Football:
Right about now, the Santa Rosa Academy football program can’t be too fond of Maranatha.
In a span of three weeks, the Minutemen defeated the Rangers to win the Cottonwood League championship, and on Friday night, MHS ended SRA’s season with a 41-22 victory in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 13 playoffs.
Owen Meleka’s 36-yard field goal gave MHS a 3-0 lead.
After the Rangers scored and led 6-3, Miles O’Malley rumbled in from 1 yard out and the Minutemen retook the lead, 10-6.
Bradley Loiciano’s first of two interceptions set up a 30-yard Meleka field goal.
Michael Martin would connect with Connor Patterson on a 60-yard TD pass and MHS had a cushion of 20-6.
Martin and Patterson would hook up again, this time, it was a 60-yard TD connection.
Martin used his legs, and his 10-yard rushing TD gave Maranatha a 34-14 advantage.
After Loiciano’s second pick of the night, O’Malley sprinted in from 49 yards out to cap the MHS scoring.
Quote:
Maranatha coach, Rand Holdren: “This is a program win. Proud of the team for the first playoff victory at Maranatha for quite some time. Happy we get to go one more time next week.”
Up next: Maranatha will host Jurupa Valley on Friday night.
The Jaguars (6-5) thumped Azusa (9-2) by a score of 47-21.
Records: Santa Rosa Academy (9-2); Maranatha (10-0-1)