Knights go from 0-10 to 10-0

BENICIA >> Two years ago, Las Lomas played 10 games and lost them all. So it was easy to understand the celebration that ensued on Friday night after the Knights took care of Benicia 35-0.

Las Lomas finished the regular season 10-0.

“Ten-and-o. It’s unbelievable,” said junior running back Isaiah Newell, who was pretty unbelievable himself with three rushing touchdowns, 168 yards on the ground and 82 yards in receptions. “We worked so hard for this. Since February. Guys in the weight room, waking up at six in the morning.”

Las Lomas regular season is complete. It will learn where it will be seeded in the Division 3 playoffs Oct. 28. Most likely, it will be second or third.

Benicia, which is 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the Diablo Athletic League’s Valley Division, might get a home game in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs. The Panthers finish up next Friday with Ygnacio Valley, a team they shouldn’t have too much trouble with.

Las Lomas’ victory wasn’t quite as easy as the score makes it sound. It was only 14-0 at the half, though Las Lomas did have a touchdown called back in the second quarter because of holding.

At the same time, the Knights were never in danger. Benicia mounted a couple of first-half threats, the biggest in the opening quarter when it had firstand-goal on the nine. The drive died at the five.

“I’m so proud of these kids,” Las Lomas coach Doug Longero said. “They’ve been through it. To persevere the way they did. Now we’re just getting started.”

Longero is in the second year of his second go-round at Las Lomas after four years at Diablo Valley College. The Knights were a combined 1-19 in 2015-16, but they showed improvement last season with Longero back on the sidelines, going 4-6.