Upset in Div. 4 championship
Lancers quarterback leads multiple scoring drives that wear down top-seeded Sea Kings.
Zele leads Grace Brethren over Corona del Mar 26-14.
Put down the name of sophomore quarterback Mikey Zele of Simi Valley Grace Brethren on the list of players to watch for next season and beyond.
On a team known for running the ball, it was Zele’s running and passing that propelled the Lancers to a 26-14 upset of top-seeded Corona del Mar on Saturday night in the Southern Section Division 4 championship game at Royal High.
Zele guided the Lancers (12-2) on a 95-yard, nineminute scoring drive in the third quarter. Lontrelle Diggs’ one-yard touchdown run gave Grace Brethren a 19-14 lead. Zele had a thirddown scramble that picked up a first down and a fourthdown run to gain another first down. Then he scored on a 19-yard run with 5:51 left as Grace Brethren’s offensive line began to wear down the Sea Kings.
Josh Henderson had a big game at linebacker for the Lancers and also gained 103 yards rushing. Stanley Taufoou had a touchdown run and was excellent on defense. Zele rushed for 76 yards.
Corona del Mar quarterback Ethan Garbers went past 4,000 yards passing for the season. He was 24 for 38 passing for 295 yards. He had a one-yard touchdown plunge and threw his 55th touchdown pass of the season to Mark Redman.
But Nate Bennett and Troy Hothan came up with fourth-quarter interceptions for Grace Brethren.