A few more thoughts on Saturday’s CIF-SS Southeast final

La Serna will win if …
the offensive line gives QB Frankie Palmer time to find his receivers. Matthew Rosales, D’Andre Sanchez, Luis Camacho and Anthony Garcia have been consistent and reliable targets …
Palmer is NOT La Serna’s leading rusher. Garcia has been outstanding since his JV call-up, and a big game from him or Bryce Oliver will give Palmer more time and room to throw …
the defense limits Norwalk’s big plays. Allowing one long run to Rashaad Penny probably won’t decide the game. Giving up two or more will …
the game’s outcome hinges on one final drive for the La Serna. Palmer engineered fourth-quarter, game-winning drives against Westlake and Burbank, and PK Alex Vasquez has responded when called upon.

Norwalk will win if …
it wins the turnover battle. Norwalk has forced 27 turnovers this season, and Penny has fumbled just once in well over 200 chances …
Penny runs like … well, Penny. The senior went for 321 yards and scored all five Norwalk TD’s in last week’s 35-28 semifinal victory over Muir …
its big defensive front can keep Palmer in the pocket. Chasing a guy with his mobility can get really old really quickly …
its wins the line of scrimmage. Tonight’s game will be a classic battle of Big & Strong vs. Small and Quick.

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A CIF-SS Southeast Division final Tale of the Tape

On Saturday night, La Serna and Norwalk will meet for the CIF-SS Southeast Division championship at Cal State Fullerton. La Serna is playing in its third consecutive Southeast final, and clearly has the edge in playoff experience. Norwalk relies on its run-first Double Wing T offense and senior running back Rashaad Penny.
Will La Serna snap its two-game losing streak in the Southeast final and claim the school’s first CIF title since 1967? Will Norwalk literally run away with the crown, its first since 1977?
Here’s a look at the teams and my prediction:

Offensive line
La Serna:
Quick and experienced
Norwalk: Massive and well-coached
Advantage: Norwalk

Running attack
La Serna:
Three good backs and a mobile QB
Norwalk: Rashaad Penny, Rashaad Penny, Rashaad Penny
Advantage: Norwalk

Passing attack
La Serna:
Lots of weapons, from the backfield and on the perimeter
Norwalk: 27 pass attempts all season
Advantage: La Serna

Quarterback
La Serna:
Frankie Palmer is 33-8 as a varsity starter
Norwalk: Junior Jacob Car has completed 18 of 22 throws this season
Advantage: La Serna

Defensive line
La Serna:
Quick and relentless
Norwalk: Very, very large
Advantage: La Serna

Linebackers
La Serna:
Daniel Campos and Luis Camacho are hard hitters
Norwalk: Aaron Armendarez is a three-year varsity player
Advantage: Draw

Secondary
La Serna:
The Lancers gave up two long TD passes last week
Norwalk: 8 of 15 interceptions came from the DBs
Advantage: Norwalk

Special teams
La Serna:
Sophomore PK Alex Vasquez has been solid all year
Norwalk: Penny also punts and returns kicks
Advantage: Norwalk

Intangibles
La Serna:
Big-game experience on both sides of the ball
Norwalk: Best athlete on the field
Advantage: La Serna

Prediction
La Serna 31, Norwalk 28

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Whittier’s Ancich familiar with both Southeast Division finalists

Saturday night’s CIF-SS Southeast Division final between La Serna and Norwalk will be a battle of efficient, hard-nosed teams that have found very different but effective ways of putting the ball in the end zone.
That’s the opinion of Whittier High coach Visko Ancich, whose team was the only common opponent between this year’s finalists. La Serna (11-2) gets it done with its spread attack, run brilliantly by three-year varsity starter Frankie Palmer. Norwalk (13-0) relies almost exclusively on the run game out of its Double Wing T, with a massive front line clearing the way for senior sensation Rashaad Penny.
“They run completely different schemes on offense,” said Ancich, “but they both run their stuff very well. … Neither team makes mistakes, and they both know how to move the ball up and down the field.”
Whittier faced Norwalk during nonleague play and suffered a 45-0 loss. Penny didn’t have one of his huge games – 131 yards, four TDs – but Norwalk rushed for over 400 yards and scored six touchdowns. During Del Rio League play, Whittier saw Palmer run wild in a 56-7 loss. In just over a half of play, Palmer threw for 198 yards and three TDs, and ran for 112 yards and another score.
Penny has rushed for nearly 2,400 yards and scored 49 TDs. His older brothers – Robert and Elijhaa – both starred at Norwalk as well, but Rashaad has surpassed both. Palmer has nearly 2,900 combined passing and rushing yards this season, and he scored nine rushing TDs to go with 20 through the air.
“They both have that superstar power,” Ancich said, “La Serna with Frankie, and Norwalk with Penny and his family history and his 8 million touchdowns.”
Ancich saw Penny play as a sophomore when Ancich was an assistant at St. Paul, and he’s seen vast improvement from then to now. Penny also plays defense and special teams for Norwalk.
“He doesn’t leave the field,” Ancich said. “Offense, defense, special teams … he’s on the field for 150 plays a game, and he’s playing hard the whole time.
“It should be a great game,” Ancich added, “with two coaches (La Serna’s Margarito Beltran and Norwalk’s Jesse Ceniceros) who believe in hard-nosed football. … Neither team is relying on tricking you, that’s for sure.”

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Cal State Fullerton will be site of La Serna-Norwalk CIF final

La Serna High athletic director Steve Hemenway confirmed Tuesday that Saturday’s CIF-SS Southeast Division final will be played at 7 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton.
La Serna (11-2) is seeded third and is making its third consecutive Southeast Division final apperance. The Lancers also played last season’s final vs. Downey at Fullerton. They’ll face top-seeded Norwalk, which is 13-0.

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