Football:
How would Maranatha respond six days after a disappointing tie to Bishop Montgomery?
The Minutemen went out to Upland on Thursday night, and earned an impressive and important 41-24 road victory.
MHS fell behind Western Christian, 8-7, in the second quarter, but the Minutemen answered back immediately and never trailed again.
Not even the blaring whistle of a train rumbling by the Maranatha sideline every 15 minutes or so could derail victory No. 3 of 2022.
After a Miles O’Malley rushing TD in the first quarter, Western Christian took an 8-7 lead after a TD and two-point conversion.
As mentioned, Maranatha answered back immediately, and drove 78 yards.
MHS quarterback Michael Martin capped the drive with a TD pass to Jah Reeves.
Carter Shupper extended the lead to 20-8 after his 3-yard TD run with 54 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Maranatha defense would force a quick three-and-out, which gave them enough time to run a hook-and-ladder pass, and a 29-yard field goal by Owen Meleka.
Western Christian had the first score of the second half, and after converting on its two-point attempt, WC got to within 23-16.
Martin responded with a 15-yard TD run.
The Fighting Lancers once again put up a fight, as they edged as close as 29-24 with just under 10 minutes to play.
And Martin would answer again, this time on a 3-yard TD run.
On Western Christian’s ensuing drive, Samuel Funches picked off WC pass and returned it to the 10-yard line.
Miles O’Malley would put the game away with TD run at the 1:57 mark, which extended the MHS lead to 41-24.
To add the icing to the Maranatha cake, AJ Campana intercepted a Lancers’ pass.
Martin completed 7-of-14 for 172 yards.
He had the TD toss to Reeves and was intercepted once.
Martin rushed for 62 yards on nine carries, and that included a pair of TD runs.
O’Malley had a monster game, gaining 249 yards on 25 carries, and two rushing TD’s.
Funches had two receptions for 73 yards.
Up next: Maranatha will face off with Silver Valley next Friday at 7.
The Trojans (2-1) will make the 116-mile drive to Pasadena.
Quotable:
Maranatha coach Rand Holdren: “This was a physical football game, and I’m proud of our kids for hanging in to the end. Western Christian is a good football team and we stayed the course the entire game. Our defense stepped up big time and after sputtering on the first two drives, our offense scored on every possession from then on. I’m also proud of the focus we maintained with the train tracks 10 yards from our bench. The train blew through with horns blaring for what felt like every 15 minutes. It certainly added to the football ambience.
Our Offensive line has shown so much growth from the offseason and these kids are working together as a unit. Kartsen, Andrew, Mikey, Paul, Duke and Elijah all deserve the credit on this. I am extremely happy with the job they have done this season. They are a big reason our offense is hard to stop. This team is fun to watch. We have our regulars, but it’s a new guy every week stepping up. This week, Samuel Funches bounced back and had a huge interception to go with the bomb he caught down the sideline in the second quarter. These guys are playing together and that is when football is fun.”
Box Score:
MHS: 7-16-6-12-(41)
WC: 0-8-8-8-(24)
Records: Maranatha (3-0-1); Western Christian (3-2)
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