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PASADENA — When asked for Lancaster High’s football history in CIF finals, first-year principal Zach Mercier laughed.New coach Brandon Rivers added: “These guys have been working hard. We started 0-3 and they could’ve folded, but they didn’t.”The Eagles will play in the program’s first-ever CIF Southern Section final when it hosts Valley Christian of Cerritos in the Division 12 final Saturday night at 7 p.m.
“We’ll be the only stadium with lights on that night,” Mercier said. “Our community is pumped for us.” The team is led by senior quarterback Cedric SaMarion, who’s thrown for 13 touchdowns and ran for six this season. Junior running back Ashton Mitchell gives the Eagles a balanced ground attack after rushing for 1,168 yards and 10 scores this season. Mitchell also leads the team in tackles with 68.
Lancaster will play in the program’s first-ever CIF final Saturday after starting the season 0-3. The Eagles are having their first winning season since 2007.