Bishop Amat Puts It on Line

Undoubtedly looking for improvement after an 0-2 start this season, La Puente Bishop Amat went to the right place Friday night.

The visiting Lancers dominated every facet against Covina Charter Oak, gaining 260 yards rushing in a 28-0 nonleague victory.

Bishop Amat, ranked No. 21 in the Southland by The Times, did not look anything like the team that had given up 84 points in its first two games and appeared especially porous in a 45-7 loss to Valencia two weeks ago.

“My big thing is, we have to get better every week,� Lancer Coach Mike DiFiori said.

Bishop Amat (2-2) took advantage of its huge offensive line -- Michael Combes, Matthew Romine, Jonathan Soto, Jose Rodriguez and Matthew Ramirez average 260 pounds -- as William Wagner rushed for 200 yards in 26 carries and scored three touchdowns.

Soto said the linemen were challenged by coaches to put forth their best effort. “We took it personally this time,� Soto said. “We’re not losing any more games, that’s it.�

Wagner had a touchdown called back on Bishop Amat’s first drive of the game, but he sprinted into the end zone on a 14-yard carry two plays later.

Bishop Amat then took advantage of Jonathan Cornell’s 43-yard run on a fake punt to set up Wagner’s second touchdown, a three-yard run.

Jeremy Gonzalez made the defensive play of the game for Bishop Amat late in the first half, intercepting a short pass from Manuel Ambriz in the end zone with 57 seconds left.

The Lancers increased their lead in the second half on a nine-yard touchdown reception by Tony Valenzuela and a one-yard touchdown run by Wagner with 9:03 left.

“The holes were just humongous,� Wagner said.

Charter Oak (2-1), ranked No. 13, did not get a first down in the second half until only 7:34 remained.

A similar penalty gave the Chargers a first-and-goal, but Wagner broke up a fourth-down pass in the end zone to preserve the shutout.

--Dan Arritt

Mission Viejo 50, Huntington Beach Marina 0 -- Mark Sanchez was nine for nine passing for 200 yards and one touchdown and Robbie Bosanko rushed for 57 yards and two touchdowns in five carries to lead the top-ranked Diablos (3-0) in a nonleague game at Mission Viejo. Marina is 0-3.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 17, Palmdale 15 -- Fifth-ranked Notre Dame led, 14-0, at halftime of the nonleague game at Palmdale, but the Falcons (1-2) scored 15 points in the fourth quarter for a 15-14 lead. With 25 seconds left, Kai Forbaith kicked a 36-yard field goal for the Knights (3-0). Greg Gallucci caught a 48-yard touchdown pass for Notre Dame.

Compton Dominguez 47, L.A. Manual Arts 12 -- Elijah Wesson ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns and had two interceptions, returning one 85 yards for a touchdown, for the No. 18 Dons (3-0) in an intersectional game at Manual Arts (1-2).

Redondo 7, Carson 0 -- Kevin Ellison gained 130 yards in 26 carries and scored on a one-yard run in the third quarter for the host Sea Hawks (2-1). Redondo held No. 24 Carson (1-2) to 145 yards of offense.