Orange Lutheran’s football team left no doubt today about who is best Division II team in California.

Behind quarterback Aaron Corp and wide receiver Austin Pettis, the Lancers defeated Palo Alto, 42-28, in the Division II CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game at the Home Depot Center.

The Lancers (14-1) became the first Orange County team to capture a state championship. The game was part of a tripleheader that marked the first state championship football games played in California since 1927.

The USC-bound Corp passed for four touchdowns to the Boise State-bound Pettis and also ran for a pair of scores.

“I’m just thrilled,” Corp said. “It was a great game. Everyone on offense stepped up, and the defense stepped up without Mike (Reardon).”

The Lancers, champions of the ultra-competitive Pac-5 Division, dominated Palo Alto (12-2) despite playing without Reardon. The USC-bound defensive end suffered a shoulder injury in the Pac-5 final last weekend. Reardon was ruled out of the game Friday, Lancers coach Jim Kunau said.

“It’s a no brainer,” Kunau said before the game. “We want him healthy to play at USC in the spring..”

Orange Lutheran led 28-7 at halftime and scored first in the second half to lead 35-7. Palo Alto finished strongly but it was too late.

The Lancers’ final score of the first half came with 21.3 seconds left as Pettis caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Corp.

The strike capped a swift, 10-play, 71-yard drive that was aided by a huge, fourth-and-8 conversion by the Lancers from Palo Alto’s 39. Corp connected with Ayles over the middle for a 15-yard completion to the 24. Two plays later, Corp found an open Pettis in the end zone.

Pettis’ touchdown reception, his second of the half, countered Palo Alto’s first score, an 8-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Mike Scott from Nick Goodspeed. The senior quarterback was hot in the first half, completing his first seven passes.

On the ensuing kickoff return by the Lancers following the score, Alex Pemasa delivered a huge hit on a return by Hayden Shaw to his 29.

Orange Lutheran’s defense set up the Lancers’ first score. On the Palo Alto’s third play, Orange Lutheran forced a fumble that Doug Gebhardt recovered at the Vikings’ 39.

Corp turned the fumble into a 31-yard touchdown run play a few plays later. On the run, the senior faked a quick handoff, then ran the option to his left and before he raced untouched into the end zone 1:29 into the first.

Pettis made a leaping, 20-yard touchdown reception with 3:58 left in the first quarter as the Lancers took a 14-0 lead. Palo Alto’s Trenton Hart had tight coverage on Pettis but Corp’s pass was high and Pettis outjumped the defender.

Pettis’ scoring catch capped an 83-yard drive that got a spark from Blake Ayles on the first play. The tight end made a 27-yard reception down the middle to move the Lancers to their 44.

Orange Lutheran’s defense returned with a huge, fourth-down stand early in the second quarter. The Lancers stopped Palo Alto on a fourth-and-1 attempt from the Lancers’ 3 less than a minute into the second. Linebacker Cullan Maher, stepping in for the injured Ricky Pemasa, dropped Will Frazier for a 1-yard loss.

Orange Lutheran’s offense then marched 96 yards to take a 21-0 lead. Pettis capped the 12-play drive with a 6-yard touchdown reception on a short slant with 6:33 left in the first half. The drive got major lift early from Corp’s legs. The Lancers lined up for a punt on fourth down from their 29 but Corp – also the team’s punter – took off on a fake for a 42-yard gain to the Vikings’ 29.

Write up courtesy of the OC Register