OLYMPIC LEAGUE FOOTBALL : Late Fumble Recovery Lifts Brethren Christian

For the longest time, everything was pointing in the direction of an addition to Brethren Christian’s loss column.

Missed tackles, dropped passes and knucklehead penalties looked as if they were leading Brethren Christian, the third-ranked team in the Southern Section’s Division X, down the crooked road to defeat.

Then in the nick of time, everything came up victorious for the Warriors in a 21-14 Olympic League triumph Saturday night at Artesia High in Lakewood.

An Ontario Christian (5-2, 1-1) turnover--the only one of the game--in the fourth quarter changed the entire makeup of the game and stopped the Warriors from clobbering themselves in the foot.

Defensive lineman Mike Lastrina’s fumble recovery with 9:21 left, gave the Warriors (6-1, 2-0) a much-needed shot of confidence.

“I won’t take anything away from Ontario Christian, they’re a very good team,” said Brethren Christian Coach Ken Sharrar, “but there were some times when we didn’t take advantage of some things.”

Lastrina made the key play with the game knotted at 14, two minutes after Brethren Christian running back Keith Washington had ran in from three yards with the tying touchdown.

When Ontario Christian’s Ken Gaudy dropped the ball, Lastrina pounced and Brethren Christian took over on Ontario Christian’s 33-yard line.

“It was the turning point, and luckily we had the ability to take advantage of it,” Sharrar said.

Brethren Christian took its time on the series and finally scored with 4:44 left on a one-yard sneak up the middle by quarterback Reggie Davis to put the Warriors ahead, 21-14.

Just as importantly, on Ontario Christian’s next possession, Knights quarterback Eric De Groot threw two passes that fell incomplete, Gaudy was held to short yardage on one carry, then was stuffed by Washington on fourth and five from the Ontario Christian 40, giving Brethren Christian possession with 3:23 remaining.

Washington, who scored on a four-yard run to put the Warriors ahead, 7-0, in the first quarter, and finished with 134 yards in 22 carries, said this was just the kind of game his team needed.

“Everyone pulled together to get this victory,” he said.

Ontario Christian’s Jason Gaudy scored on a three-yard run to make it a 7-7 game at the half, then went ahead 14-7 in the third on a 16-yard pass from De Groot to Jared Jaringsma.

In another league game:

Orange Lutheran 13, Calvary Chapel 6--Joey Juliano scored two touchdowns for Orange Lutheran at Westminster High.

Juliano rushed for 99 yards in 19 carries for Orange Lutheran (4-3, 1-1).

Running back Chris Tuiolosega scored the only touchdown for Calvary Chapel (3-4, 1-1).