Paraclete Makes Self at Home, 40-16

LANCASTER —  You can stick the Paraclete High football team in a new league, even in a new division. But you can’t stop it from winning league titles.

The Spirits clinched their third consecutive league title--their first in the Alpha League--with a 40-14 victory Friday night over Kilpatrick at Antelope Valley College.

Paraclete (7-2, 3-0 in league play), which won back-to-back High Desert League titles before moving from Southern Section Division XI to Division XII this season, scored 26 consecutive points in the second half, largely because of Michael Washington. The 6-foot-2, 181-pound sophomore rushed for 112 of his 119 yards in the second half, including touchdown runs of 68 and 34 yards.

“We knew this wasn’t going to be easy,” Paraclete Coach Steve Hagerty said. “[Kilpatrick] is a play away from scoring, no matter where they are. I think it came down to desire and conditioning.”

Albert Youngblood gained 193 yards in 27 carries for the Mustangs (4-5, 3-1), who lost five fumbles. The most costly miscue came late in the third quarter when Frank Saenez recovered a bobbled snap at Kilpatrick’s 11-yard line.

Josh White caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Rob Fockaert three plays later to give Paraclete a 33-14 lead.

Fockaert completed 10 of 16 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns, and also scored on an eight-yard run.

Kilpatrick scored first on a 15-yard run by Jesse Lucatero in the first quarter.