High School

FINAL: Defense dominates, Jaxsen Stokes runs for 3 TDs as No. 6 Sierra Canyon thumps No. 8 Orange Lutheran

Trailblazers defense surrenders three points, Stokes and the offense roll yet again to remain unbeaten

Levi Payton

Sierra Canyon running back Jaxsen Stokes ran for three touchdowns as the No. 6 Trailblazers thumped No. 8 Orange Lutheran on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2005 at Orange Coast College.
Sierra Canyon running back Jaxsen Stokes ran for three touchdowns as the No. 6 Trailblazers thumped No. 8 Orange Lutheran on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2005 at Orange Coast College. / Rene Morales

Two of California’s top-ranked programs collide tonight in Orange County, setting up one of the state’s most anticipated non-league matchups of the season. No. 6 Sierra Canyon rolls in unbeaten at 4-0, while No. 8 Orange Lutheran looks to defend its home field and continue building momentum after a strong September.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT at Orange Coast College.

The Trailblazers have been nothing short of dominant through the opening month, outscoring opponents 192-7 and finally giving up their first points of the year in last week’s 49-7 win over Downey. Their defense has smothered every challenge so far, and quarterback Laird Finkel has kept the offense humming with nearly 1,000 yards passing already. Playmakers like Ja’Myron Baker, Jaxsen Stokes and Tron Baker give Sierra Canyon plenty of balance around the edges of its star-studded defense.

Orange Lutheran (3-1) enters riding its own wave of confidence after a 35-14 victory over Serra. Junior quarterback Regan Toki has been a steady force, completing 81 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns against just one interception. The Lancers bring a loaded roster of their own, including Alabama offensive line commit Samuelu Utu, sophomore phenom Marcus Fakatou on the defensive front, and a wideout corps led by Nico Bland, who has already topped 400 receiving yards.

With both teams boasting national-level recruits at nearly every position group, tonight’s clash carries the feel of a postseason matchup. Sierra Canyon will look to extend its flawless start, while Orange Lutheran hopes to prove it belongs among California’s elite by taking down one of the hottest teams in the state.

Be sure to bookmark this page and refresh often for live scoring, highlights and big plays throughout the game as they happen in the expandable space at the bottom of the page.

Stars to Know

For Sierra Canyon

Richard Wesley, Edge, sr. – Five-star recruit, Texas commit – No. 2 nationally by Rivals – 10 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 7 hurries
Brandon Lockhart, CB, sr. – Four-star recruit; USC commit – No. 11 nationally by Rivals
Havon Finney, CB, sr. – Four-star recruit; LSU commit – No. 12 nationally by Rivals
Kasi Currie, DL, jr. – Four-star recruit; Multiple Power 4 offers, including Oregon and USC – No. 14 nationally
Lance Ciechanowski, OT, soph. – Four-star recruit; No. 7 nationally by Rivals
Ja’Myron Baker, WR, sr. – Three-star recruit; USC commit
Jaxsen Stokes, RB, jr. – Three-star recruit; Multiple Power 4 offers, including Oregon and UCLA – leads team with 355 yards rushing on 40 carries with 6 touchdowns
Madden Riordan, S, sr. – Three-star recruit; USC commit
Lennie Brown, CB, sr. – Three-star recruit; Kansas commit
Myles Baker, S, jr. – Four-star recruit; Multiple Power 4 offers, including UCLA and USC – No. 34 nationally
Faruq Muhammad, S, jr. – Three-star recruit; Multiple Power 4 offers
Jerod Terry Jr., ATH, sr. – Three-star recruit; Sacramento State commit – 229 yards rushing on 29 carries with 3 TDs
Mikhail Johnson, Edge, sr. – Three-star recruit; Holds 20 offers
Laird Finkel, QB, sr. – 937 yards passing, 8 touchdowns, 1 INT
Tron Baker, WR, sr. – 16 receptions, 239 yards, 3 touchdowns
Demarkus Barnes, WR, sr. – 12 receptions, 248 yards, 3 touchdowns

For Orange Lutheran

Samuelu Utu, OL, sr. – Four-star prospect; Alabama commit – No. 11 IOL by Rivals
Lucas Rhoa, OL, soph. – Four-star prospect; No. 16 IOL by Rivals
Marcus Fakatou, DL, soph. – Four-star prospect; No. 1 2028 prospect in state, No. 1 DL in country and No. 4 overall prospect in country by Rivals – holds 29 offers; 25 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 sacks, 3 hurries, 1 fumble recovery, 3 blocked kicks
Sean Morris, RB, sr. – Three-star prospect; Northwestern commit – No. 52 by Rivals
Nico Bland, WR, jr. – Three-star prospect; No. 49 by Rivals – leads team with 409 yards on 24 receptions with 4 TD
Markus Kier, WR, sr. – Three-star prospect; Princeton commit
Chris Flores Jr., WR, jr. – Three-star prospect; Multiple Power 4 offers
Christian Panapa, LB, sr. – One of Orange County’s top LBs; leads team with 31 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 hurries, 1 fumble recovery
Auma Jennings, DT, sr. – 20 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 4 hurries
Brandon Garcia, OL, sr. – Holds an offer from Northern Arizona
Mario Luna, OL, fr. – Holds offers from Syracuse, USF, SMU and others
Inokefotu Fakatou, Edge, fr. – Holds an offer from Notre Dame
Kiingbaraka Kizzee, S, fr. - Holds six offers, including Syracuse and Arizona
Reagan Toki, QB, jr. – 981 yards passing, 9 touchdowns, 1 INT; Leads team with 126 rushing yards, 2 TDs on 26 carries
Aiden Migirdichian, K, sr. – 10-for-11 PAT kicks, 2-for-2 field goals (long of 37 yards); 9 touchbacks

Live Updates

Teams

1Q

2Q

3Q

4Q

Final

Sierra Canyon

20

7

14

0

41

Orange Lutheran

3

6

0

0

9

Pregame

Sierra Canyon will receive the ball to open the game. Orange Lutheran won the toss and deferred.

First Quarter

Sierra Canyon began the first possession of the game at its own 20.

INTERCEPTION! On the third play of the game, Kiingbaraka Kizzee picked off a deflected pass and returned it 40 yards to the Sierra Canyon 5.

FIELD GOAL! The Lancers went backward, from the 5 to the 14, against Sierra Canyon's vaunted defense, but Aiden Migirdichian drilled a 31-yard field goal to give Orange Lutheran a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter.

BIG PLAY! On third-and-6, Sierra Canyon wide receiver Sir Home King Webb caught a 39-yard pass to set up first down in Lancers territory.

TOUCHDOWN! Trailblazers quarterback Laird Finkel made up for his interception. He threw a quick slant to a wide-open Sir Homer King Webb for a 16-yard touchdown. The PAT gave the Trailblazers a 7-3 lead. Webb had 55 of the Trailblazers' 80 yards on that drive.

BIG PLAY! Chris Flores Jr. had a 35-yard kickoff return to give Orange Lutheran the ball at its own 43 to start its second drive.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Sierra Canyon's defense held on fourth-and-1 and got the ball back at their own 49.

Sir Homer King Webb, who had nine catches entering the game, caught his third pass to start the Trailblazers' third drive and already has 62 yards and a touchdown.

TOUCHDOWN! Running a reverse pass (Finkel started split out like a wide receiver) the quarterback flicked his 10th touchdown pass of the season - this one 5-yards to defensive lineman/tight end Brayden Tautolo to make it 14-3 with just under 4 minutes to go in the first quarter.

PUNT RETURN TOUCHDOWN! Senior Havon Finney Jr. returned a 62-yard punt with a convoy in front of him. The PAT was no good. Sierra Canyon leads Orange Lutheran 20-3 late in the first quarter. Sierra Canyon's defense is playing lights out in the early going.

SACK! Mikhail Johnson got a big sack to end the first quarter, setting up Orange Lutheran with third-and-15 to open the second.

End 1: Sierra Canyon 20, Orange Lutheran 3

Second Quarter

PUNT! Orange Lutheran continued struggling to move the ball against the Trailblazers suffocating defense and punted it away again, trailing 20-3, to start the second quarter.

TOUCHDOWN! Jaxsen Stokes sprinted in from 16-yards out and the rout is on. The PAT was successful to extend Sierra Canyon's lead to 27-3 with 7:32 left in the first half.

Freshman Ezrah Brown came in at quarterback for the Lancers.

SACK! Mikhail Johnson got his second sack of the game - wrapping up the freshman Brown on a 10-yard loss back to the Lancers 15.

PUNT! Orange Lutheran punted it back to Sierra Canyon, giving the ball to the Trailblazers at the Lancers 48.

Sierra Canyon is driving again with 2 minutes left in the first half. The Trailblazers have dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

BLOCKED FIELD GOAL, TOUCHDOWN! With 13 seconds left in the half, the Trailblazers attempted a 37-yard field goal, but Julian Katz's kick was blocked by Marcus Fakatou and junior Matthew Zapien scooped it up and ran 70 yards. The PAT was blocked. Orange Lutheran trimmed Sierra Canyon's lead to 27-9.

Sierra Canyon took a knee to end the half.

Halftime: Sierra Canyon 27, Orange Lutheran 9

Third Quarter

Orange Lutheran began the second half with the ball at its own 20 with Ezrah Brown still in at quarterback.

PUNT! Orange Lutheran didn't move it far and had to punt it back to the Trailblazers, who began possession at their own 22.

TOUCHDOWN! Jaxsen Stokes ran in from 1 yard out. Sierra Canyon extended its lead to 34-9 halfway through the third quarter. A pass interfernece on third down helped prolongue the drive.

SACK! Sierra Canyon's Trey Brown walloped Ezra Brown for a crushing sack on an all-out blitz to force a punt.

PUNT! Sierra Canyon got the ball back at its own 49 following a Lancers punt.

BIG PLAY! Sierra Canyon wide receiver Demarcus Barnes caught a 33-yard pass to set up first down at the Lancers' 16.

TOUCHDOWN! In the final minute of the third quarter, Jaxsen Stokes ran in from 1-yard out - his second 1-yard TD run in as many drives and third rushing touchdown of the game - and Sierra Canyon extended its lead to 41-9 with 35 seconds left in the third.

End 3: Sierra Canyon 41, Orange Lutheran 9

Fourth Quarter

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Orange Lutheran managed to get the ball deep into Sierra Canyon territory, but turned it back over on downs at the Trailblazers 18.

PUNT! Sierra Canyon finally punted the ball tonight. Orange Lutheran got it back at its own 30.

INTERCEPTION! Sierra Canyon's Madden Riordan, a USC commit, dropped red the quarterback's eyes and picked off a pass at the Trailblazers 48 and returned it to the Orange Lutheran 40. A facemask on the Lancers moved the ball down the Orange Lutheran 25.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Sierra Canyon turned it over on downs at the Orange Lutheran 34 with 2:22 left in the game.

FINAL: Sierra Canyon 41, Orange Lutheran 9

Sierra Canyon improved to 5-0. Orange Lutheran fell to 3-2. Both teams are idle next week.

Sierra Canyon's defense continued its dominant streak. The Trailblazers entered the game having allowed only seven points in four games, and the defense only surrendered three points in this one. Those points came off of an interception to start the game that set up Orange Lutheran with first-and-goal at the 5. The other six points came off a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown.

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Levi Payton
LEVI PAYTON

Levi’s sports journalism career began in 2005. A Missouri native, he’s won multiple Press Association awards for feature writing and has served as a writer and editor covering high school sports as well as working beats in professional baseball, NCAA football, basketball, baseball and soccer. If you have a good story, he’d love to tell it.

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