MidValleySports.Com

Gio Long and the Lancers run over the Chiefs

By Tony Solorzano

(Whittier) – Frankie Palmer threw two touchdown passes and the defense stood tall as La Serna routed Santa Fe 31-3 Thursday night at Cal’s Whittier District Field. With the win the Lancers remained in complete control of the Del Rio League improving to 4-0.

The Lancer D kept Santa Fe out of the endzone.

This was a critical game for both the Chiefs (5-4, 3-1) and the Lancers (8-1, 4-0) for sole possession of first place in the Del Rio League, as both teams came into the contest undefeated in league play.  However, the Chiefs’ offense, who had previously outscored their previous three opponents 90-64, suddenly went cold against the Lancer defense.

“Our defense focused on stopping Number 7 [quarterback Christian Lara],” said Beltran after the win. “We had a game plan in place and they executed it perfectly.”

The Lancers scored on four of their six possessions in the first half, but on their first drive, the Chiefs defense forced a turnover on downs and Lara looked to get an early score on their drive, however, after Lara connected with Jesse Benitez for a 14-yard pass, Lara fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Aaron Gomez on the Chiefs’ 45-yard line.

The Lancers got on the board on Tavis Guerra’s 28-yard field goal midway through the first quarter. The Chiefs once again ran into a defensive wall, turning the ball over on downs after moving only three yards in four plays. The Lancers found the end zone again as Gio Long scored on a nine-yard run, closing out the quarter up 10-0.

The lead increased in the second as the Lancer defense again prevented the Chiefs from earning a first down and again took over on downs, this time the Lancers got the ball at midfield, but the Chiefs seemed determined to force the Lancers to give up the ball, sacking Palmer for an eight-yard loss on the first play of the drive. Palmer responded immediately with a 28-yard pass to John McFarland to the Santa Fe 30. Three plays later, Palmer hooked up with D’Andre Sanchez on a 23-yard score, pushing the lead to 17-0 after Guerra’s point after. The Lancers would score once more, this time a three-yard toss to Luis Camacho with 23 seconds left in the half, sending the Lancers into halftime up 24-0.

The Chiefs finally broke the shutout on their first drive of the second half, a 37-yard field goal from Eddie Mendez with 8:37 left in the third, however, the play of the night came on this drive, as Lara, on a third-and-eight play, faked a handoff and found a seam in the Lancer defense and blasted off for a 53-yard run, getting pulled down at the Lancer 25-yard line. The Chiefs would get into the Lancer red zone, penetrating to the 15-yard line, but a fumble and a failed run attempt stalled the drive at the 20, with Mendez kicked the field goal.

The Lancers would close out the scoring on the ensuing drive, going 80 yards on 10 plays, highlighted by two passes for first downs from Palmer to Matthew Rosales and MacEnzie Duarte for 17 and 21 yards, respectively. Luke Gonzalez would cap the drive after Duarte’s catch with a 10-yard run with 4:24 left in the third, giving the Lancers a 31-3 lead, which they held on to for the remainder of the game.

Defense was the stat of the night as the Lancer defense allowed only 119 yard of total offense. Despite Lara’s 53-yard run, the Chief’s ground game could only manage 33 yards of rushing offense, thanks to a loss of 29 yard on six sacks to Lara and his replacement in the fourth quarter, Christopher Mancilla. Lara managed nine completions on 16 attempts for 86 yards. One facet of the Chiefs’ offense, the halfback option throws by Justin Retiz failed to connect on the two attempts he made in the game, however he did lead the receivers with three catches for 33 yards.

Palmer missed only five of his 21 pass attempts, throwing for 167 yards and his two scores. Gonzalez led the ground attack tonight, running the ball 14 times for 74 yards and his touchdown. Duarte also caught three passes, for 42 yards.

The Lancers return to Whittier District Field next Friday night for the renewal of the Mustang Bowl, as they face off against intra-city rival Cal High for the “Monte Vista Mustang Trophy,” while the Chiefs return to Pioneer High’s Titan Stadium where they will renew their own rivalry with Pioneer for possession of the “Super Chief Bell.”