Boys Athlete of the Week

Maranatha Running Back, Miles O’Malley, Named 210 Prep Sports Boys Athlete of the Week After Six Total TD’s on Friday

Sep 17 2023 09:19:56

Name : Miles O'Malley
School : Maranatha
Sport : Football
Grade : Junior (Casillas), Freshman (Throop)
Position : Quarterback

Pictured L-R: Carter Shupper, Miles O’Malley & Luke McNulty

Boys Athlete of the Week:

Maranatha went into Friday’s showdown with undefeated Western Christian knowing the Lancers would objectively be their toughest remaining regular season opponent on their schedule.

It would be an experience, win or lose, that would help prepare the Minutemen for what they hope will be another long CIF-SS playoff run in November.

And to say they made the most of it would be an understatement.

Maranatha scored the game’s first 30 points and finished with a 58-33 victory over their visitors from Upland.

The 58 points on Friday night was only five less than Western Christian’s first four (Arlington, Whittier Christian, Calvary Chapel Santa Ana and Whitter) opponents combined.

At one point, MHS led 44-7 before the Lancers scored on the last play of the first half, and on the opening drive of the third period.

But every time Western Christian attempted to mount a comeback, Miles O’Malley would surely and quickly ruin any Lancers hopes for a come-from-behind victory.

O’Malley rushed for 260 yards and totaled six TD’s.

The MHS junior had TD runs of 3, 51, 14, 45 and 57 yards.

On two separate occasions, O’Malley scored on the first play after a Western Christian touchdown.

This writer’s favorite was a 45-yard TD run right in the face of a Lancers’ defensive player that tried to rattle O’Malley with his verbal and hand gestures.

On that 45-yard score, the last player O’Malley beat to the east end zone was the same guy who tried to taunt the Maranatha star.

And the result of that brought a raucous reaction from O’Malley’s teammates and the MHS football fans that were on hand last night.

O’Malley also scored on a 19-yard TD pass from Luke McNulty, who threw for three scores in the win.

Up next: Maranatha (4-1) travels to Hamilton (0-5) on Friday to open Cottonwood League play.

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