Football:
Maranatha has quietly put together a solid 2025 season.
The Minutemen are 5-3 overall and 2-1 in Mesquite League play.
Their three losses came at the hands of Rio Hondo Prep, La Canada and Whittier Christian.
The Kares, Spartans and Lancers are a combined 23-1, and RHP joins Mater Dei as the only reigning two-time CIF-SS champions in the southern section.
What has to make Rand Holdren and his staff proud is that after each setback, the Minutemen have answered with wins.
And that includes Friday’s 37-14 Mesquite League victory over their visitors from Arrowhead Christian.
That score isn’t the least bit indicative of the mismatch it truly was.
MHS led by three scores a few minutes in, and they ran the ball the rest of the way.
The JV squad played throughout the second half.
Cooper Berry was perfect behind center.
The Maranatha junior completed all 10 of his past attempts for 148 yards.
That included a TD strike to Nico Vergara, who broke the single season record for receptions.
And he’s on the cusp of setting new single-season marks for receiving yards and TDs.
Vergara finished Friday’s blowout with seven catches for 84 yards.
His 62 catches are now two better than Xavier Boone, which was set 12 years ago.
Vergara’s 905 receiving yards is 114 back of Terell Cornell (1,019 in 2008), and he needs two TD receptions to match Josh Jones (12 in 2010) and Connor Patterson (2022) in the school record books.
Morgan Freeman only gained 15 total yards on seven carries, but two went for TDs.
George Pamilton led MHS with 39 rushing yards on three carries.
Kevin Brooks caught three passes for 50 yards.
Luke Hanrahan had one reception for 24 yards.
Tommy MacFarlane led the MHS defense with eight tackles, including a 12-yard sack, and Gianni Ibarra had five.
Sammy Byrnes and Kade Bentkowski-Holdren totaled three tackles and one sack apiece.
Juan Mayorga tallied one tackle and picked a pass in the win.
Up next: The Minutemen travel to Big Bear on Friday evening at 7.
The Bears (1-2 in league) have fallen to Western Christian and Linfield Christian by a combined margin of 78-15 over the past two weeks.
Quotable:
Maranatha coach, Rand Holdren: “This team and this staff continue to work at a steady pace. Win or lose, everyone has stayed present and on the grind. We continue to build in preparation for the playoffs. I’m super proud of this group and this team.”
Box Score:
AC: 0-0-7-7-(14)
M: 14-23-0-0-(37)
Mesquite League Scores:
Western Christian 55, Whittier Christian 20
Linfield Christian 38, Big Bear 0
Maranatha 37, Arrowhead Christian 14
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Mesquite League Standings:
Western Christian (8-0, 3-0)
Maranatha (5-3, 2-1)
Linfield Christian (3-5, 2-1)
Big Bear (4-4, 1-2)
Whittier Christian (2-6, 1-2)
Arrowhead Christian (1-7, 0-3)
This Week’s Schedule:
Maranatha at Big Bear
Linfield Christian at Whittier Christian
Arrowhead Christian at Western Christian
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