The Lancers’ offense continued their scorching start to the season last Friday in a 69-14 homecoming thrashing of Sierra, but the defense also played its part in keeping the score lopsided.

Enter Oteri, East Union’s rangy outside linebacker who makes plays at the line of scrimmage and in pass coverage. He contributed seven tackles, a sack, two interceptions and a pass deflection to the victory, and every big play he made stuffed threatening Sierra drives in the first half.

“Oteri had a really good game, but he has been pretty good every week,” East Union coach Jason Stock said.

The 6-foot-2, 165-pound senior helped lead a suffocating first-quarter effort in which East Union held the Timberwolves to 8 yards and no first downs. Oteri sacked quarterback Jaysen Martinez to force a third-and-long on the Lancers’ second defensive drive of the game. Sierra’s ensuing fake punt attempt came up short on its own 20-yard line, setting EU up with great field position to stretch its early lead to 14-0.

The Timberwolves eventually got their running game going, behind sophomore Darien East. Trailing 28-0, Sierra had a chance to stay in the hunt on its first series of the second quarter, driving 3 ½ minutes to the East Union 8-yard line. On fourth down, Oteri picked off Martinez’s pass to 6-6 receiver AJ Chapman in the end zone, keeping the shutout intact.

Oteri ended Sierra’s next drive and nearly scored on the play. He intercepted a pass on EU’s 34-yard line and ran it back 54 yards to the Sierra 8, as Martinez ran him down to prevent the pick-six. The Lancers scored anyway just two plays later, and they went into halftime ahead comfortably, 42-0.

“I was really scared on that (runback), because my shoulder pads broke during that quarter, so I was just holding onto it the whole time,” Oteri said of the interception return.

Oteri also played a part in the third turnover of the game, although he does not get official credit for it.

Sierra started a drive late in the third quarter with a handoff to East, who was forced to cut inside as he got the ball with Oteri charging at him from the outside. That allowed an interior lineman to strip the ball, which was recovered by safety Gunnar Fay.

“We did pretty well as a whole,” Oteri said. “We worked hard all summer and I think it’s showing in our defense.”

For the season, Oteri has 24 tackles, 2.0 sacks, three interceptions, five pass deflections and a fumble recovery.

The Lancers (5-0) will take their perfect record to Patterson (1-4) this Friday.