High school football: Sierra Canyon dominates

Orange Lutheran coach Rod Sherman has recognized Jon Ellinghouse for a long time.

Before going through Sierra Canyon on Thursday night time at Orange Coast College, Sherman said he wouldn’t thoughts telling the Trailblazers coach instantly that he thought Ellinghouse’s staff was the best he had seen the school produce.

After No. 2 Sierra Canyon dismantled No. 7 Orange Lutheran 41-9, Sherman was sure.

“No doubt,” he said.

Eric Sondheimer, The Times’ high school sports activities columnist, nicknamed the Trailblazers’ swarming, antagonizing protection the “Kaboom Squad” — a superhero-like, nonstop power of energy, pace and IQ.

How do you stop a defensive entrance such as Sierra Canyon’s?

Orange Lutheran (3-2) was still looking for an reply in the muggy-air aftermath of a suffocating loss that featured 10 tackles for loss and six sacks.

“There were some unbelievable special plays defensively,” said Ellinghouse after Sierra Canyon improved to 5-0.

Junior defensive back Madden Riordan sealed the sport with an interception. Senior defensive lineman Mikhal Johnson recorded two sacks. Junior defensive sort out Kasi Currie had two tackles for loss and an interception over a four-play span in the second quarter.

The Trailblazers sideline shouted in the third quarter when senior defensive back Trey Brown snuck in for a booming sack.

“Everybody was hype for me,” Brown said.

It was relentless. The Lancers accomplished just 5 passes on 17 makes an attempt.

Senior defensive end Richard Wesley’s scream in the center of the postgame huddle said it all.

“I’m happy,” Wesley — who claimed a sack himself — roared, extending the “y” for emphasis.

Don’t let the scoreboard idiot you; it might have been an Orange Lutheran goose egg — so a lot so that Ellinghouse said he thought of the sport a shutout.

The Trailblazers started their first drive with a tipped-pass interception from Lancers freshman defensive back Kiingbaraka Kizzee — stalling in the crimson zone and settling for a area objective — and ended the first half with a blocked area objective and a 71-yard landing return from junior Matthew Zapien.

None of the Lancers’ scores got here from a regular drive. On the other hand, the Trailblazers scored with ease.

Ellinghouse called a trick, double-reverse main to Sierra Canyon senior quarterback Laird Finkel discovering big man Brayden Tautolo in the end zone for an eight-yard landing to make it 14-3 in the first quarter.

After an Orange Lutheran three-and-out, Louisiana State defensive back commit Havon Finney Jr. scored on a 62-yard punt return. It didn’t let up.

Sierra Canyon junior operating back Jaxsen Stokes scored on a 16-yard run in addition to a pair of three-yard landing runs. Even Wesley contributed on offense with a 16-yard reception.

A big query stays.

After dominant wins against JSerra, Oaks Christian and Downey, as properly as Punahou (Hawaii) — to a 233–16 complete factors differential — what’s stopping Sierra Canyon from difficult Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, and others for the Southern Section Division 1 crown?

Ellinghouse is prepared to see if his staff has what it takes to dominate in Mission League play.

And so are his gamers.

“Me and my teammates were watching that Mater Dei versus Corona Centennial — we just thought to ourselves, why not us this year?” Currie said. “We’re gonna win this year. I believe that; I’m stating that we’re gonna win this year.”