MidValleySports.Com

By Duane Barker

(La Verne) Victor Santa Cruz, who previously coached nearby as the head coach of the Azusa Pacific Cougars football team, brought his J Serra Catholic Lions north to take on the Damien Spartans in both teams final tune-up before league play begins. Santa Cruz’s Lions handled their business to the tune of a 49-21 trouncing of the Spartans Friday night at Damien High School.

With former APU players and coaches on hand to watch the show, J Serra Catholic did not disappoint with quarterback Ryan Hopkins leading the way with 163-yards and two scores passing and adding 73-yards to lead his team on the ground in rushing. 

Sophomore William Fredricksen added two scores on the ground to boost the Lion attack even further.

On the other side trying to keep it close was Isaiah Arriaza and Travon Garrison. Arriaza threw for 246-yards and three touchdows all to Garrison.

Garrison had a stellar night hauling in 10 passes for 122-yards and those three TDs.

The Lions took control early and on their first drive, marched 65-yards on eight plays with Fredericksen getting his first score on the night with 8:41 showing in the first. Carter Meza added the extra point for the 7-0 lead.

Damien came back with a score of their own on the ensuing drive. Arriaza found Garrison from 16-yards out. The extra point was blocked but the Spartans were on the board with 5:27 left in the opening stanza.

J Serra extended their lead back to eight a few minutes later with Hopkins getting his first touchdown strike to Alex Zabran from 23-yards away. Once again Meza added the point after and the Lions led 14-6.

The Lions resident “bad dude” Madden Faraimo set J Serra up deep in Spartan territory when he picked off an Arriaza pass and returned it to the Damien 29. A personal foul penalty pushed the ball down to the Spartan 15.

Two plays later it was Fredericksen again on a 10-yard burst to paydirt.

As time was winding down in the first half, the Lions marched 76-yards on just five plays with Hopkins capping the drive with a 12-yard pass to Brett Debergh. Meza added the extra point on both scores and the teams headed to the halftime break with the Lions up 28-6.

Damien showed life in the second half and took their first possession 59-yards on seven plays with Arriaza finding Garrison again from four yards out. Damien went for two and converted on an Arriaza pass to  Gavin Lannon.

The 14-point deficit wouldn’t last long as Logan Christiansen turned the ensuing kickoff into Logan’s run and sliced through the Spartan defenders on his way to a 90-yard kick off return.

J Serra extended their lead to 28 early in the final frame on a nine yard run by Darien Webb and a Meza extra point.

The Spartans final score came on a Arriaza pass to who else, Garrison to complete a five play 88-yard drive.

The Lions got their final score on the night on a 5-yard run by George Perez. The score was set up when the J Serra defense pinned the Spartans deep in their own territory. Forced to punt and facing pressure, the punt flew out of bounds at the Damien 32 to set up the score drive.

Damien will take a week off and prepare to take on Etiwanda in the first game of Baseline League play on October 4th. J Serra will also take a week off and prepare for the gauntlet that lies before them known as the Trinity League.