Column: Bishop Amat earns share of Mission League title with 24-3 win over Loyola

Bishop Amat quarterback Damian Garcia, shown during a game earlier this season, connected twice with Tyler Vaughns for touchdown strikes Friday night against Loyola.

Columnist

Nov. 6, 2015 11 PM PT

There are many people who think Corona Centennial (10-0) and Bellflower St. John Bosco (10-0) are on a collision course to meet in the Pac-5 Division championship game on Dec. 5 at Angel Stadium. Don’t count supporters of La Puente Bishop Amat among them.

The Lancers (8-2, 5-1) earned a share of the Mission League championship Friday night with an efficient 24-3 victory over host Los Angeles Loyola.

USC-bound Tyler Vaughns caught five passes for 128 yards, including touchdowns of 21 and 41 yards from quarterback Damian Garcia. Torreahno Sweet rushed for 163 yards in 27 carries and scored on a 22-yard run. Bishop Amat’s defense sacked quarterback Sean O’Malley five times.

Coupled with West Hills Chaminade’s 38-21 upset of Gardena Serra on Friday, Bishop Amat ends up tied with Serra for first place, though the Cavaliers will be the league’s No. 1 representative. Coach Steve Hagerty can’t wait to get the playoffs started next week.

“Heck yeah,” he said when asked whether he liked his team’s playoff hopes. “I like our kids. We’ll fight anyone.”

In Vaughns, Bishop Amat has one of the most athletic and dangerous offensive weapons. “I was trying to get into the end zone every time I got the ball,” he said.

Vaughns said he thinks the Lancers are ready to make a title run.

“Yes, definitely,” he said. “We’ve worked hard. We’re going to do it this year.”

Loyola (8-2, 4-2) finished in third place. Chaminade (7-3, 4-2) will have to hope for an at-large berth.

In the City Section, Lake Balboa Birmingham locked up the No. 2 seed in Division I behind Narbonne with a 28-14 win over Woodland Hills El Camino Real. Aaron Rocha’s 35-yard field goal with two minutes left gave Garfield a 26-25 win over South Gate and the Eastern League title. Dorsey defeated Crenshaw, 35-34.

It has been a week full of forfeits, and the latest involved Hesperia forfeiting its game Friday against Oaks Hills after a group of Hesperia players allegedly vandalized the Oaks Hills field Thursday night, the Victor Valley Daily Press reported.

City Section pairings will be announced Saturday. Southern Section pairings will be announced Sunday.