Sage Hill executes Grizzlies, 31-22

Roger Carlson

NEWPORT COAST -- It had all the makings of a second-half collapse

as the Sage Hill High Lightning football team found itself hanging on

for dear life in the third quarter for one moment, and the next

moment Coach Tom Monarch’s eleven had broken the Grizzlies’ backs and

were on their way to a 31-22 nonleague victory over Downey-based

Calvary Chapel Friday afternoon on the winner’s field.

Down, 16-8, and in the precarious position of third-and-18 from

its own 10, Lightning quarterback Zach Friedrichs evaded a hard rush,

sprinted to his right and found Scott Cho for a 33-yard pickup and a

first down, and with it an adrenaline rush for all hands on the Sage

Hill side.

Three plays later Friedrichs went to the air again and Link

Williams latched on to it, broke a tackle and sped 48 yards for the

touchdown. Williams followed with a two-point run and it was 16-16,

setting up a wild fourth quarter.

“It was probably the play of the game,” acknowledged Monarch. “It

was a boot-pass with an option to the outside and it was a great play

and a great decision by Zach. It really changed the momentum and

that’s a tribute to the kids.”

While Friedrich’s deft move and clutch pass was just part of a

passing game which netted touchdown passes to Williams and Cho (a

61-yard payoff), the heart of Sage Hill’s second victory in two

starts rested on the shoulders of 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior running

back Cliff Swanson, who ran for 102 yards on 21 carries and scored on

a 17-yard touchdown run to open the scoring.

“He’s our middle linebacker and he runs like a horse,” said

Monarch. “He does everything for us.”

He also intercepted a key pass in the first half when it appeared

Calvary Chapel would take advantage of a Sage Hill turnover.

Camped on Sage Hill’s 36, the Grizzlies were frustrated on the

third play when Swanson backed off from his ‘backer post and

intercepted.

The Lightning punted out, but Calvary Chapel still struck for its

first-half TD on a 40-yard march in a 32-second span to score with

0:03 on the clock.

Another punt at the outset of the third quarter set Calvary Chapel

up for a 52-yard drive and the Lightning found itself down, 16-8, and

moments from what appeared to be potential disaster, only to see

Friedrichs make the key play to Cho.

After Cho’s 61-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter, Calvary Chapel

made its last-gasp effort, scoring from 42 yards out. A two-point

run, however, was fumbled away and Sage Hills held on to a 24-22

lead.

There was still 8:09 left, time enough for the Lightning to surge

57 yards on 11 plays with Williams streaking across the grain for the

last 6 yards. Swanson carried eight times in the sequence, constantly

bulling for yardage which appeared not to be there. Friedrichs then

put the nail in the coffin with a PAT kick and a 9-point margin with

1:26 left.

Sage Hill returns to nonleague action Sept. 28 against another

Calvary Chapel, in Murrietta.