Football: Lakewood wins, 34-17

Lakewood scored again in the final minute on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Jesse Scroggins to Darius Powe and has advanced to a Pac-5 Division semifinal with a 34-17 victory over Bishop Amat.

The game was much closer than the final score. Lakewood trailed until Kevin Anderson returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter. Scroggins finished the game with four touchdown passes.

--Ben Bolch

Servite regains the lead, 21-18

Chris Nicholls has caught a nine-yard touchdown pass with 1:32 left to give Servite a 21-18 lead over Long Beach Poly in a wild Pac-5 quarterfinal.

Servite's final drive started on its own six-yard line with 4:25 left. Cody Fajardo completed passes of six, 17 and 28 yards as they patiently drove down field. The Friars faced a fourth-and-three situation from the Poly 32 with 2:11 left.

Servite called timeout. Then Poly called timeout. The tension and pressure could be felt in the packed stands of Veterans Stadium. Fajardo took the snap and kept looking for an open receiver. There was none. Then, at the last second, he threw a short pass intended for Ainsle Johnson. It fell incomplete but pass interference was called, giving Servite a first down.

Then, with 1:37 left, the Friars faced another fourth-and-one from the 9. Another timeout by Servite, followed by another timeout by Poly. More tension. 

But Fajardo completed the nine-yard TD pass to Nicholls running toward the left. Now it's up to Poly to answer.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Football: Numbers tell story for Mission Viejo

The statistics through two quarters are reflective of the halftime score: 21-0 Mission Viejo. 

Notre Dame's offensive output: 64 yards. Quarterback Ryan Kasdorf is 7-of-12 for 50 yards. Leading rusher Kenneth Boggs has been limited to 10 yards in six carries. 

The Knights gained just three first downs--all on their last drive of the half--and they are 0-for-6 on third down conversions. 

For Mission Viejo, running back Exavier Edwards has rushed 10 times for 52 yards and 1 touchdown, Jake Marshall has six carries for 23 yards and two touchdowns and Tre Madden has 33 yards in five carries.

Quarterback Dallin McEwen is 3-of-6 for 30 yards for the No. 2-seeded Diablos, who have seven first downs.

The second-half kickoff is moments away and Mission Viejo will get the ball first.

-- Steve Galluzzo   

Football: Notre Dame trailing 21-0 at halftime

It's been all Mission Viejo so far in tonight's Southern Section Pac-5 Division quarterfinal.

The Diablos preserved a 21-0 lead by stopping Notre Dame on downs in the waning seconds of the first half. On 4th-and 17 at the Mission Viejo 40-yard line, Knights quarterback Ryan Kasdorf was flushed out of the pocket but threw complete to Tyler Thomas, who was tackled immediately at the 16, a yard short of a first down.

Mission Viejo took over and, after two kneel downs by quarterback Dallin McEwen, heads to the locker room with all of the momentum.

Halftime stats will be posted shortly...

-- Steve Galluzzo   

Football: Bishop Amat turns it over on downs

Lakewood defensive end Justin Utupo is putting on a clinic.

He has sacked Bishop Amat quarterback Jerry McClanahan four times, including on fourth down to give the ball back to Lakewood with a 27-17 lead and only three minutes left in the game.

--Ben Bolch

Kaelin Clay's 64-yard TD run puts LB Poly ahead

Long Beach Poly has taken an 18-14 lead over Servite after Kaelin Clay put together a burst of speed and ran 64 yards for a touchdown with 4:29 left.

This game is going down in Poly lore if the Jackrabbits pull it out. Quarterback Chris Leachman had a 12-yard completion on third down to keep the drive alive.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Football: Lakewood goes up 27-17

Lakewood is pulling away after taking over on the Bishop Amat 39-yard line and needing only four plays to score on Jesse Scroggins' nine-yard touchdown pass to Chris Davis, which gave the Lancers a 27-17 lead over Bishop Amat with 5:37 left in the game.

Scroggins has passed for three touchdowns.

--Ben Bolch

LB Poly has chance to take lead

Servite's Sean DeRosa lost the ball on a fumble near the goal line, and it went into the end zone and out of bounds for a touchback, giving the ball to Long Beach Poly with 6:59 left. The Jackrabbits trail, 14-12.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Live playoff video: Bishop Amat vs. Lakewood

Watch live video of tonight's Pac-5 Division quarterfinal between Bishop Amat (10-1) and Lakewood (10-1).

Click here to read Ben Bolch's game preview. Also, Bolch will be blogging from this game throughout the night.

LB Poly closes to 14-12

Kaelin Clay scored on a three-yard touchdown run for Long Beach Poly, but a two-point conversion attempt failed when quarterback Chris Leachman was run out of bounds. Poly trails Servite, 14-12, with 9:49 left.

Leachman guided the Jackrabbits on a 90-yard scoring drive. He connected on a 26-yard pass to Alex Cannon and an 11-yard pass to Richard Smith.

-- Eric Sondheimer