Sage Hill bitten by turnover bug
Bryce Alderton
By the time Sage Hill High’s defense showed a six-man front early
in the second half to try stopping Saddleback Valley Christian
tailback Brian Harbin the deficit was too much to overcome in
nonleague football Friday afternoon.
The turnover bug had already bitten the Lightning four times on
two fumbles and two interceptions, one returned for a 30-yard
touchdown on the game’s second play, and Sage Hill dropped their its
consecutive game at Sage Hill High, 39-6, to the Warriors.
“That’s the closest 39-6 game I’ve ever coached,” said Lightning
Coach Tom Monarch. “Not punching it in killed us and they scored
three touchdowns off turnovers . Plays like that really separate
teams score-wise.”
With Saddleback Valley Christian up 12-0 with eight minutes
remaining in the first half, the Lightning went on a 75-yard drive in
11 plays to get it to the 1-yard line, but the Warriors forced a
first-down fumble and the Warriors recovered.
On the next play, Warriors’ quarterback Coleman Fait threw to a
streaking Hutton Fitch along the eastern sideline for a 35-yard gain,
setting up a drive that would last four plays, culminating on a
36-yard touchdown scamper for Harbin, his third of five TD’s on the
game. The Warriors went into halftime with a 25-0 bulge. Harbin
gained 233 yards on 20 carries.
“Not punching it in killed us,” Monarch said. “But the defense
really buckled down in the second half and they couldn’t stop us
offensively. I thought our line did well and we moved the ball
extremely well. (SVC) made the big plays and we need four quarters of
big plays instead of just two.”
SVC outscored Sage Hill 14-6 in the second half, as Sage Hill
junior running back Ray Lim tallied 57 of his team-high 93 rushing
yards, ending his day on the ground with a 12-yard TD run on the 12th
play of a 71-yard drive that saw quarterback Zach Friedrichs complete
two passes to Eddie Huong for 19 yards and connecting with senior
wide receiver Erik Williams for gains of 10 and 15 yards. Williams
led the Lightning in receiving with 81 yards.
Ultimately, it was the turnovers that doomed Sage Hill from the
outset. They committed four while SVC lost two fumbles, one recovered
by Williams on the first play from scrimmage as the Warriors were on
the Lightning 1 after freshman Lee Davidson blocked a punt at Sage
Hill’s 24.
On the game’s second play, Davidson stepped into the passing lane
to snare a Friedrichs’ pass and run 30 yards for a TD.
Friedrichs, Williams and senior linebacker Scott Cho were all
nursing injuries, but all started.
Monarch likes where his team is despite Friday’s loss.
“I’d be ecstatic if you would have told me four weeks ago that we
would be 2-2,” he said. I think we’re in good shape next week against
Fairmont.”
The Lightning travels to play host Fairmont Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.