MidValleySports.Com

Frankie Palmer and the Lancers go to the semi’s.

By Rich Whittington

(Compton)- No one gave the Dominguez High School Dons much of a chance of beating the visiting La Serna Lancers on Friday evening at Dominguez High School and for three quarters it looked like the upset was possible. Then the Lancers showed why they are the Lancers and took a 29-13 decision.

With the score stuck at 15-13, in favor of La Serna, for the majority of the game the Del Rio League champs struck paydirt when Gio Long scored on a 5-yard run with 11:22 remaining.

Soon after Luke Gonzalez secured a semi-final date for the Lancers with a 22-yard scoring run.

The meeting started out more like a track meet than a football game. The Dons scored first, on the second play from scrimmage, when senior quarterback Jauan Tate connected with senior running back Kendall Rodgers on a 78-yard catch and run. The PAT was good, giving the Dons an early 7-0 lead.

This lead lasted for approximately 16 seconds. On the ensuing kickoff, La Serna’s Matthew Rosales broke free for an 81-yard touchdown. The Lancers added the two-point conversion, giving them the lead, 8-7 with 10:46 remaining in the first quarter.

Each team added another score in the first. La Serna scored on a 35-yard run by Gonzales with 8:17 remaining. The PAT was good, making the score 15-7. Dominguez added their final score of the opening frame running back Aszuan Whiley found the end zone on a 2-yard blast. The PAT failed, making the score 15-13, as time expired in the 1st period.

La Serna now moves to the Southeast Division semi-finals where they will face West Covina. The school that beat them in the Southeast final in 2011, 84-21.