m sure LS is happy they came away with the W and PHS is kicking themselves.
I like what Pasadena is bringing to the table this year. But why not kick a field goal? Without special teams there is no way Pasadena is going to make a deep run.
I think both hyped QB’s completed more passes to their opponents than to their own team. For all the hype it was a huge disappointment.
@ LS: Do you write for the National Enquirer? This piece should be right after the alien abduction story. Hilarious!!
100% true.
Pasadena OLine 5 Returning starters and avg 273 Lbs.
La Serna’s DLine all under 195 Lbs.
Pasadena DLine 4 Returning Starters that avg 268 Lbs.
La Serna OLine 3 Returning Starters that avg 205 Lbs.
So Pasadena had about an 80 & 60 pound avg size advantage in the trenches, and have like a dozen players with offers, and LS turned it over 6 times, and La Serna still came away with a road victory.
I guess size doesn’t matter. Man, just shows you what a team of under 200 pound warriors can do when they believe in each other, are well coached, and stay at their neighborhood HS for 4 years.
La Serna is a throwback to everything that used to be good about HS football. They rarely get transfers, the kids are humble and respectful, and they play the game the right way. Props to the players and the coaching staff from a proud Lancer alum!