Sage Hill defeated by SVC

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT COAST - After a competitive first half, Sage Hill School’s

young football team ran out of ways to stop visiting Saddleback Valley

Christian in a 26-0 loss Friday.

“For a half, we played well,” Sage Hill Coach Tom Monarch said. “For

us to hold a team (SVC) that has played varsity football (and has

seniors) to a 0-0 tie at halftime is phenomenal. For an inexperienced,

small, slow team like ours, you have to put four good quarters together.

But it was our third game playing a really tough first half.”

Sage Hill (0-6) was also playing without four key starters because of

injuries: Tim Wilkins (Corona del Mar), Edward Huang (Newport Coast),

Jason Kim (Newport Beach) and Alex Myla (Newport Coast).

For Sage Hill, Ryan Cohen blocked an extra-point attempt, while

Grayson Ross (Newport Beach) and Zachary Friedrichs made big stops on

defense.

Sage Hill quarterback Kevin Joyce (Newport Coast) completed half of

his 10 passes for 28 yards. Friedrichs caught four passes and Alexander

Cochran (CdM) hauled in one for 18 yards, the biggest offensive play of

the game for Sage Hill.

The Warriors (1-5) were led by running backs Ferrari Afali, who rushed

for 131 yards on 23 carries, and Cole Hoovestal (122-14 and three touchdowns).