Football:
Considering where the Maranatha football program has recently come from, to the spot they are today, is nothing short of remarkable.
In Rand Holdren’s first season (2021), MHS was 1-7, they were undermanned, and as harsh as it might sound, the Minutemen were irrelevant in the big picture.
Maranatha finished the year with seven consecutive losses, they resided in the Olympic League basement, and were outscored 348-108.
Fast forward just one year, and Holdren, his staff, and their players have flipped the script.
MHS is 6-0-1 overall, and 2-0 in Cottonwood League games, thanks to Friday’s 55-8 beatdown of Hamilton.
In their first seven games, only one Maranatha opponent has found itself in a realistic second-half scenario to hand the Minutemen their first loss of 2022.
And that was the same program that declined to play an overtime period to decide a winner, so MHS settled for a week-three tie with Bishop Montgomery.
With three games to play in the 2022 regular season, Maranatha is currently tied for first in the Cottonwood League standings with Santa Rosa Academy.
MHS will host SRA this coming Friday, and with nothing less than the Cottonwood championship on the line.
But back to Friday’s thumping of Hamilton.
Maranatha led 41-0 at the break and played the entire second half with a running clock.
Through the first seven games, the Minutemen have outscored their opponents by a combined margin of 306-140.
Michael Martin has continued to be the program’s most reliable and best playmaker at quarterback since Kwon Peterson in 2017.
In limited action Friday (because of the blowout), Martin went 8-of-10 for 137 yards and four TD’s.
Martin also had a 33-yard rushing TD and finished the night with five scores.
Miles O’Malley led the MHS ground game with 78 yards on five carries.
Connor Patterson had four catches for 70 yards, and two TD’s.
Jah Reeves (34-yard) and Miguel Vazquez (25) also caught TD strikes from Martin.
Liam Ohannesian replaced Martin and threw an 88-yard TD pass to Dexter Bryant.
Reeves had a pick-six on the defensive side of the ball to give MHS an early 14-0 lead.
Carter Shupper continues to lead the Maranatha defense, and had a game-high 10 tackles.
Andrew Massino had seven tackles, and both Paul Argueta and Isaac Ton tallied six tackles each in Friday’s win.
Ton also contributed a 67-yard rushing TD for Maranatha.
Freshman Bradley Loiacono picked off two passes.
And Loiacono’s fellow ninth grader, Dexter Bryant, had one interception for the MHS defense.
Quotable:
Maranatha coach, Rand Holdren: “It’s always good to win on Homecoming night. We were able to get back on track this week and a lot of guys contributed tonight. Our young guys continue to step up. Freshman Bradley Loiciano had two interceptions, and freshman Dexter Bryant broke through tonight with a pick and long TD catch. Michael Martin spread the ball out quite a bit tonight. Our offense continues to work as a unit. Defensively, Carter Shupper on the front end, and Jahmel Reeves flying around on the back end, are fun to watch. Our Mr. Reliable, Jacob Neely, also played another consistent game. And Andrew Massino stepped up huge at nose, adding a TFL and a sack.”
Box Score:
Hamilton: 0-0-0-8-(8)
Maranatha: 21-20-7-7-(55)
Maranatha 2022 Schedule-Results:
8/26: Maranatha 42, Beverly Hills 6
9/2: Maranatha 56, Garey 28
9/9: Maranatha 35, Bishop Montgomery 35
9/15: Maranatha 41, Western Christian 24
9/23: Maranatha 42, Silver Valley 12
9/30: Maranatha 35, Whittier Christian 27
10/7: Maranatha 55, Hamilton 8
10/14: Santa Rosa Academy at Maranatha
10/21: Maranatha at Vasquez
10/28: Maranatha at Desert Christian Academy
Week 7 Cottonwood League Scores:
Santa Rosa Academy 30, Desert Christian Academy 12
Whittier Christian 41, Vasquez 6
Maranatha 55, Hamilton 8
Cottonwood League Standings:
Santa Rosa Academy (7-0 overall, 2-0 in league)
Maranatha (6-0-1, 2-0)
Whittier Christian (4-3, 1-1)
Desert Christian Academy (3-4, 1-1)
Hamilton (0-6, 0-2)
Vasquez (0-6, 0-2)
Week 8 Cottonwood League Schedule:
Santa Rosa Academy at Maranatha
Hamilton at Whittier Christian
Desert Christian Academy at Vasquez
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