Sage dumps Eagles

SAN CLEMENTE — On a night known for costumes and disguises, the Sage Hill School football team assumed an alternate identity of its own with successful results.

The Lightning transformed its spread offense into a Wing T scheme that helped produce a 34-19 victory over Capistrano Valley Christian Friday in the Academy League opener at San Clemente High.

“We’ve been struggling to score the last few weeks, so we decided to make a change,” Sage Hill Coach Derek McIntyre said of the run-dominated Wing T, which also helped free up the Lightning’s passing game. “Our kids did a good job of picking it up in just four days.”

The result was 401 yards of total offense, touchdowns on every possession that did not end in a Sage Hill turnover, and the end of a five-game losing streak for the Lightning (2-6, 1-0 in league).

The offensive windfall also ended a streak of 11 straight scoreless quarters for Sage Hill, which scored in every quarter against the Eagles (0-8, 0-1), who have now lost 11 straight, dating back to last season.

Capo Valley Christian used a little change-up of its own to take an early lead, using a no-huddle offense to drive 80 yards on eight plays with the opening kickoff to assume a 7-0 lead.

Sage Hill fumbled the ball away at the CVC 32-yard line three plays into the ensuing possession, but held on downs, the first of three crucial fourth-down plays in the first half, to help get back on track.

After its defense held on fourth-and-one on the CVC 41-yard line, Sage covered the short field in seven plays to get on the scoreboard. The key play in the drive was a 15-yard run by Taylor Ross on fourth-and-four, moving the ball to the Eagles’ 21.

Fullback Jelani Reynolds capped the drive by catching a one-yard pass from Randall Mycorn, who wound up throwing for 171 yards and two TDs to help balance out a strong running attack.

Ross recovered a muffed punt reception – more fourth-down good fortune – to set up a 40-yard, eight-play touchdown drive capped by wingback Dusty Orrantia’s 22-yard run with 2:15 left in the first half.

Ross also moved the chains by running six yards on fourth-and-two at the CVC 32 to sustain the drive.

Sage scored on its first two second-half possessions to forge a 28-7 advantage, but CVC battled back.

The Eagles scored on consecutive possessions, with a fumble recovery in between, to close to within 28-19 with 7:03 left.

But a failure to recover an onside kick and a failed two-point conversion attempt hurt the hosts.

Sage Hill then took care of the knockout blow, driving 58 yards on 12 plays, including converting a fourth-and-three situation, to finalize the scoring with 33 seconds left.

Ross had 114 rushing yards on 16 carries, while Reynolds tacked on 58 yards on the ground.

Orrantia carried four times for 42 yards and added four catches for 61 yards, including a 17-yard TD reception.

Evan Hauschka had 231 rushing yards on 29 attempts for the Eagles.

SAGE HILL 34, CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN 19

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Sage Hill 6-8-14-6--34

CVC 7-0-6-6--19

FIRST QUARTER

CVC – Hutchisson 12 pass from Connolly (Gencarella kick), 9:31.

SH – Reynolds 1 run (kick failed), 2:47.

SECOND QUARTER

SH – Orrantia 22 run (Ross run), 2:14.

THIRD QUARTER

SH – Reynolds 1 run (Ross kick), 7:22.

SH – Orrantia 17 pass from Mycorn (Ross kick), 3:00.

FOURTH QUARTER

CVC – Hauschka 5 run (run failed), 7:03.

SH – Ross 2 run (kick fauled), 0:33.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

SH – Ross 16-114, 1 TD; Reynolds, 14-58, 1 TD; Orrantia, 4-42, 1 TD; Gyulay, 3-24; Ellison, 1-3; Mycorn, 2-minus 8.

CVC – Hauschka, 29-231, 2 TDs; Horriat, 3-30; Hutchings, 3-7; Hutchisson, 1-5; Connolly, 3-minus 5.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

SH – Mycorn, 10-16-1, 171, 2 TDs.

CVC – Connolly, 3-9-0, 41, 1 TD.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

SH – Orrantia, 4-61, 1 TD; Jackson, 3-67; Reynolds, 2-31, 1 TD; Barbour, 1-12.

CVC – Nelson, 1-22; Hutchisson, 1-12, 1 TD; Hauschka, 1-7.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].