Orange Lutheran erases large deficit and rallies to beat Rancho Cucamonga

COSTA MESA — The Orange Lutheran football team put itself in a hole before there was even a play from scrimmage in its nonleague game against Rancho Cucamonga on Friday at Orange Coast College.

But after trailing by nearly three touchdowns in the third quarter, the Lancers stormed back with three touchdowns and then held on for a 27-24 victory.

The Lancers, who are ranked No. 3 in Orange County, improved to 2-0.

They pulled off the comeback in front of a home crowd of more than 3,000, six days after playing across the country and defeating Northwestern of Miami, 17-15.

“I think the key part was just not worrying about the past but just moving on, just worrying about the next play,” said Lancers quarterback Reagan Toki, who led the comeback with four touchdown passes, including three in the third quarter.

Toki had plenty of help from his defense.

Quarterback Jacob Chambers scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to give the Cougars (0-2) a 24-6 lead early in the third.

Orange Lutheran responded with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Toki to Raiden Velasquez.

On the ensuing drive, the Cougars faced a third-and-20 from their 30 when Chambers was forced out the pocket and threw a pass on the run.

The pass was intercepted by Jackson Perez and on the next play, Toki hit Nico Bland for a 65-yard touchdown, getting the Lancers to within five.

A sack for an 11-yard loss by the Lancers Markus Fakatou earlier in the drive put the Cougars into a third and long situation setting up the interception.

After forcing the Cougars to punt, Orange Lutheran took the lead for good when Toke hit Chris Flores for a 19-yard touchdown, giving the Lancers a six-point lead after the two-point conversion.

The Lancers Auma Jennings sacked Chambers for an 8-yard loss on the Cougars ensuing drive and Jennings came up with another sack, this one for a nine-yard loss late in the fourth quarter.

“I thought our defensive line played really, really well,” Orange Lutheran coach Rod Sherman said.

The Lancers received the opening kickoff, which was a pooch kick.

But nobody attempted to pick up the ball for the Lancers and the Cougars smothered it

The Cougars converted the miscue into a field goal and a 3-0 lead less than a minute into the game.

After a punt by the Lancers later in the quarter, the Cougars took possession on their 18 and drove 82 yards, capping the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run from Tyree Wilson.

With the Cougars leading 11-0, the Lancers scored their first points on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Toki to Flores.

But Rancho Cucamonga snatched the momentum right back when Semaj Smith returned the ensuing kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown, giving the Cougars an 18-6 lead at the half.

“It talks about in scripture of how sometimes there are storms that throw you and that builds character,” Rod Sherman said. “And I think we got a little bit of that tonight. It’s good to get a win like that.”