Grizzlies handle Sage Hill

Making their debut in eight-man football on Friday, Sage Hill School had its moments here and there.

But Calvary Chapel of Downey had more speed and power, and when you add to that some critical mistakes by the Lightning, the end result was a 54-30 nonlegue victory for the Grizzlies.

Sage Hill’s first year coach B.J. Crabtree told his players they should be proud of their effort and with a bit of work, they’ll improve as the season progresses.

“When the physical part was getting to us, we didn’t quit” Crabtree said. “We didn’t lay down. We kept putting points on the board. For a school that has gone through a big transition and a lot of negatives, to get to this spot, I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

The Grizzlies big, physical running, back Alejandro Valdez, was a more than a handful for Sage Hill’s defense.

Valdez gained 89 yards on 13 carries, most of them through the middle of the Sage Hill’s defensive line. He scored on runs of one and two yards. He also ran in three two-point conversions.

When Valdez wasn’t running up the gut, the Lightning had to contend with the Calvary Chapel’s speed in Tony Rangel, who rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Grizzlies put together a 55-yard, 13-play drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock.

But Michael Sherlock’s tackle of Valdez on a fourth-and-three from Sage Hill 7-yard line, kept the Grizzlies from scoring.

After a three-and-out by Sage Hill, Calvary Chapel took over on the Lightning 35 and drove deep in the Lightning territory again, and this time, Valdez scored on a one-yard run to give the Grizzlies an 8-0 lead.

Sage Hill tied the score on a 25-yard touchdown pass from William Leong to Miles McCord.

The teams traded touchdowns again and Calvary Chapel took a 24-16 lead into halftime.

But the Grizzlies outscored Sage Hill, 22-0, in the third quarter.

Leong threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes — one for 26 yards to Darius Shayan-Smith and a 22-yard strike to McCord.

Leong completed 20 of 33 passes for 186 yards and four touchdowns.

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Nonleague

Calvary Chapel Downey 54, Sage Hill 30

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Calvary Chapel - 8 - 16 - 22 -8 — 54

Sage Hill - 0 - 16 - 0 - 14 — 30

FIRST QUARTER

CC - Valdez 1 run (Rangel run)

SECOND QUARTER

SH- McCord 25 pass from Leong (Shayan-Smith pass from Leong)

CC - Rangel 2 run (Rangel run)

SH -Shayan-Smith 8 pass from Leong (McCord pass from Leong)

CC - Carretta 16 pass from Escalante (Rangel run)

THIRD QUARTER

CC - Rangel 69 punt return (run failed)

CC - Rangel 9 run (Valdez run)

CC – Valdez run (Valdez run)

FOURTH QUARTER

SH – Shayan-Smith 26 pass from Leong (Dannelley kick)

CC – Escalante 4 run (Valdez run)

SH – McCord 22 pass from Leong (Dannelley kick)

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

CCC - Rangel, 12-134, 2 TDs.

SH - Karahalios, 10-45.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

CC - Escalante, 3-6-0, 41, 1 TD.

SH - Leong, 20-33-0, 186, 4 TDs.

Receiving

CC - Rangel, 1-18.

SH - McCord, 4-54, 2 TDs.