MidValleySports.Com

By Brad Baker 

Whittier – Norwalk leaned on the familiar duo of Diego Cerritos and Da’Ron Walker to earn a 35-20 victory over Santa Fe on Thursday night at Pioneer High School.

Santa Fe struck first after a strong opening kickoff return set up Andrew Lopez, who connected with Cameron Haydon on a short touchdown pass. The extra point was missed, giving the Chiefs a quick 6-0 lead.

The Lancers answered with a 12-play, eight-minute drive, capped by a one-yard dive from Cerritos to take a 7-6 lead. 

After a Santa Fe punt on their next possession, Cerritos added his second touchdown from three yards out.

Norwalk’s defense came up with with back-to-back interceptions before halftime, one by Walker and the other by Joshua Ayala. Both turnovers led to Cerritos touchdowns, giving him four scores in the first half and putting the Lancers up 28-6 at the break.

The second half started shaky for Norwalk as it fumbled on their first two possessions. Santa Fe capitalized on the second one when Lopez threw his second touchdown to Haydon, cutting the lead to 28-13.

But the Lancers responded with Walker finding the end zone on a five-yard run to make it 35-13 late in the third quarter. 

Lopez managed one more touchdown for the Chiefs, this time a 17-yard pass to Alex Soria, but it wasn’t enough as Norwalk ran out the clock on their final possession.

Cerritos finished the night with 24 carries for 168 yards and four touchdowns, while Walker added 160 yards on 16 touches and a score. 

Norwalk’s, Onosai Faamatau and David Ibarra were all over the field on defense.