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GARDENA — Orange Lutheran’s football team embarked Friday on a schedule dubbed the toughest in nation by MaxPreps.
The first leg of the journey ended with a triumph against an opponent known for producing future NFL draft picks.
Quarterback TJ Lateef threw two touchdowns and rushed for another to help lead the Lancers past host Serra of Gardena 21-13 in a hard-hitting season-opening game at Serra High.
Lateef received plenty of support from his defense as Orange Lutheran (1-0) posted its fourth consecutive season-opening victory against Serra. The Cavaliers (0-1) have had seven former players drafted in the NFL the last 10 years, according to MaxPreps.
Orange Lutheran opened a 21-7 lead in the middle of the fourth quarter on a 9-yard TD pass from Lateef to running back Jae Nembhard.
Nembhard, a sophomore, emerged as a workhorse as the Lancers’ ground attack wore down Serra in the fourth quarter with a 75-yard scoring drive. He finished with 78 yards rushing on 24 carries and added four catches for 28 yards.
Serra quarterback Jimmy Butler trimmed Orange Lutheran’s lead to 21-13 with a 13-yard TD run on fourth-and-10 with 5:51 remaining.
Orange Lutheran dodged two turnovers in the first half to lead 14-7 at intermission.
Lateef capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run on third-and-goal to give the Lancers the advantage with 1:23 left in the second quarter.
Lateef, who is committed to Nebraska, was sharp on the scoring march with completions to Chris Flores and Arizona State-committed tight end AJ Ia.
Lateef finished with 186 yards passing.
Serra had multiple chances to take the lead earlier in the opening half but didn’t capitalize on the turnovers. The Cavaliers missed field goals of 21 and 35 yards and turned the ball over on downs at the Lancers 17.
Orange Lutheran’s defensive linemen Auma Jennings and Jireh Moe led the defensive stands with their push. Both players contributed two sacks in the first half.
The Lancers’ defense also set up an early score. On the first play from scrimmage, cornerback Dareon Edmonds intercepted a deflected pass near the Serra 14. The takeaway led to an 11-yard TD pass from Lateef to UC Davis-committed Tyler Hennessy.
Next week, Orange Lutheran plays at Rancho Cucamonga, the No. 3-ranked team in the Inland Empire.
Beginning on Sept. 6, the Lancers play three consecutive teams ranked inside the Top 20 nationally by MaxPreps. The trio consists of No. 14 St. Frances Academy of Maryland, No. 2 Bishop Gorman of Nevada and No. 17 Sierra Canyon.
Orange Lutheran, ranked No. 24 in the nation and No. 2 in Orange County, believes the gauntlet of opponents is the best way to become a contender in the Trinity League. The Lancers last cracked the top-two in powerhouse league in 2009.
“They want to do things and why not put opportunity in front of them,” fourth-year Orange Lutheran coach Rod Sherman said of his players.
“Let’s build character. Let’s grow. Let’s become the best team that we can be. You ain’t going to do that by playing cupcakes. You’re going to do that by pushing yourself to the brink, by going through the storm.”
Serra will face another county team in Week 5 when it plays Los Alamitos at Westminster High.
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