LOARA PLAYERS get instructions from a coach Friday night at Glover Stadium in Anaheim in a CIF-SS Division 14 semifinal playoff game. Saxons lost 30-7 to South High of Torrance. At the center (10) is Sebastian McGullar (Orange County Tribune photos by Christopher Abdelmalek).

By Christopher Abdelmalek

Kade Jones and Drew Nash led the Spartans of South High of Torrance past the Saxons of Loara High School by the score of 30-7 at Glover Stadium in Anaheim on Friday night. This was the semi-final match up of the CIF Division 14 Southern Sectional playoffs. Nash finished the game going 19-27 passing  for 311 yards and three touchdowns, one to Jones.

The Spartans started off well Friday night, opening the scoring up on their third drive of the game, an 87-yard strike over the middle from Nash to receiver Cade Bargar. Even though the Saxons defense played strong, Nash was still able to survey the field and connect on some big pass plays. “O-line played well, receivers played great, anything that was thrown tonight they were catching it,” said Nash of his play.

JACOB GUELL (32) and Kade Jones (7) were feeling pretty good as their South High of Torrance team defeated Loara 30-7. Jones passed for three touchdowns.

Nash and Jones had a special connection as well, with Jones hauling in eight passes for 133 yards and a spectacular diving catch in the end zone to put the Spartans up 13-0 at the end of the first quarter. “That was one of my favorite catches all year,” Jones said.

Loara did not back down, though. After forcing a turnover on fourth down, the Saxons marched down the field and scored on a two-yard run by quarterback Alex Islas to make it 13-7 midway through the second.

Islas finished the game with 21 rushes for 131 yards and that score.

Unfortunately for the Scarlet and Gold, Islas was their only source of offense tonight. The Spartans held them in check in the passing game, picking off Islas three times, twice by two-way star Jones. “I felt lights out tonight. I just knew that if the ball comes my way, I’m going to pick it,” said Jones.

“It’s almost become routine for them,” said Coach Matt Mishler of his two stars. As the game moved into the second half, Nash and Jones became more and more dominant and held the Saxons in check. The Spartans ran the ball effectively to run the clock out. A garbage-time touchdown extended the lead to 30-7 at the end.

Loara Coach Mitch Olson was proud of his team and they way the played. “People thought we would only win five games this year, we ended up going to semis and winning 10 games. They played together as a unit, they played great tonight, I’m just sad the season’s over.”

Loara finished with a 10-3 record overall and was a tri-champion for the Garden Grove League title with Santiago and Rancho Alamitos.

South (9-4) will face St. Pius X-St Matthias Academy (12-0) next week for the Division 14 Championship game. This game is scheduled to start at 7:30 pm.

Vikings advance to CIF finals

Marina High School’s Vikings defeated Hemet 27-7 on the road in a CIF-SS Division 11 semifinal game. The Vikings (11-2) will advance to the finals on Friday or Saturday against Muir High (11-2) of Pasadena which defeated Linfield Christian 34-29.

The date and location of that contest have not been decided.

Here are results from Friday’s CIF-SS football semifinal playoff contests. Scores will be posted as they become available. Complete coverage of the Loara-South Torrance game will follow.

• Division 10: Simi Valley 30, Orange 7

• Division 11: Marina 27, Hemet 7.

•  Division 14: South/Torrance 30, Loara 7.