Football: Lakewood poses tough test for Alemany

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It’s sometimes difficult for a team in its first season in the Pac-5 Division to understand how tough it is to keep advancing in the playoffs.

Mission Hills Alemany (11-0) had no trouble in its opening win over Newport Harbor, but Lakewood (10-1) presents a much more challenging assignment.

FIrst of all, the Lancers’ defense, led by tackle Todd Barr, is athletic and has lots of speed. Barr has 17 1/2 sacks. That’s something Alemany has rarely seen this season.

On offense, Lakewood quarterback Tyler Schultz has looked anything but like a catcher in baseball. He signed with San Francisco for baseball but has thrown 31 touchdown passes.

The Pac-5 is about surviving week after week. We’re going to see about Alemany’s survival instincts on Friday. Can the Warriors advance to the upper-division semifinals, something they haven’t done since 1982?

-- Eric Sondheimer