The Maranatha Christian Eagles flew past the host Mountain Empire Redhawks for sole possession of first place in the Sunset League standings by a score of 41-0 last Friday.
The Eagles (7-1 overall) stand alone atop the Sunset League perch with a 4-0 league record while the Redhawks (6-2 overall) drop to second place in the league standings at 3-1.
The league has become extremely competitive as expected.
Victory Christian Academy defeated visiting Tri-City Christian, 52-0, last Friday to improve to 3-5 overall, 3-2 in league play.
O’Farrell Charter, having one of its best seasons to date in the school’s young history, defeated visiting Foothills Christian, 38- 23, last Friday to improve to 3-1 in league, 4-4 overall. The Knights drop to 0-4 in league play, 0-8 overall.
The Rock Academy, Mountain Empire’s next opponent, is 2-2 in league play, 4-4 overall.
Tri-City Christian is 0-5 in league, 0-8 overall.
“It was an extremely frustrating game,” Mountain Empire coach Cameron Keller said in regard to the loss to Maranatha Christian. “We didn’t execute on either side of the ball and it showed. We don’t care about Maranatha (and their rest of their season), We care about what we can currently control and that’s beating Rock Academy (Friday) in our next game.”
The league standings remain fluid.
Maranatha Christian has two league games remaining: O’Farrell Charter and Rock Academy.
Mountain Empire has two league games remaining. Besides Rock Academy, the Redhawks play at Foothills Christian on Halloween night to close out regular season play.
Victory Christian looks to move further up the league standings with a final regular season match-up at home on Oct. 31 against O’Farrell Charter. The Knights host Orange Glen (1-6 overall) in a key Division V-AA encounter this Friday in non-league play.
O’Farrell Charter has Maranatha Christian in a road matchup this Friday before finishing up at Victory Christian in a matchup that could determine one of the final playoff berths in the division.
Foothills Christian closes the season with home games against Tri-City and Mountain Empire.
The loss to the Eagles snapped a three-game winning streak by the Redhawks.
Senior quarterback Shane Piester passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns while rushing five times for 13 yards and one score to lead Maranatha Christian to its seventh consecutive win on the season following a 32-20 season opening loss to Coastal Academy (also currently 7-1).
Senior Aaron Tasin had six catches for 121 yards and one touchdown while junior Sawyer Bryant had two catches for 60 yards and one touchdown. Senior Hudson Heinrichs had three catches for 55 yards and one touchdown.
Sophomore Ryan Niguidula scored on a punt return. He returned two punts for 90 yards, including one for 74 yards. Bryant (33 yards) and senior Diego Esparza (29 yards) both kicked field goals.
Ten teams occupy the Division V-AA section rankings. Maranatha Christian is first at 7-1, followed by No. 2 Palo Verde Valley at 5-4, No. 3 Mountain Empire at 6-2, No. 4 Calipatria at 4-3, No. 5 Clairemont at 1-8, No. 6 Rock Academy at 4-4, No. 7 Victory Christian Academy at 3-5, No. 8 O’Farrell Charter at 4-4, and Foothills Christian and TCC both at 0-8.
Friday’s impending clash against Rock Academy is very important for the Redhawks in terms of divisional rankings and playoff positioning.
In statistics compiled through seven games, junior Chance Ross topped the team with 511 passing yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for 268 yards and 10 TD. Sophomore Elisha Lashone Robinson (860 rushing yards) also had scored 10 rushing touchdowns.
Senior Junior Ponce had 21 catches for 262 yards and two scores.
