Brea Olinda Wins With Triple Play

Poor Jon Looney. All the Brea Olinda coach can do is laugh about his situation.

Who to start? After getting fine performances from all three Wildcat quarterbacks in a 31-0 victory over Canyon at El Modena High Saturday night, Looney says the job is still up for grabs.

Starter Travis Blood, a junior transfer from La Mirada, engineered the team’s first several drives and looked smooth in his leadership. He reentered the game in the fourth quarter and looked confident in his passing, although his receivers dropped several long attempts.

Deonta Birdsong, a junior transfer from Long Beach Poly, was electrifying. He passed for 93 yards, rushed for 24 and had an 89-yard punt return for an apparent touchdown called back because of a clipping penalty. He also intercepted a pass on defense.

Senior Michael Perrance started the third quarter and directed two sharp-looking drives, one of which staked Brea Olinda to a 17-0 lead.

“It’s a nice problem to have,” Looney said. “We’re still trying to find the right guy to start. Until one of them steps up, we’ll keep using them like this before league starts. They’re all different, but it’s better than having just one.”

In recording their second consecutive shutout, the Wildcats (2-0) limited Canyon (0-2) to 70 yards rushing.

Brea looked strong on the ground. Running back Scott Lieng ran for 100 yards and a touchdown in nine carries.

Brea scored on its first series, as Lieng ran 48 yards on the opening play from scrimmage to the Canyon 23. When the drive stalled after a penalty, Scott Davis kicked a 42-yard field goal.

The Wildcats went ahead, 10-0, with 9 minutes 11 seconds left in the second quarter when running back Eric Albrecht capped a 10-play, 71-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run.

Lieng made it 17-0 with a 37-yard touchdown run around left end three minutes into the third quarter.

Albrecht, also playing linebacker, intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown with about seven minutes left to play. Reserve Jon Walker capped the scoring with a five-yard run in the final two minutes.