Goodwin returns Patriots to winner’s circle again

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

CHRISTIAN 37, MORSE 27

 

© East County Sports.com staff report

 

SAN DIEGO (10-8-16) — It was a record-breaking night for Christian Patriots speedster THEO GOODWIN, who tied the San Diego Section record for kickoff returns for touchdown in a single season, by returning another one Friday night, giving him four through just six games.

That’s only in half of a season.

The Patriots scored twice in the fourth quarter to rally past host Morse, 37-27, to open the Eastern League season and improve to 6-0 overall.

The Patriots took a 22-21 lead into the locker room in a high-quality first half.

Then Morse scored in the third quarter to take a 27-22 lead.

Christian’s BRYCE RIEPL scored on a 23-yard reception from quarterback BRAD JEREMIAH to give the Patriots a 30-27 lead in the fourth quarter.

On the decisive play, tight end Riepl, lined up along the right side, broke past the shove of his defender and almost easily skated open for a target from Jeremiah. The end caught the pass in stride behind his man and had a relatively easy saunter into the goal.

Later in the fourth, JOEY MORONES scored on a 16-yard touchdown run for the final margin after the Tigers botched a punt. The Morse return man was backing up but the ball took one bounce right into him. Two converging Patriots – TRENTON GINKEL and ALEX GONZALEZ – honed in on the bouncing ball, and Gonzalez covered it.

Then AUSTIN MANION and JONATHAN STINE cleared out the left side for Morones’ game-sealing score, as the big man got to the outside and got to show his speed move through a pair of defenders and into the end zone.

JoJo Morones opens the scoring this Friday night with 4-yd TD. Christian 6, Morse 0 pic.twitter.com/Tzjo7I8UTZ

— Ramon Scott (@RamonScottPoker) October 8, 2016

Morones opened the first-quarter scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run. The PAT failed.

Morse drove right back down the field and got a nice, running 25-yard scoring reception from junior Tim Patrick in the right corner of the end zone with 4:33 left in the first.

However, the Patriots Goodwin would do what he is known best for, and that is take another kickoff  back the other way for a touchdown.

Goodwin’s 72-yard sprint through the coverage was typical Theo, as the fastest man in the stadium picked up a squib-looking kick and covered the field in no time flat.

And we were still in the first quarter.

“He’s scary fast,” said Christian offensive coordinator DAVID BEEZER. “He’s being heavily recruited by Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. Our opponents have two choices: they can kick it to Theo, and he’ll take it to the house, or they can give us great field position, squibbing it to one of our upbacks.”

On the first play of the second quarter, Morse tied the game on a scoring drive that ended with a 7-yard TD run by Markus Turner.

The Tigers’ Martell Irby would give his team the lead at the 5:45 mark of the second quarter when he scored on a 13-yard TD run, making it 21-14.

After a pair of possession changes, Christian got a short field at the Tigers’ 48 and scored on the second play when Goodwin caught a 45-yard double pass toss from ETHAN CONTRERAS, a junior. The score came with two minutes to go before halftime. The Pats made a two point conversion on a run by Jeremiah for the halftime edge.

Morse’s third-quarter score came on a 10-yard pass from Turner to Mikey Hawkins for a then 27-22 lead. But Christian’s defense would end up being steadfast in the fourth.

After Christian answered on the score by Riepl, they elected for a 2-point attempt to go up by three, as Morones threw a pass to Riepl for a 30-27 advantage.

Jeremiah completed 6 of 17 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. Goodwin had 4 pass receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. He also returned 3 kickoffs for 111 yards, including the 72 yard touchdown.

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