Grace football loses to Brentwood after making huge comeback in second half

SIMI VALLEY- Grace football was defeated by Brentwood School 48-41 Thursday in the Lancers’ final nonleague game of the season.

Grace (4-3) showed a lot of fight in the game, climbing back from a 27-7 first-half deficit to take a one-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Grace quarterback Ethan Lasecla was stellar, as he finished with 23 carries for 303 yards and five rushing touchdowns. He also completed 21 of 35 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown and one interception.

“We really fought, it was great seeing the team come together to try and come back,” Lasecla said. “That’s a Division 8 team and last year we lost in the first round of Division 13, so it’s awesome seeing the growth and the adversity we were able to fight through.”

The game-clinching touchdown for Brentwood (6-2) came on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Ben Mikail to Ryder Brownstein with a little over two minutes left in the game.

The Lancers were unable to convert on their possession following the score for Brentwood.

Grace had major issues with stopping Brentwood’s passing attack. Mikail completed 24 of his 33 passes for 373 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. Vanderbilt commit Brownstein was his leading receiver, finishing with 10 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns.

Grace fell behind 27-7 after Mikail threw two touchdown passes in the first half and Brentwood running back Bradley Selma scored two first-half touchdowns on runs.

The Grace offense also had three of their possessions in their first half end on turnover on downs in Brentwood territory.

Lasecla did score on a 62-yard touchdown run on their first possession.

Lasecla scored his second touchdown run of the night with a little under a minute left in the half to make the halftime score 27-13.

Grace tied the score at 27 after three quarters when Lasecla scored on a 34-touchdown run and also found Jack Kolesar for a 24-yard touchdown pass.

After less than two minutes played in the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 34 after Addison Patrick Stirling scored on a 9-yard touchdown run for Brentwood and Lasecla quickly answered back with a 61-yard touchdown run.

Grace took a 41-40 lead after Lasecla scored his final touchdown run of the night and Brentwood scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Mikail to Marcus Rosenthal. The PAT following Rosenthal’s touchdown catch was blocked.

On the kickoff return before the final score of the game, Brentwood was able to get good field position on its return and started the drive from the Grace 47. Five plays later, Mikail found Brownstein for their second touchdown connection of the night to make the final score 48-41.

“I think we performed well and Brentwood’s a fantastic football team,” Grace coach Tom Coate said. “Tonight was the typical Ethan Lasecla, and he’s the best athlete I’ve coached. He’s a great teammate and leader and we’re lucky to have him here at Grace.”

My interview with Grace QB Ethan Lasecla who had over 500 yards passing and rushing in the 48-41 defeat against Brentwood tonight. @haleymsawyer @SoCalVarsity @Athletics_GBHS @e_lasecla9 pic.twitter.com/vtXiJZP3AM

— Jack Gillespie (@dnsjackg) October 11, 2024

Kolesar finished the game with five catches for 71 yards and one touchdown for Grace. Jaadin Weyandt had five catches for 56 yards for Grace.

Grace will begin Citrus Coast League play next week with a game at Nordhoff. Brentwood will have a bye next week before beginning Gold Coast League play against Rio Hondo Prep.