Pictured L=R: Michael Martin, Miles O’Malley & Carter Shupper

Football:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

In just two years, Maranatha coach Rand Holdren, his staff and their players have made one of the area’s most dramatic reversals of fortune in recent memory.

And while stats don’t tell the whole story, without them, one couldn’t fully appreciate just how remarkable their collective journey has been over the past 365 days.

In 2021, the Minutemen went 1-7, including an 0-3 mark in Olympic League play, which landed them in the basement.

MHS scored 108 points, while surrendering 313.

In five of the seven losses, Maranatha was defeated by 30 points or more

The worst being a 61-0 beatdown at the hands of visiting Village Christian.

Fast forward one year, and the Minutemen have completely flipped the script.

Not only are they 9-0-1, MHS secured a Cottonwood League championship two weeks ago thanks to a 34-16 victory over undefeated Santa Rosa Academy.

In that game, Maranatha trailed 16-0 after the first quarter, but they regrouped and outscored the Rangers, 34-0, the rest of the way.

The MHS offense has produced its highest scoring average per game (42) since at least 2004, which is as far as MaxPreps stats go back.

And their defense went from surrendering 39 points each Friday night in 2021 to just 17 in 2022.

The Minutemen have scored no less than 34 points in each of their 10 games, and their high-water mark was 56 points in a week-two victory at Garey.

It’s not politically correct to say, but MHS would likely be 10-0 if Bishop Montgomery had agreed to play an overtime period back on September 9.

Instead, Maranatha had to settle for a 35-35 tie.

No one will pretend that MHS has played a D-1 caliber schedule in 2022, and yet the growth on and off the field has the school proud and confident.

What has made this ride so enjoyable for the coaches and players is that every MHS player that suits up in a uniform has contributed to a magical 2022 season in which the Minutemen have an average margin of victory over 42-17.

And none more so than quarterback Michael Martin, running back Miles O’Malley, and linebacker Carter Shupper.

Michael Martin transferred to Maranatha after his junior campaign at Cathedral High School.

In the sport’s most important position, Martin has been the game changer that Holdren and the program needed.

His 24 touchdown passes are most by any MHS quarterback since Andrew Elffers had 37 in 2010.

Martin’s three interceptions have been just as key in Maranatha’s success, as the MHS senior has the least number of turnovers of any program QB over that same 12-year stretch.

Through the first 10 games, Martin is 91-of-153 for 1,752 yards, and he has a 60-percent completion ratio.

He’s nearly as productive with his legs, gaining 532 yards on 44 carries, and scoring nine rushing TD’s.

“When I got to Maranatha in late January, I knew about the season that they had in 2021, and these guys were hungry to improve,” Martin said. “I worked hard with my new teammates, because I wanted to make my senior year one to remember. We had a big emphasis on the weight room and needed to get bigger and stronger. I worked so many hours with my receivers in the offseason to get our chemistry together and it has paid off.”

And while Martin is a supportive and encouraging type of teammate, he isn’t afraid to let his boys know when they’re not meeting program expectations.

“One of the biggest changes besides the hard work in the offseason is that we trust each other on the field,” he said. “Coach Rand focused on “trust” in the offseason, because if we don’t rely on each other to do our own job, we will collapse. We also play for each other, and we all want to see each other succeed. All of the coaches are a big part of why this team is so successful. They all do their part by watching film and breaking down the opponent week by week. They do a great job of making sure I go up against the defense that the opponent runs every day of the week so that on game day, everything looks normal and there isn’t a surprise. Coach Rand helps me by showing me their defensive coverage, defensive front and plays that would work well against it. We wouldn’t be where we are without these coaches.”

I asked Martin to name some of his teammates that have contributed as often as he has.

“I would like to mention Connor Patterson, Miguel Vasquez, and Mike Li. This group of guys have stayed the course 100% since I got here and put in extra work on the weekend. Whether it was the practices at Jackie Robinson Park on the weekend, or practices during the week, they always worked hard. My two receivers Connor and Miguel always showed up to workouts, even at 6:45 am before school. Mike Li is the heart of the O-line and he always showed up to get in snaps while I throw routes. These guys take criticism and listen to me when I critique them doing something. I trust them as well and they critique me on my ball placement, timing, etc. We have really evolved and grown so much together.”

I also asked each of the three in this feature to say what they respected about the other.

“I admire Carter Shupper and Miles O’Malley on the field or when I see them around campus. Carter is an all-around player, and the heart of the defense. He is a leader and makes the defensive calls. He is big, fast, and smart. Carter gives our team the momentum on defense that we need to turn the ball over so we can go down the field and score on offense. I know that he is an outstanding student in the classroom, and he always gives his all on the field in games and practice. Next, I admire Miles O’Malley because of his outstanding athleticism, joyful personality, and humor. He never fails to make me laugh,and makes practice fun and enjoyable. He is a great athlete, and he makes our offense so much more explosive. He opens up the passing game with his running ability because the defense is always accounting for him. These guys are core guys on the team, and we wouldn’t be undefeated without them.”

Martin works hard in the classroom as well, boasting a 3.5 GPA.

Lastly, Martin wanted to thank his parents, Alex and Patty for their guidance, support and unconditional love.

“My parents have supported my love for football and have provided me with so much training, so that I can gain the edge over my competitors. They have impacted my life tremendously with their unconditional love and have always been in my corner. They moved me from school to school just for my benefit so I can do what I love. I have learned that they play the biggest role in my life. My dad works extra on the weekends, and both my parents make an hour commute to work every day. They provide a roof over my head and food on my plate, and I love them.”

Carter Shupper’s story in nothing short of incredible.

The son of Maranatha’s CIF-SS championship baseball coach, Matt Shupper, took up the sport of football just two years ago.

Carter’s physique does not resemble his father, as the MHS junior stands 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds of pure muscle.

His athleticism, speed, strength, size, tangible and intangible skills give him an advantage every Friday night as he terrorizes opposing offenses.

Considering his football career has totaled just two years, it’s pretty remarkable that Shupper has led Maranatha in tackles in both of them.

In 2022, Carter has 91 tackles, 14 for loss, two sacks and a 35-yard pick-six.

Jacob Neely, who is second in tackles (53) for MHS, is 38 back of Shupper.

In his first year as a football player, Shupper had team-highs in tackles (51) and tackles-for-loss (6.5).

Shupper’s selflessness is why his teammates and coaches love him, but his skills, intellect and stats don’t hurt his cause either.

“You can really only take going 1-7 two ways, either give up or work your butt off, and our whole team definitely worked in the weight room all offseason and it really shows,” Shupper said. “Michael is also a huge pick up for us, leading us on offense and being able to make something out of nothing whenever he pleases. Being the middle linebacker naturally brings me into a leadership position on the defense, and I feel like growing up with my dad as a coach helped me learn what a leader is.”

I asked Shupper why the program has reversed course, and how has Coach Rand fostered an environment for success.

“I think the added depth of new guys playing helps get our starters off of special teams and limits the amount of two-way starters we have, along with Michael being able to open up our playbook big time with more passing,” he said. “Coach Rand has kept our whole team on our toes and hungry for more all of the offseason and
just pushed us to be better men on and off the field. Our defensive coordinator, Coach K, has helped me specifically with the mental aspect, helping me call some plays by myself, how to watch film and read the offense to the best of my ability.”

Who does Shupper want to credit as playing a big role in the reversal of fortune in 2022, and what does he respect about O’Malley and Martin?

“Along with the guys already mentioned, Jah Reeves, Dejohn Jones and Bradley Loiacano are all huge contributors to this run. All of them have come up huge on defense with big TFLs, picks, and tackles to help force punts. I admire the way Miles and Michael both lock in when it’s time to work. You can really see a difference between when they’re at practice or school and when they’re just hanging out with the guys. Outside of practice, they’re both really funny guys, but when the time comes to work, they really work.”

His parents, Beth and Matt Shupper, are Carter’s rock and the source of his morals and work ethic.

If his on-the-field prowess wasn’t impressive enough, Carter Shupper has a 4.3 GPA.

“My dad has been the head baseball coach for Maranatha for 12 years now, so just growing up around high school sports and guys who were going to college on scholarship definitely helped me know what real work ethic looks like. My dad has always pushed me to be the best I can, when he knows I have something to work on, he will work on it with me, getting me to the best I can be. My mom has always been there for me too, tending to me when I’m hurt and getting me back to 100% as soon as possible.”

Miles O’Malley is just a sophomore and he’s a young man with a huge upside.

O’Malley has led the MHS ground game in both seasons.

In the 2021 down year, O’Malley still rushed for 858 yards and had eight of the 12 MHS offensive TD’s in those eight games.

Fast forward a year, and O’Malley has gone off.

He’s carried the ball 107 times for 1,305 yards.

O’Malley has 20 TD’s as well, averaging 135 yards per game.

And he’s gained over 100 yards six times.

His 2022 rushing yards and TD’s are best since 2014, when Caleb Devine gained 1,832 yards and scored 27 TD’s.

I asked O’Malley why he thought Maranatha has flipped the script in 2022.

“Considering the team’s unfortunate season last year, I’d say there are surprisingly only a few new changes that were made to be as successful as we are now in this current season,” he said. “It’s clear to say that head coach Rand Holdren really came through this year, establishing a great work ethic and effective training tactics along with much-needed motivation for the team as a whole. Another addition to our success is our new quarterback, Michael Martin, who’s using his skills of precise decision making and phenomenally throwing abilities to enhance our effectiveness to score long distance. Last but not least, our O-line has really stepped up compared to last year, allowing us to get across the field with confidence.”

Who else does O’Malley credit for this turnaround?

“As we all know how coach Rand has rebuilt the reputation of our now astounding football team, it’s important to recognize the supporters to make all this happen, referring to the assistant coaches. Starting things off with (O-line) coach, Kevork. His vast humor and comedic energy that he brings to the practices is what a lot could say gets us through the rest of the day,” he said. “Even though he may be playful at times, you should never underestimate his passion to see us get better as a team, in reference to how stern his coaching methods can be when it’s time to lock in and get better. Next up is (RB) coach Hall. His uplifting words of encouragement and chill out look on something negative are respectively a few of his many traits that makes him such a great coach.

In being the man that he is, it’s amazing to have him as a coach, because of the amount of positivity and motivation that he gives this team, allowing us to let go of what may be holding us down and push forward. It’s most clear to see that (WR) coach Edell is the enforcer of them all when it comes to grind. He’s lived a competitive lifestyle his whole life, constantly having to work harder than others and he’s brought this experience with him to the field, pushing us beyond our limits and giving out tough love. Furthermore, he is also the one to give out crucial life advice that I on a personal level will inevitably put to use throughout my life and time to come. Last, I’d like to mention (D-line) coach Bell, who is supportive of the team on the field, but most importantly in the class seeing as to how he is an academic counselor of the school. Being effective in two aspects it’s also creditable to acknowledge his dedication to this team considering that he is the longest lasting member of the team thus showing that he is willing to give his all for our team’s benefit.

For the contributions these coaches have on the team, I’ll put light on Coach Rand Holdren another time, explaining how he Is about his work and wants each and every one of his kids to get to the next level. This hope is brought to life through him as he tries his best to get our names out there and maybe get some looks by colleges that he’s in connection with. Even though he is a head coach, he still knows how to have some fun, but stays productive forever more, adding onto the fact of why he’s such a suitable role for the label of head coach.”

What teammates have stepped up big in 2022?

“A few other guys I’d like to mention are Mikey Li, Jah Reeves, Connor Patterson, Andrew Massino and Karsten Halvorson. Some being deadly on the offensive side and the other for the defensive, they have really enhanced the strength we have to be an effective functioning team,” O’Malley said. “I admire Mikey’s mamba mentality, and how he holds everyone accountable for putting in work. Not to mention, there is also Jah, who is constantly on the grind to be the best version of himself even taking the time of day to hit the gym after a full session of practice. Furthermore, it’s good to say that Connor being hard-headed to instruction at times will never give up on what he is working for, and making him an overall important asset to the team. Next, I’d like to recognize Andrew’s mentality of speaking his mind and being self-aware, which in turn works together making him a respectable player to the team as well. Concluding, it’s admirable to see how Casten is able to be such an encouraging teammate whilst also showing his worth out on the field and working at 100-percent, whether it’s in a real game or just practice.”

O’Malley current has a 3.2 GPA.

O’Malley’s parents, Pat and Leslie, are the examples Miles uses to be successful and respectful in all phases of his life.

“Their impact on my life is most exponential, giving credit to their supportive effort of being patient with me and trying to find the best in me. I’d say that their pursuit to make me a successful young man is taken for granted at times, implying that I’m a bit of a handful. One thing that I’ve learned from them is that family will always be family even if you’re not connected through blood. Overall, it’s clear to me that you should never try to hurt the people that want to help you.”

As mentioned, there are a long list of contributors to the title run, and you can see the stat leaders lower in this story.

I asked Coach Holdren to answer the following questions regarding Martin, Shupper and O’Malley:

Said Rand Holdren:

What are each of their roles?
Michael Martin: “When Michael came in he immediately stepped up as the senior leader that we were missing. He puts in a lot of hours in the offseason and was a kid who understood what kind of work it took to be successful. It was my hope that he would help guide the others to follow suit and that is exactly what happened. I will never forget when our guys were helping out with the youth camp and on the first day they stayed after to throw routes together. Michael immediately got the receivers organized on how to efficiently work through the routes and discuss how each one of them is supposed to be run. That was a huge turning point for us in terms of quality of work. He did exactly what I was hoping he would do.
Carter Shupper: He is the leader of our defense and consistently helps his teammates. I leaned on him big time in this turn around after our season last year as he leads by example whether it be in the weight room, the classroom, or on the field. This kid could literally sit in our coaches meetings and no one would think it was weird. That is the level he is at in terms of emotion and maturity levels.
Miles O’Malley: Miles is Miles is the term we use. He does his thing as the best athlete on the field. No matter the situation, he can literally score on any play he touches the ball.

How has each improved their play from a year ago?
Martin: His understanding on how the offense works improves each week. When we started, like most high school quarterbacks, he just wanted to chuck go routes every time. He is now figuring out what to look for and ways to take what the defense gives him. We have scored all different ways this season be it long drives, 2-minute drills, one play bombs, and that is a testimant to Michael being the captain of the offense.
Shupper: This is his second year playing football and he is already a coach on the field with a constant curiosity on how the game works. In addition to playing Linebacker and fullback, he also asked if he could long snap this year. He won that job and now works on it like a college longsnapper by getting in a good 30 minutes a day with our kicker. That is not normal at the high school level, but that is who Carter is. Carter is consistently driving to improve his skills and deals with adversity by mindfully working through the issue. He is going to be a major contributor to a college football program when it is all said and done.
O’Malley: He is starting to understand the intricacies of how the run game should work. Last year, we just tossed him the ball and he ran around. Now he is running the ball more efficiently by understanding how things are blocked and why. That is the next big step for him as a player. This is only his second year playing the game and each day he spends on the field he gets better.

What do they do to set the pace for the rest of the guys to follow?
Martin: He has been around the sport for most of his life and shows the rest of the team how much work goes into being good. Michael set the tone for our off-season efforts that were the main catalyst to what is going on now. He led weekend workouts and took the lead for the offense this offseason. A lot of our kids had never even done a 7-on-7 tournament and Michael was there to lend guidance for that.
Shupper: Carter has an infectious work ethic and is consistently helping his teammates problem solve. Whether it be on the field or in life. He gets a 4.0, serves on ASB, leads in the weight room, leads on the defense and even goes out of his way to pick up a teammate each day for school. Whatever is best for the team, Carter is in on.
 O’Malley: Miles keeps practice light. It is going to be dangerous once he fully understands how good he can be.

How important have they been in changing the culture and winning?
They bought in and along with the rest of the team, they put in the work this offseason. Any adversity we had, they just worked through it without panicking. Which is why I believe we have been able to hold it together this season in games when we were behind. The other thing that has changed among the team has been the guys all wanting more. We had to learn to win. Our team is realizing that the goal is not only to win, but to fulfill your potential as a team. The beauty of sports, there is no end.

Can you tell me something about each of the three as both as a player and a young man that you appreciate?
Martin: Michael stepped into a situation that no one wanted to be a part of and led the way on this turnaround. He accepted the challenge and it has been an absolute pleasure working with this young man. I wish we had more time together.
Shupper: Can’t say enough about this kid. He has already left a huge mark on this program and I am grateful that he is going to be around another year. Without him, none of this would be happening. Whatever task he is given, I am 1000% confident that it will be completed at a high level.
O’Malley: Miles has all the talent in the world and it shows when he runs the football. Once he takes the next step, he is going to be impossible to stop. Miles has a huge heart and a will to compete that is next level.”

Up next: On Friday night, Maranatha will host their Cottonwood League competitor, Santa Rosa Academy, for the second time in three weeks.

The Minutemen handed the Rangers their lone regular season setback in 2022.

Maranatha Individual Statistical Leaders:

Offensive Stat Leaders:
QB, Michael Martin: 91-of-153 for 1,752 yards, 24 TD’s/3INT, 60-percent completions; 44 carries for 532 yards & 9 TD’s

RB, Miles O’Malley: 107 carries for 1,305 yards & 20 TD’s; 4 catches for 58 yards

Receivers:
Connor Patterson: 29 catches for 615 yards & 9 TD’s
Samuel Funches: 18-358, 4 TD’s
Jah Reeves: 17-342, 9 TD’s
Miguel Vazquez: 10-197, 1 TD

Defensive Stat Leaders:
Carter Shupper: 91 tackles, 14 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 INT
Jacob Neely 53 tackles, 2 INT
Niko Vergara: 45 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 1 INT
Paul Argueta: 43 tackles, 9.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks
Jah Reeves: 35 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 3 sacks, 2 INT
Dejohn Jones 28 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 2 sacks
Isaac Ton: 27 tackles, 1.5 for loss
AJ Campana 26 tackles, 2INT
Bradley Loiacono: 25 tackles, 4INT
Andrew Massino 24 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 2 sacks
Dexter Bryant: 22 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT

Maranatha Quarterbacks TD’s/Interceptions, 2010-2022:
2022: Michael Martin (10 games): 24 TD’s/3 INT
2021: Connor Patterson (8): 4/8
2020: Tobery Schmidt (3): 7/2
2019: Enrique Garza (4): 3/5; Kevin Serrato (6): 5/6
2018: Enrique Garza (11): 21/7
2017: Kwon Peterson (11): 21/6
2016: Kwon Peterson (10): 10/8
2015: Kwon Peterson (7): 6/3
2014: Eli Snyder (11): 17/6
2013: Eli Snyder (11): 22/9
2012: Eli Snyder (8): 10/4
2011: Andrew Elffers (11): 22/7
2010: Andrew Elffers (12): 37/10

Running Backs Yards/TD’s, 2010-2022:
2022: Miles O’Malley (10 games): 1,305 yards/20 TD’s
2021: Miles O’Malley (8): 858/8
2020: Elijah Finney (3): 171/3
2019: Zakkarii Black (11): 878/9
2018: Zack McClendon (11): 686/6
2017: Awan Parker (10): 334/5
2016: Awan Parker & Kwon Peterson (10): 120/1
2015: David Allen (12): 791/6; Daniel Torres (10): 717/9
2014: Caleb Devine (11): 1,832/27
2013: Baile McDavid (8): 738/8; Caleb Devine (5): 607/9
2012: Omar Younger (10): 833/5
2011: Omar Younger (11): 1,275/10
2010: Omar Younger (10): 534/4

Defensive Leading Tacklers & Their Tackles For Loss:
2022: Carter Shupper (10 games): 91 tackles/6.5 for-loss
2021: Carter Shupper (8): 51/6.5
2020: Not Posted
2019: Vic Hoffman (11): 78/21
2018: Vic Hoffman (11): 101/11
2017: Luis Saenz (11): 119/2
2016: Sam Ryan (10): 109/8
2015: Luke Johnson (12): 130/tackles for loss not posted
2014: Caleb Devine (11): 77/1
2013: Matthew Hall (11): 98/12
2012: Matthew Hall (8): 86/tackles for loss not posted
2011: Matthew Hall (11): 137/tackles for loss not posted
2010: No defensive stats are posted

2022 Maranatha Schedule-Results:
8/26: MHS 42, Beverly Hills 6
9/2: MHS 56, Garey 28
9/9: MHS 35, Bishop Montgomery 35
9/15: MHS 41, Western Christian 24
9/23: MHS 42, Silver Valley 12
9/30: MHS 35, Western Christian 27
10/7: MHS 55, Hamilton 8
10/14: MHS 34, Santa Rosa Academy 16
10/21: MHS 41, Vasquez 0
10/28: MHS 42, Desert Christian Academy 0
11/4: Santa Rosa Academy at Maranatha at 7

2022 Cottonwood League Standings:
Maranatha (9-0-1, 5-0)
Santa Rosa Academy (9-1, 4-1)
Whittier Christian (6-4, 3-2)
Desert Christian Academy (4-6, 2-3)
Hamilton (1-8, 1-4)
Vasquez (0-9, 0-5)

Maranatha Records:
2022: (9-0-1 overall, 5-0 in league)
2021: (1-7, 0-3)
2020: (3-0, 3-0)
2019: (7-4, 3-1)
2018: (6-5, 3-1)
2017: (6-5, 1-2)
2016: (3-6-1, 1-3)
2015: (7-5, 3-1)
2014: (11-1, 4-0)
2013: (8-3, 4-0)
2012: (3-7, 2-2)
2011: (8-3, 3-2)
2010: (8-4, 2-2)

PPG/PPGA:
2022: 42 Points Per Game/17 PPG Allowed:
2021: 14/39
2020: 36/20
2019: 24/20
2018: 26/19
2017: 24/29
2016: 16/32
2015: 23/19
2014: 41/19
2013: 31/23
2012: 20/27
2011: 31/17
2010: 40/28

MaxPreps State Rankings:
2022: 660
2021: 986
2020: 429
2019: 673
2018: 697
2017: 561
2016: 637
2015: 511
2014: 323
2013: 625
2012: 726
2011: 412
2010: 429