Lightning squad poised to strike

Patrick Laverty

Sage Hill School football coach Tom Monarch knows the difficult task

that lies ahead when Academy League play begins next week.

He also knows what a victory would do for his team’s confidence

going into league play.

The Lightning (1-4) will attempt to gain that victory Friday when

they play host to Sherman Indian (2-3) at 3:30 p.m.

“I think it should be pretty evenly paired,” Monarch said. “If we

minimize mistakes, we should do OK.”

Sage Hill closes out the season with league games against St.

Margaret’s, Brethren Christian and Capistrano Valley Christian. Those

three teams may have a combined 7-8-3 record, but that is not

indicative of their strength in relation to the Lightning.

More telling is Brethren Christian’s 54-20 victory over Calvary

Chapel of Downey, a team that defeated Sage Hill, 36-0.

The Lightning will receive a measuring stick for their first

league opponent, St. Margaret’s, against Sherman Indian. St.

Margaret’s defeated Sherman Indian, 24-8, earlier this season.

Sage Hill’s only victory came a month ago against Calipatria. But

the Lightning kept things competitive in the following two games,

against Fairmont Prep and Ribet Academy.

Monarch was hoping sophomore wingback Keya Manshadi, who has

missed the entire season with a leg injury, could return this week,

but he is still not 100%. His return, if it comes in the next three

games, would give Sage Hill a true playmaker to join tailback Eddie

Huang (74 carries for 476 yards and four touchdowns) and fullback Ray

Lim (68 carries for 269 yards and two touchdowns).

Last year as a freshman, Manshadei caught 14 passes for 279 yards

and two touchdowns. He also rushed nine times for 32 yards, though he

didn’t have a carry until the second-to-last game of the season.

Without him, freshman quarterback Braden Ross (22 of 38 passing

for 133 yards) has thrown primarily to freshman tight end Don Ayres

(10 catches for 94 yards and one touchdown) to this point.

Sage Hill will also be without sophomore center and linebacker

Bryan Kornswiet, who tore ligaments in his elbow two weeks ago

against Ribet Academy. Kyle Ramer will replace Kornswiet at center,

while Lim will start at linebacker.

Lim joins a defensive unit that is led by brothers Nick and Marcel

Sohl. Nick, a sophomore cornerback, has 37 tackles, while Marcel, a

senior linebacker, has 31 tackles. Linebacker Peter Haderlein is the

team leader in sacks with six and tackle Morgan Brief has recovered

six fumbles.