By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor La Salle quarterback Jake Caan hadn’t done much in about a month. Caan is mature, humble and intelligent enough to tell you that himself. On Friday night, in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 9 playoffs, Jake Caan was back to mid-season form, and Amon Milliner did what Amon […]
By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor
La Salle quarterback Jake Caan hadn’t done much in about a month.
Caan is mature, humble and intelligent enough to tell you that himself.
On Friday night, in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 9 playoffs, Jake Caan was back to mid-season form, and Amon Milliner did what Amon Milliner does.
Milliner ran for 195 yards and 3 TD runs in the Lancers 27-7 win over Mayfair at Bellflower High School.
The Lancers (7-4) will host Silverado (9-2) next Friday. The Hawks knocked off Perris, 60-18 on Friday in their first-round game.
Caan was aggressive, accurate and didn’t turn the ball over.
He finished 10 of 18 for 105 yards, including a TD pass.
While that might not sound out of the ordinary, Caan’s ability to move the ball around the Mayfair defensive backfield was huge in being able to free up Milliner for runs, and without allowing the Monsoons to stack the box.
Caan and Harrison MacDonald connected on a 8-yard score in the second half.
“Most importantly, my line gave me unlimited time to throw,” Caan said. “We needed a game like this. It’s amazing. I’ve never seen my team so hyped up like now.”
MacDonald had a great game. He caught 5 passes for 69 yards and the TD, and he recovered a fumble and had a sack on defense.
“We are just happy that we got to start passing again, because it’s been about four games since we did that, MacDonald said. “Jake did a really good job, and the o-line did a good job of giving Jake time. We played simple schemes (on defense) and everyone did their jobs.”
Milliner only touched the ball 10 times, but he made the best of it with his TD runs of 36, 71 and 62 yards before taking the fourth quarter off.
“I feel good that we came out fast and the offense did their job,” Milliner said. “Since Caan stepped up and the receivers caught it, it really took pressure off us (the running backs).”
The Lancers defense held Mayfair to just one score and got quality play throughout, including an interception from Wyatt Cimino.
In the past, La Salle’s lack of discipline has been an Achilles Heel, but on Friday, La Salle was the bigger man.
A notable play that emphasizes the improvement in temperament involved Cimino.
After denying a Mayfair receiver a catch, the Monsoons’ Mark Gitonga threw a cheap-shot punch to Cimino’s face (helmet) and instead of reacting, Cimino walked away and the Mayfair player was ejected.
Cimino wasn’t done yet.
He picked off a pass on the very next play.
“We just played our hearts out and went 100-percent each play,” Cimino said. “It takes a lot of pressure off of us (when Amon runs well). It makes us stay focused on defense.”
Mayfair, in fact, was so undisciplined, neither coach thought it was safe for the players to shake hands after the game.
Traveon Anderson’s 10-yard TD run on the first drive of the second half was all the Monsoons (6-5) offense could muster.
AJ Akobian added 60 yards on 7 carries for the Lancers.
“We just gelled as a team,” La Salle coach Russell Gordon said. “The 22 seniors knew what they had to do to get this victory. It was very exciting to have the kids we have in the places we have them.”
Box Score:
La Salle: 0-7-14-6-(27)
Mayfair: 0-0-7-0-(7)
Scoring:
LS: Amon Milliner 36 run (Johnny Clarizio kick)
M: Traveon Anderson 10 run (Ryan Yonezawa kick)
LS: Amon Milliner 71 run (Clarizio kick)
LS: Amon Milliner 62 run (Clarizio kick)
LS: Harrison MacDonald 8 pass from Jake Caan (Bad snap, no kick)
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