Coast Christian Goes 10-0, but Coach Isn’t Satisfied

The evidence strongly suggests that Coast Christian had an easy time beating visiting Cuyama Valley, 38-14, in the opening round of the CIF-Eight Man football playoffs Saturday afternoon at Mira Costa: The Saints led the entire game and were in control throughout, they gained 414 yards in total offense, and their defense limited the Bears to 155 yards.

But Saints Coach Dan Pride insists that even though the statistics are a matter of record, his team’s performance was somewhat deceiving.

“From a coach’s standpoint, that was probably the worst game we’ve played all season,” he said. “Sure, the scoreboard says we won big, and we did do some good things offensively. But I don’t know if it was them (the Bears) letting us do it to them, or us doing it.

“I am really not pleased. I think we were very flat today.”

Nevertheless, with the victory the Saints stretched their winning streak to 22 games, improved their 1988 mark to 10-0 and advanced to the CIF semifinals next week against the winner of the St. Margaret’s-Big Pine game.

Coast Christian mixed up its offense effectively throughout the afternoon, going to the air when it needed long yardage and keeping the ball on the ground when it wanted to use the clock.

Running back Earl Rhodes, in just one half of play, led all rushers with 101 yards on 7 carries, while quarterback Steve Luce was 6 for 12 for 109 yards, threw for 2 touchdowns and ran for another. Jerry Stephens ran 7 times for 94 yards, caught 2 passes for 39 yards, including a touchdown, picked off 2 interceptions and scored on 2 extra-point tries. Teammate Robert Haskins carried 12 times for 61 yards.

“I think we’re a pretty well-rounded team,” said Luce. “Other teams know they have to worry about the pass and that we’re just not going to hand off to Earl (Rhodes) every time.”

The Saints scored on their first possesssion, which was set up by Pablo Smith’s fumble recovery on their own 39. Luce hit Jon Anderson with a 17-yard touchdown at 6:09 in the first quarter. The two hooked up again on the extra point and Coast Christian led, 8-0.

With time running out in the first quarter, Rhodes scampered in from 18 yards out for his first of 2 touchdowns on the day, and Luce connected with Stephens on the extra point to make the score 16-0.

Rhodes scored from the 28 with 5:56 left in the first half, and Luce hit Anderson on the extra-point try as Coast Christian coasted into intermission leading 24-0.

Luce hooked up with Stephens on a 26-yard touchdown pass with 9:03 left in the third quarter. The extra-point attempt failed, but the Saints had built a 30-0 advantage.

Cuyama Valley finally got on the board with nine minutes left in the game when Travis Thompson scored on an 8-yard run. Coast Christian came right back with a touchdown on Luce’s 2-yard plunge to make the score 38-8.

The Bears scored an inconsequential touchdown with 3:33 left when quarterback Brad Morang hit Javier Torres with 5-yard scoring pass.