Crean Lutheran seems to have hit their stride after suffering a tough loss last week, rebounding to beat La Jolla in impressive fashion 52-14 Friday night in Southern California.

The Saints entered the second of a tough three-game stretch and looked to bounce back after losing 47-12 to St Anthony's last week.

Crean seemed to have learned form that game and decided to embrace what the team calls their PS approach to the game—P for physicality and S for simplicity. Following the La Jolla game the Saints team graded themselves A + for the P and a B for the S.

Crean scored early when Jacob Bower broke up the midfield. Lucca Deocariza converted. La Jolla's defense combined with Saints not finishing several try-scoring opportunities kept the game very close through 20 minutes in the first half. A well-read interception by La Jolla tied the game at 7-7 but  the Saints scored two tries to close out the half for a score of 21-7 at the break. Bower scored one of the and prop Jasper O'Loughlin thundered over for the other.

The second half was much better from the Saints in the S-category, as they moved the ball from hand to hand with some nice interplay between backs and forwards. O'Loughlin and his front row mate Cade Gilbert capped off two of those movements. Gilbert, a freshman, was a monster all day with over 15 tackles and some strong carries as well as the try. Scrumhalf Ryan Barron then scored to take it to a 38-7 Crean lead.

La Jolla's try through the forwards with 15 minutes to go was just reward for their work rate. Prop Dylan Butler did the honors and he was outstanding for La Jolla throughout. But the Saints hit back with Bower scoring his third. Deocariza (who had a great kicking game all night) converted on the tough angle. Bower then got his 4th of the night to close the game out 52-14.

The Saints defense was impressive, the young pack of forwards with lock Zach Cranford, hooker Colin Donnoly, and flanker Joseph Vavrina leading the way with high work rate, physical running, and power counter-rucking.

That win sets them up nicely for a very tough Carlsbad team next week.

La Jolla names Bower player of the game (not surprisingly given the four tries), with O'Loughlin getting forward of the match and Deocariza, who was 6-for-8 on conversions, the back of the match.