COSTA MESA — In a defensive battle between two nationally ranked football teams, Orange Lutheran beat St. Frances Academy of Maryland 15-13 Friday at Orange Coast College.
St. Frances is ranked No. 13 in the nation by MaxPreps. Orange Lutheran is No. 19 in the same poll.
Orange Lutheran (3-0) is playing one of the toughest schedules in the state with games against four teams ranked in the national Top 20.
Orange Lutheran’s defense was outstanding and didn’t allow an offensive touchdown from St. Frances (2-1). The Lancers forced three turnovers and had a crucial goal-line stand at the end of the first half.
Lancers quarterback TJ Lateef had a roller coaster-type of game with major highs and lows. The Nebraska commit completed 16 of 22 passes for 171 yards with a touchdown, but threw two interceptions, one in the end zone and one returned for a touchdown.
Sophomore running back Jae Nembhard had 110 yards rushing despite not being the starting running back at the beginning of the game.
Orange Lutheran scored first on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Lateef to Tyler Hennessey in the second quarter.
The Lancers forced an incomplete pass by St. Francis on fourth down inside the Orange Lutheran 3-yard line to go into halftime with a 7-0 lead.
Each team had a turnover in the first half. Sophomore Anthony McClure recovered a fumble for Orange Lutheran in the second quarter. Auburn commit Blake Woodby intercepted a pass for St. Frances in the end zone on the ensuing drive.
Orange Lutheran had the ball inside the St. Frances 10 midway through the third quarter. St. Frances blocked a field goal attempt and Auburn commit Bryce Deas returned the ball 80 yards for a touchdown.
The Lancers blocked the ensuing extra point to hold onto a 7-6 lead.
Orange Lutheran safety Benjamin Alefaio intercepted a pass at the end of the third quarter.
Lateef threw a 39-yard pass to Nembhard to set up a 1-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown.
Lateef converted a 2-point attempt with a pass to defensive lineman Keelan Tagoa’i to give the Lancers a 15-6 lead.
Auburn commit Wayne Henry returned an interception 65 yards for a St. Frances touchdown to cut Orange Lutheran’s lead to 15-13 with 6:25 left in the game.
Lateef converted a quarterback sneak on fourth down in the final two minutes and a 14-yard pass to Hennessey secured the win.
Jireh Moe and Wallace Filemu had sacks for Orange Lutheran. Christian Panapa recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter for the Lancers.
Orange Lutheran will travel to Las Vegas next week to play another nationally-ranked team, Bishop Gorman. Bishop Gorman lost to Mater Dei on Friday night.
St. Frances will return to Southern California to play Mater Dei on Sept. 20.
