La Serna Stuns Edison With Last-Second TD, Score 23-21 (2025)

La Serna Stuns Edison With Last-Second TD, Score 23-21

La Serna staged a dramatic comeback on Friday night, knocking off Edison 23-21 in Whittier behind a clutch connection between quarterback Grady Long and wide receiver Landon Armenta in the game’s final seconds.

Trailing 21-16 with under two minutes remaining, the Lancers pieced together a nearly 60-yard drive fueled by Long’s dual-threat ability. With four seconds left, Long rolled out and lofted an 11-yard strike to Armenta in the corner of the end zone, sealing the comeback win and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

“It was just a play called to get to the end zone, and Grady put it right where I needed it,” Armenta said of the decisive score.

The junior receiver was the focal point all night, hauling in nine catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns, while also drilling a 42-yard field goal. Long completed 11 of 15 passes for 111 yards and two scores, adding 49 rushing yards—22 of which came on the final drive.

“Grady put the team on his shoulders,” La Serna coach Andy George said. “Whether he was running or throwing, he was pure determination.”

Edison had controlled much of the game, leaning on big plays to stay in front. Quarterback Sam Thomson was efficient, completing 8 of 10 passes for 140 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown to Ayden Degiacomo in the second quarter to give the Chargers a 7-3 lead. Moments later, running back Sam Edmisten (10 carries, 55 yards) powered in from 11 yards out to extend the margin to 14-3.

La Serna answered before halftime when Long found Armenta wide open for an 11-yard score to make it 14-10 at the break. Edison then appeared to seize control midway through the third quarter when linebacker Jude Gonterman scooped up a fumble and rumbled 58 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 21-10.

But the Lancers refused to fold. Running back Jordan Bonilla punched in a goal-line score on fourth down late in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to 21-16 and setting the stage for Long and Armenta’s late-game heroics.

“This win was huge for our boys and huge for the morale of our program,” George said. “We battled from the opening kickoff until the very end.”

La Serna (3-3) now turns to Del Rio League play with a trip to El Rancho next Friday. Edison (4-2) will look to bounce back when they host Summit in a nonleague matchup.