By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor Week eight of the 2018 football season was great to both Maranatha and St. Francis. It was also a week that saw Poly drop its first Prep League game in three years. Muir had a 14-9 lead at halftime Friday night against visiting Burbank. But thunder caused the game to […]
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
Week eight of the 2018 football season was great to both Maranatha and St. Francis.
It was also a week that saw Poly drop its first Prep League game in three years.
Muir had a 14-9 lead at halftime Friday night against visiting Burbank.
But thunder caused the game to be halted for the night.
And when the second half was completed Saturday morning, the Mustangs fell from second to fourth place in the Pacific League standings.
Pasadena was able to hang with first-place Arcadia for a while, but the Apaches showed why they’re the only Pacific League team that hasn’t lost a (league) game.
It might have taken two days, but Maranatha earned a huge Olympic League victory over Village Christian.
Last but not least, St. Francis destroyed visiting Salesian in the Angelus League opener, and did so from the opening kickoff, until the game was called at halftime.
Maranatha (5-3 overall, 2-0 in league) was one of three Pasadena area schools that had ‘Mother Nature’ end their games prematurely.
Both the Crusaders and Minutemen had scored one first-half TD apiece when the game was postponed until Saturday morning.
The game was originally played at Burbank High School, but it resumed at Maranatha at 11 a.m.
MHS improved to 2-0 in Olympic League play, because of their 21-14 victory over Village Christian in overtime.
In the first half, Enrique Garza connected with Sabien Rivera on a second-quarter TD to even the game at 7-7.
Zack McClendon had two second-half TD’s that turned out to be the difference, including an overtime score.
The win almost certainly assures Maranatha will finish no worse than second place.
With two games remaining in the regular season, Maranatha will face off with winless Whittier Christian (0-8, 0-2) on Friday night at Whittier College.
And then they’ll finish with first-place and undefeated Heritage Christian (9-0, 3-0) on October 26 at home.
St. Francis (5-3 overall, 1-0 in league) made it clear early in Friday’s game that visiting Salesian had zero chances of leaving Friedman Field with an Angelus League opening victory.
The Golden Knights had a solid kickoff return to begin the game, and on the first place from scrimmage, Darius Perrantes hit Tanner Tomko on a 56-yard TD pass.
And it never got better for the Mustangs.
Perrantes was an efficient 5 of 6 for 198 yards and three TD’s.
Perrantes had two scores to Tomko (56 & 67 yards) and a 35-yard TD to sophomore Bryson Reeves.
Reeves and Tomko lead SF with 7 receiving TD’s apiece.
Kevin Armstead scored three rushing TD’s and was just under the 100-yard mark, despite the game only being two quarters long.
At half time, and with a 41-0 lead, the Golden Knights waited for the homecoming ceremony to finish.
And as the Golden Knights and Mustangs came out to begin the second half, the referees called for a 30-minute thunder delay.
For the game to be official, and not forced into a resumption on Saturday like the Maranatha and Muir games, the two head coaches and athletic directors agreed to call the game over.
Considering they led 41-0 and knowing the Salesian side had requested a running clock in the first quarter, it came as no surprise to anyone that the Mustangs would concede the contest.
Next up for St. Francis is a trip to Los Angeles to take on the reigning Angelus League champs.
Before that game, though, Cathedral will continue its game from this past Friday to Monday night at 6.
The Phantoms hold a 7-0 lead early on against Crespi.
Muir (6-2 overall, 3-2 in league), as mentioned, took a 14-9 lead into the break.
The Mustangs got first-half rushing TD’s from both Jahlique Stephens and quarterback Brian Love.
As the weather took over for the night, Muir and Burbank resumed their game early Saturday morning to finish a huge Pacific League showdown.
Burbank shut out Muir on Saturday for two quarters, and edged the Mustangs, 15-14.
Poly got as deep as the Burbank 10-yard line, but the Bulldogs sacked quarterback Brian Love and without a time out, the clock ran out before the Mustangs could attempt a potential game-winning field goal.
Before Friday night’s kickoff, Burbank and Muir were locked in a three-way tie for second place with Crescenta Valley.
The Mustangs fell from second to fourth place in league with two games remaining.
Muir won’t have much time to lick their wounds, as they travel to Arcadia this coming Friday at 7.
The Apaches (6-2, 5-0) are the league’s only unbeaten team, and they are coming off a 24-point victory over PHS.
Pasadena (4-4 overall, 2-3 in league) wanted and needed to assert itself as a playoff caliber team.
PHS did hang in for a while with Arcadia, but at the end of the night, the Apaches earned the 38-14 victory to improve to 5-0 in league.
It was the only Pasadena area game that was not halted by bad weather.
Malachi Langley had the only two PHS scores, and they came on a pair of short runs.
The loss has the Bulldogs tied for fifth in the Pacific League with Burroughs.
PHS will host Burroughs this coming Friday at 7.
In two weeks, the Bulldogs will meet up with Muir on a Saturday morning at the Rose Bowl at 11 a.m.
Poly (5-2 overall, 0-1 in league) fell in a Prep League game for the first time in three years.
The Panthers opened the Prep League portion of their 2018 schedule with a 53-42 loss at Santa Clarita Christian.
SCC’s 53 points scored was the most a Poly defense had given up since November of 2013, when Rio Hondo Prep put 60 on the scoreboard.
The Poly offense scored enough points (42) that would have been enough to win each of their first six games.
Robbie Wilson bounced back in a big way.
The Panthers’ quarterback completed 15 of 23 passes for 262 yards.
Wilson threw for three scores and was picked once.
Franco Alonso had team-highs in catches (5), yards (123) and touchdowns (3).
Jackson Treister had another huge night on the ground.
The Poly running back had 206 yards rushing on 26 carries, and he scored a pair of TD’s.
That’s 8 TD’s in the past two weeks for the senior.
Sheldon Williams and Thomas McConnell had a team-best seven tackles apiece to lead the Panthers’ defense.
Henry Dean, Van Fichtner and Jackson Stimmler each had five tackles.
Trent Steele, Colin Mathews, Connor Boyle, Ryan Khazra and Connor Henderson combined for 10 receptions for 139 yards receiving.
Poly will host a Vasquez team that has won just once (1-7) all year, and the Mustangs are coming off a 48-0, Prep League beatdown at the hands of Rio Hondo Prep.
Week 8 Scores:
St. Francis 41, Salesian 0
Maranatha 21, Village Christian 14 (overtime)
Burbank 15, Muir 14
Arcadia 38, Pasadena 14
La Salle had its bye week
8-Man Score: Windward 65, Flintridge Prep 49
Thursday’s Week 9 Game:
Flintridge Prep at Milken at 7
Friday’s Week 9 Schedule:
Vasquez at Poly at 3
St. Francis at Cathedral at 7
La Salle at St. Genevieve at 7
Muir at Arcadia at 7
Burroughs at PHS at 7
Whittier Christian vs Maranatha at Whittier College at 7
Saturday:
Blair at Thacher at 2
Football Standings Through October 15:
Angelus League:
Cathedral (6-2 overall, 1-0 in league)
St. Francis (5-3, 1-0)
Crespi (4-4, 0-1)
Salesian (2-6, 0-1)
Del Rey League:
St. Paul (7-1 overall, 2-0 in league)
Harvard-Westlake (5-4, 2-1)
St. Anthony (3-6, 2-1)
St. Genevieve (4-4, 0-2)
La Salle (0-8, 0-2)
Olympic League:
Heritage Christian (9-0 overall, 3-0 in league)
Maranatha (5-3, 2-0)
Village Christian (5-4, 1-2)
Valley Christian (2-6, 0-2)
Whittier Christian (0-8, 0-2)
Pacific League:
Arcadia (6-2 overall, 5-0 in league)
Crescenta Valley (7-1, 4-1)
Burbank (5-3, 4-1)
Muir (6-2, 3-2)
Pasadena (4-4, 2-3)
Burroughs (2-6, 2-3)
Glendale (1-7, 0-5)
Hoover (1-7, 0-5)
Prep League:
Santa Clarita Christian (6-2 overall, 1-0 in league)
Rio Hondo Prep (5-2, 1-0)
Poly (5-2, 0-1)
Vasquez (1-7, 0-1)
