Per Orange County Register....
Giant victory for Orange Lutheran
SANTA ANA Orange Lutheran didn't just bounce back Friday night.
The Lancers returned with a flurry of defensive quickness and offensive muscle that was more than enough to crash Mater Dei's party.
Third-ranked Orange Lutheran got two touchdown receptions and a sack from Blake Ayles and stellar play from its linebackers en route to a 31-12 Trinity League victory against top-ranked Mater Dei in front of an estimated 9,000 at Santa Ana Stadium.
In its last game, Orange Lutheran fell to Servite, 28-13 but came back to knock off not only the state's top-ranked team by CalHiSports.com but the No. 5 squad in the nation by rivals.com.
"Our guys recovered quickly," Orange Lutheran coach Jim Kunau said. "And again, we weren't beat up (against Servite). We weren't hurt physically. I think our pride was damaged and I think our guys came (back) … with tremendous resolve."
Orange Lutheran (7-1, 2-1) certainly gave an effort to be proud of against Mater Dei (7-1, 2-1).
Among the Lancers' highlights:
They won the turnover battle, 3-0, and scored 17 points off them.
For three quarters, they shut out a Mater Dei offense that entered averaging just over 48 points. And they became the first team to get past the Monarchs' mammoth offensive line and sack quarterback Matt Barkley – and got him twice.
The Lancers' offense converted on 12 of 17 third-down situations was 2 of 2 on fourth-down conversions.
Orange Lutheran's special teams also shined. James Rammelsberg recovered an onside kick to open the game and later had a 62-yard punt in the third.
Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson called the game a trap for his Monarchs. His theory was the Lancers would be desperate not to drop a second Trinity League game.
"They had tasted the bitter pill of defeat and now we've tasted it," Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said. "The onside kick is a gutsy call. I've live with that one. … I thought our defense was trying the best they could but they were on the field way too much."
Orange Lutheran seized the momentum on the game's opening kickoff. Rammelsberg, the Lancers' kicker, recovered an onside kick at Mater Dei's 44-yard line just two seconds into the first quarter.
Orange Lutheran then used 5:15 of the clock and scored nine plays later as Tyson Seneca scored on a 2-yard run.
The Lancers' defense kept the momentum by forcing a turnover on Mater Dei's ensuing possession. The Monarchs drove from their 18 deep into Orange Lutheran territory but linebacker Ricky Pemasa recovered a fumble at his 16 following a pass completion by Barkley.
Orange Lutheran turned the points into another touchdown. The Lancers drove 65 yards in another nine plays. Ayles capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown reception from Blake Hyepock on third-and-goal with 50 seconds left in first quarter.
Ayles helped spark the drive with a 23-yard, over-the-shoulder reception on a third-and-10 from Mater Dei's 29.
The Lancers' defense then quickly picked up a second turnover. On the final play of the opening quarter, linebacker Alex Pemasa intercepted Barkley at Mater Dei's 46.
The Monarchs' defense didn't allow a touchdown but Rammelsberg kicked a 32-yard field goal with 8:21 left in the second quarter.
On Mater Dei's next possession, Ayles became the first opponent to sack Barkley. On a third-and-13, the USC-commit dropped the junior for a 7-yard loss after bull-rush from left end.
Lancers safety Doug Gebhardt delivered a big hit early in the second half and on Orange Lutheran's next possession, it drove 64 yards on 13 plays for another touchdown.
Ayles capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown reception from Hyepock on third-and-9 with 44 seconds left in the third. That score made 24-0 Orange Lutheran.
Barkley tossed a nice 23-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone to Ryan Mumma early in the fourth but the Lancers answered with an 80-yard scoring drive. Ricky Pemasa started it with a 29-yard run and ended the 15-play drive with a 2-yard run.
"Overall, it tremendous team effort," Kunau said. "I also thought Blake Ayles and Ricky Pemasa played big tonight and that certainly helped us a lot."
