Patriots notch huge upset on Senior Night

EL CAJON — Following a wild opening quarter when Christian and Mira Mesa exchanged two touchdowns each, the Patriots’ offense wasn’t able to do much else over the course of Saturday’s (Oct. 16) Eastern League game at Valley Stadium.

Until one monumental play.

Patriots quarterback Jake Davila connected with Hunter Provience on a 73-yard pass play early in the fourth quarter, then Provience booted the tie-breaking conversion, as the Patriots stunned the 10th-ranked Marauders, 21-20, in a battle of league leaders on Christian High’s Senior Night.

The triumph allowed the Patriots to maintain its share of the Eastern lead with La Jolla at 2-0, while Mira Mesa lost its share of a 3-way deadlock at the top of the table with its first league loss.

Next week, Christian meets the Vikings in La Jolla in yet another showdown for first place.

It also provided a huge boost to the Patriots’ playoff chances in Division III, as CHS entered the week just inside the 12-team playoff bubble.

Mira Mesa snapped a 14-all deadlock with a third-period rushing score. However, Christian was able to answer until the big strike to the Montana State-bound star.

In a game played in wet and rainy conditions, the Marauders’ Chris Brown returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to possibly set the tone for the night.

The Marauders took a 14-0 lead with a rushing touchdown just past the halfway point of the opening period by star rusher Makai Thompson.

But Christian would score two touchdowns in the span of a couple of minutes late in the quarter.

Shebloski connected for a 13-yard score on a pass to Brady Eads to cut the lead to 14-7.

Moments later, Christian got the ball back and scored on a 10-yard run by Brady Bingham.

Mira Mesa regained the lead with under two minutes to play in the third quarter on a rushing touchdown by Thompson.

With under nine minutes to play, the Patriots got the deciding touchdown on the huge hookup.

Christian’s defense limited Mira Mesa’s passing game to just nine completions on 25 passing attempts.

Mira Mesa also missed a field goal attempt in the game, which would’ve been the decisive points.

The result was easily Christian’s biggest win of the season and virtually assures the team a trip to the postseason, as well as, dramatically enhancing its chances for the Eastern League championship.