PHOTOS: After clinching CIF playoff berth, Crean Lutheran wraps up league play Friday

Crean Lutheran’s Ben Byszewski scores on a pick six near midfield Friday night vs. Huntington Beach. (Photos courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs, John Luciano, Howard Lyon and Wendy Rueter).

Crean Lutheran High School’s football team is headed to the CIF playoffs in two weeks.

The Saints, coached by Rick Curtis, defeated Huntington Beach 38-14 Friday night in an Epsilon League game at Huntington Beach to clinch a playoff berth. Crean Lutheran (7-2, 3-1) wraps up league play Friday hosting Laguna Hills (3-6, 0-4) then begins the playoffs the following week.

Crean Lutheran’s defense forced a fumble on the first drive of the game by Huntington Beach and Mason McCullough recovered. The offense took advantage of the short field and capitalized on the turnover. The 22-yard drive culminated with an 8-yard TD run by Archer C’de Baca, to give the Saints a 7-0 lead.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Crean Lutheran quarterback Dylan D’epifanio finds an open receiver.

Huntington Beach’s Steel Kurtz leaps for extra yards.

Crean Lutheran’s Carter Jones celebrates a Saints TD.

Crean Lutheran's Drew Deese leaps over a defender for extra yards.

HB quarterback Brady Edmunds drops back to pass as Micah Riola (No. 23) and Andrew Losoya (No. 56) block.

Crean Lutheran spirit squad members support the Saints.

Crean Lutheran's Daylin Caamano scores as the Oilers Kai Thantrong defends.

Huntington Beach’s Steel Kurtz is stopped by the Crean Lutheran defense.

Crean Lutheran spirit squad members at Friday's game.

Coach Rick Curtis celebrates a Crean Lutheran win.

C’de Baca went out of the game with an ankle injury later in the first quarter.

Eli Bray came on for the injured C’ de Baca and rushed for 74 yards on nine carries for an 8.2-yard average to earn the offensive player of the game honors for the Saints.

Ethan Stirrat and Heinrich Shriver led the Saints offensive line.

Crean Lutheran’s freshman quarterback Dylan D’Epifanio had another solid game, completing 15 of 24 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.

“D’Epifanio spread the ball around to the receiving corps of Dillon Booth, Drew Deese, Daylin Caamano, and Robert “Dash” Smith,” Curtis said.  “Caamano and tight end Carter Jones recorded receiving touchdowns, and Taurian Nash and D’ Epifanio added rushing touchdowns for the Saints.

“The Saints defense held Huntington Beach quarterback Brady Edmunds to 178 yards passing after Edmunds set the Oilers single game passing record the previous week of 414 yards. The defense was swarming all night and shut down the Huntington Beach rushing attack as well, holding them to only 27 yards rushing.

“Patrick Hall broke up three passes and had three bone jarring tackles on short passes against the Oilers talented receiving corps.  Hall earned co-defensive player of the game honors with Carter Jones who was all over the field on his seven lead tackles and six assists.”

The defensive line was led by Tyler Parker (three leads, two assists, one sack and one pressure of the QB) and Anthony Jones (two lead tackles, one sack, and three pressures of the QB) led the defensive line.

Safety Ben Byszewski had a pick six of 44 yards to put Crean Lutheran 17-7 late in the first quarter.

Smith had two big kickoff returns (74 yards total) to give the Saints offense excellent field position and Connor Stephens connected on a 30-yard field goal and made 5 for 5 point afters to lead the special teams, according to Curtis.

Huntington Beach (5-4, 2-2) wraps up league play hosting El Dorado Thursday night.