PREP EXTRA: SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Orange Lutheran Wins, 21-17, After Forcing Late Fumble

BREA — Orange Lutheran forced Ontario Christian to fumble at the Lancers’ one-yard line as time expired, enabling Orange Lutheran to escape with a 21-17 Olympic League victory Friday at Brea-Olinda.

Ontario Christian (6-1, 1-1) took over at their 38 after a Lancer fumble with 3 minutes 20 seconds remaining in the game. Harlan Miersma, who completed 12 of 25 passes for 192 yards, then directed the Knights to the Lancers’ three-yard line with 21 seconds remaining.

Tom Vanden Berge, who had runs of 16 and 11 yards on Ontario’s final drive, appeared to be heading for the game-winning score on third and goal, but was hit and fumbled at the one when time expired.

Orange Lutheran, surviving four turnovers, converted a Knight fumble early in the third quarter for a touchdown, giving them a 21-10 lead that proved to be just enough when fullback Matt Stratton rumbled in from 25 yards.

The Knights responded shortly thereafter, when Miersma found his favorite target, Jared Haringsma, on a 33-yard strike with 2:37 left in the third quarter.