Patriots sweep the City to bring title East

By Bill Dickens

© East County Sports.com

SAN DIEGO (10-31-15) — The Christian Patriots may have felt like the City League championship was a fait accompli after clinching at least a share of the crown last Friday night in a win at Morse.

But after yet another shaky start for the Pats against the host Hoover Cardinals at famed Breitbard Stadium Friday (Oct. 30), the travelling faithful were getting the first-quarter jitters once again.

Christian, however, broke open a 14-14 tie by scoring 38 unanswered points en route to capturing the league title in true championship form. It is Christian’s third straight league championship.
ADRIAN PETTY scored a 41-yard touchdown run just one minute into the contest and later scored on a 6-yard run in the opening minutes.

 

However, Hoover countered behind star back Demontauz Gray, who had a pair of big runs, including a touchdown burst, and a deflected pass through the hands of BRANDON HESTER that landed in the arms of a surprised receiver, which tied the game late in the first quarter.

 

After that Christian embarked on a 28-0 scoring run.

 

Just moments into the second quarter Christian scored to take a 21-14 lead when DAVID TODD JEREMIAH threw a quick screen pass to NICK SEXTON, which Sexton turned into an easy sprint down the right sideline for a 35-yard touchdown.

Petty’s opening-game score came on a burst up the middle behind superb blocking by AUSTIN MANION, COLE LEHTO and JONATHAN STINE, as the back saw nothing but the evening sky once he hit the huge hole.

On the 6-yard shot up the gut, Petty had a different set of heroes, as TY NICHOLS and NATE CAZARES blew out their men, while fullback JOEY MARONES sealed off his man just inches away from Petty’s line of sight, as the sleek back squeezed past and into the goal.

The Patriots turned away all the City League challengers to finish 4-0 and are now 7-2 overall. Christian High entered the week ranked ninth in the San Diego CIF Division II power rankings, just .12 behind West Hills for a potential opening-round home game.

Christian’s focus was on quarterback Jeremiah who completed 20 of 31 passes for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns. His leading target was Sexton, with 5 grabs for 100 yards and 2 scores.

 

“He was very crisp,” said Christian offensive coordinator DAVID BEEZER of Jeremiah. “We wanted to go undefeated in league and he played a key role in our being able to do that. He was outstanding – made all the right reads and threw the ball with confidence. He played almost a flawless game.

 

“We had no turnovers and no interceptions,” he added.

 

Other Patriot standouts included ALEXANDER GONZALEZ, who rushed for 47 yards on five carries, and Hester who had 3 catches for 60 yards and an interception for 35 yards and a touchdown. Cazares kicked a 37-yard field goal and was 5-for-6 on PATs.

 

Petty finished with 93 yards and 2 touchdowns on a dozen carries.

 

“In my mind it’s ‘Welcome back Adrian Petty,’” said Christian head coach MATT OLIVER. “We’re a lot better team with him in the lineup.”

 

Oliver praised the work of his defensive linemen, Stine, Valley, Manion, Lehto and GRANT TOFFLEMIRE.

 

“Our defense has made the difference the last two weeks,” Oliver noted.

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