JSerra Catholic leaned on a relentless defense and timely plays from its young quarterbacks to improve to 20-0 on the year. Orange Lutheran, the defending Southern Section Division 1 champion, dropped to 18-1.
Tessa Russell of JSerra set the tone early, jumping a route and racing in for a pick-six to give the Lions a 6-0 first-quarter lead. Orange Lutheran answered in the second period when star quarterback
Makena Cook converted a fourth-and-goal with a strike to
Josie Anderson for a touchdown and extra point to put the Lancers ahead 7-6. Freshman
Ava Irwin came up with a big-time interception late in the first half to stall an Orange Lutheran drive.
The Lions grabbed momentum to open the second half as freshman quarterback
Kate Meier scrambled in for a touchdown on fourth down to put the Lions back on top 12-7.
Both defenses continued to trade stops until JSerra struck again early in the fourth when sophomore quarterback
Ava Van Heerde found Irwin on a 20-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 18-7.
intercepted Cook midway through the fourth quarter before Russell sealed the win with her second pick of the game. The Lions held Orange Lutheran well below their season scoring average of over 35 points per game.
Sophomore quarterback Ava Van Heerde accounted for one touchdown in the big win for JSerra Catholic. (PHOTO: Ming Chung Lin)
