La Serna’s Frankie Palmer scrambles for yardage during Friday’s CIF-SS playoff game against West Covina. La Serna won, 35-17. (Keith Birmingham / Staff Photographer)

By Eric Terrazas, SGVN
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La Serna High School is four quarters away from its ultimate goal.

A CIF-SS Southeast Division crown is at stake as the Lancers (12-1) face Downey (10-3) in today’s championship game at Cal State Fullerton at 7 p.m.

A victory would give La Serna its first CIF-SS football title since 1967. If Downey wins, it would be the Vikings’ first CIF football crown since 1957.

Today’s game marks the second meeting of the season between the teams. On Aug. 31, La Serna defeated Downey 28-27 in week one. It was the regular season’s second game for both schools.

Things have changed considerably since that meeting, according to La Serna coach Margarito Beltran.

“That was a long time ago,” Beltran said. “They’ve gotten better and we’ve gotten better. There’s a sense of similarity because we played against them earlier in the year.

“It’s going to come down to matchups and how our kids play. Downey has some kids who are explosive. They play good football.”

One of those explosive players for the Vikings is sophomore Justin Huff, who has rushed for 2,140 yards and 22 touchdowns. Huff, who ran for 238 yards and three scores in last week’s 35-3 semifinal win over Santa Fe, is averaging 9.8 yards per carry.

Downey coach Jack Williams is thrilled with his team’s championship opportunity.