Lutheran was coming into this game winning 35 games in a row including back-to-back state championship victories. The overall 11th best team in the state has been a squad that would be able to give many 6A schools a run for their money. On the other side, 2A Scecina Memorial entered the game 4-1 and boast a very respectable 20-6 record over the last two seasons. 


Lutheran would start with the ball at the 40 yard line following a great return by DeVuan Jones to open the game. The ensuing plays were all Braydon Hall, as Lutheran would get down inside the 20 before he had to be sidelined with an injury. Top 2025 quarterback, Jackson Willis would show off his running skills on the drive before Jonny Hall would fill in for his brother and punch it in from five yards out. 

The Lutheran defense would force their first of many three-and-outs on the night to quickly give the ball back to their offense. That is when things would start to change for Scecina as Joe Alacorn Jr. would jump the pass by Willis and would bring it all the way to the endzone to tie it up. On the next drive, Noah Stucynski would get a big-time sack for the Crusaders to force a Lutheran punt. 

Unfortunately, that would be just as close as Scecina would get in the game. Jackson Willis would promptly find Jeremiah King on the quick screen to start the second quarter before Jonny Hall would punch in his second score of the night to make it 14-7. Despite a great return by Ty Walker, Lutheran’s Gavin Mims would get his first of multiple sacks to force another punt by Scecina. 

Lutheran’s Braydon Hall would make his return to the field felt as he took the ball 72 yards all the way to the house to put the Saints up 21-7 early in the second quarter. The Lutheran defense would continue pressuring Mendez before Jackson Willis would find DeVuan Jones from 25 yards out to extend the lead 28-7. After a quick three-and-out by Scecina, Willis would connect with Jonny Hall for his third touchdown of the night to put the Saints up 35-7 and essentially seal the game. 

Coming out of the half, Jackson Willis would find Braydon Hall wide open for his second score of the game on a wheel route to score from 53 yards out to make it 42-7 and activate the running clock. 

Scecina would end up finding the endzone with just under four minutes to play on a pass by David Mendez from 50 yards out, but it would be too little too late as Lutheran would go on to win 42-14. 

There is not a lot to take away from blowouts like these, but as Lutheran head coach Dave Pasch would tell his team after the game, “it is never as good or as bad as it seems.” 

For Lutheran, this game showed a lot of great things for them but at the end of the day they got the bulk of their production from screen passes and inside zones which just might not cut it every week.

For Scecina, this is now their second loss in a row but I believe they will be winning more than they lose the rest of the season. They are a great 2A team, but just did not play as they usually do. They had about 20 defensive sacks as a team coming into the game, but just could not get any pressure on Willis. Offensively, Mendez is their leading rusher on the season with 415 yards and on seven yards a carry leading into this game, but for whatever reason he had just one or two designed runs the whole game.

Scecina has some tough games remaining with Triton Central, Cardinal Ritter and Monrovia, but I expect them to fight hard and end up going 2-1 in this stretch and making another run to the sectional championship game. 

Nonetheless, I do not see Lutheran losing another game this season and I would not be surprised if they end up getting 45 straight wins by the end of the season. But, Jonny Hall and his team are clear they are set on one game at a time. 

Game Awards

Impact Play of The Game: Braydon Hall 72 Yard Touchdown Run- Up just 14-7 in the middle of the second quarter, Hall’s explosion of a run is what started the downpour of points to suck all the life out of Scecina. 

Unit of The Game: Lutheran Defensive Line- Close to double digit sacks and just terrorizing Mendez all night. Led by Gavin Mims and the McHaney brothers, Cameron and RaiShaun, this unit should have built all the confidence they need for the rest of the season. An honorable mention to the Lutheran Offensive Line and Wide Receivers, their blocking was great all night and were opening holes in the defense in the run and screen game.

Player of The Game: Jonny Hall- Three total touchdowns, while playing a contributing effort on the defensive side. Honorable mention to his brother, Braydon who had two scores of his own and would have probably had a four touchdown game if he did not get hurt early.

“[Beating up on Scecina] felt great,” Hall said. “We are professionals, we do not think we are going to lose and we do not think we are going to win. We just play how we play.”