Depleted Sage at home

The medical report wasn’t as bad as it might have been, but the Sage Hill School football team will be without two of its top players for up to four weeks, heading into tonight’s 7 o’clock nonleague home game.

First-year Lightning Coach J.R. Tolver said junior quarterback Randall Mycorn (dislocated left, non-throwing shoulder) and senior center-linebacker Brendan Killaly (sprained knee) will be out at least two weeks. But both are expected to return this season.

Tonight’s opponent, Silver Valley of Yermo (2-0), is part of a scheduling silver lining that may help the Lightning (2-1) stay healthy while they await the injured players’ return.

Silver Valley and subsequent opponents Viewpoint of Calabasas and Citrus Valley of Redlands have been outscored by a combined margin of 254-34 on the field this season (a 48-0 loss for Citrus Valley was later overturned by forfeit). A bye week occurs between the Viewpoint and Citrus Valley games.

Linfield Christian (2-0), which awaits Sage on Oct. 23, provides a final tuneup for the Academy League opener against Brethren Christian on Oct. 30.

Further, Tolver said senior Andy Multari, who steps in for Mycorn, brings strong leadership and athleticism to the position.

Mycorn had completed 10 of 27 passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for another 123 yards. He has thrown three interceptions.

The Lightning has had six passes picked off this season, but Multari, whose only attempt was incomplete last week, has not thrown any of them.

Multari, who has started at receiver and safety, will trigger a simplified offense, Tolver said.

“We’ll close the playbook a little bit,” Tolver said. “But Andy is a senior, a tremendous athlete and a leader, so we shouldn’t see much drop-off. This is an unfortunate way to get the ball in his hands every play.”

Getting the ball to Multari’s hands will be center Alec Vanhoogenstyn, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound freshman who steps in for Killaly (6-1, 215), an All-Academy League performer in 2008.

Senior Mo Kreitenberg, who missed last week’s 35-21 loss to Tri-City Christian of Vista while observing the religious holiday, fills the vacancy left by Killaly at linebacker.

Multari may not need to create much of an aerial attack, since Dusty Orrantia and Taylor Ross have been productive in the running game, which operates behind an experienced line.

Orrantia, a senior, has 274 yards and two touchdowns on 44 carries, while Ross, a junior, has 200 yards and two TDs on 35 attempts.

Senior tight end Connor Gaughan leads the receiving targets with four catches for 81 yards. Freshman wideout Taylor Petty is averaging 38 yards on his three receptions.

Silver Valley, which reached the CIF Southern Section Northeast Division quarterfinals last season, lost its opener to Hamilton, 49-6, then fell to Oak Hills, 64-8.

Hamilton is 3-0 and has outscored foes, 145-25, while Oak Hills is 2-0 with a 98-8 scoring advantage.