La Serna’s Gio Long intercepts a pass in the end zone during Saturday’s CIF-SS Southeast Division Championship game against Downey. La Serna lost, 33-25. (Keith Birmingham / Staff Photographer)

By Steve Ramirez, SGVN
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FULLERTON – La Serna High School’s quest for its first CIF-Southern Section title since 1967 will have to wait another year.

Jorge Reyna threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns and Justin Huff ran for 183 and two scores to lead Downey (11-3) to a 33-25 victory over the Lancers in the Southeast Division championship game at Cal State Fullerton.

It was Downey’s first CIF-SS title since 1957.

La Serna (12-2) had a chance to tie it late.

Quarterback Frankie Palmer, who threw for 104 yards, had completions of 16, 18 and 23 yards, the final one to Matthew Rosales to the Downey 10 with 35 seconds left.

But Palmer fumbled the snap and Downey recovered.

La Serna got 137 yards rushing from Gio Long and 79 on the ground from Luke Gonzales. Both players scored second-half touchdowns to give the Lancers a late chance.

Downey took control in the third quarter by scoring on its first two possessions of the second half. Reyna threw 3 yards to Jacob Cook for a 14-13 lead with 9:27 left in the third. He then completed the next drive with a 10-yard run for a 20-13 lead.

Huff made it 27-13 with a 5-yard run with 11:29 left in the game.