The Lindbergh football team fell to Orting this past weekend 31-19, but the real test comes this Saturday when the Eagles travel to River Ridge for the beginning of the District 3 tournament.

Quarterback Sam Nehren threw two touchdown passes, but they were not enough to overcome three interceptions in the loss. Johsiah Serquina had 135 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles.

On Friday in Orting, the teams played a field position game through the first period before Lindbergh opened up the scoring in the second with a 3-yard touchdown run from Serquina. The Eagles followed it up with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Nehren to Josh Nute to take a 13-0 lead, but Orting got on the board before the quarter was out with a 31-yard passing touchdown and the teams headed to the half with Lindbergh up 13-7.

Orting continued their momentum into the third, keeping Lindbergh off the board for the entire quarter while scoring on a 1-yard run and then returning an interception for a touchdown to make it 21-13 after three.

IN the fourth, Orting kicked a field goal to go up 24-13, but Lindbergh kept fighting with Nehren hitting Nute again for the pair’s second touchdown of the game, this one a 50-yard throw-and-run to paydirt.

But Orting scored again before the night was out to seal the deal at 31-19.

Lindbegrh is now 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the South Puget Sound League. They travel to River Ridge (7-1) on Friday to open the District 3 playoffs with the winner advancing to the state tournament. River Ridge eliminated the Eagles from last year’s playoffs, 55-27.