Another hurdle awaits Sage Hill

Rick Devereux

The Sage Hill School football team has already surpassed multiple

records this year.

Most rushing yards in a game by the team? Against Silver Valley,

the Lightning rushed for 330 yards.

Most individual rushing yards in a game? Don Ayres gained 179

yards in the season opener against Midway Baptist and Keya Manshadi

matched that total against Viewpoint.

Most points scored? Sage Hill downed Silver Valley, 62-19, to

surpass the previous high of 42, which the Lightning scored against

Midway Baptist in both 2002 and this season.

But the most important record to fall, so far, has been in the win

column. Sage Hill (6-1) has bettered its combined win total (four) of

the program since football gained varsity status two years ago.

But two more statistics still need to fall in order for the

Lightning to take the proverbial “next step.” Sage Hill has not

beaten an Academy League opponent and has yet to qualify for the CIF

Southern Section Division XIII playoffs.

Both records could fall Saturday as Sage Hill battles Brethren

Christian (6-1) in the league opener at Clark Field in Long Beach at

7 p.m. But a win will not be easy.

First off, the Warriors, ranked No. 7 in Division XIII, have one

of the best players in the Academy League if not Orange County.

Jeremy Knepper is one of the top receivers in the entire Southern

Section, gaining close to 800 yards thus far. Knepper also lines up

at running back, where he has amassed more than 500 rushing yards

this year.

“Knepper is the best player in the league, without a doubt,” Coach

Tom Monarch said. “They will try to get the ball in his hands as

often as possible. He will line up in the backfield 15 to 18 times a game. They throw to him probably about another 15 to 18 times.”

The task of beating the Warriors is made more difficult by a

lingering calf-muscle strain to starting running back and cornerback

Manshadi, who leads the team with 12 rushing touchdowns and two

interception returns for touchdowns.

Manshadi did not play against Sherman Indian Friday and Monarch

said he will evaluate the junior’s condition as the week progresses.

“He said [Tuesday] that his leg felt better than it did [Monday],”

Monarch said. “I want to hold him out until he is at least 95% or

better. There is no need to risk re-injury or ruin the rest of his

career for this game.”

Monarch might have shown his strategy for winning without Manshadi

in the Sherman Indian game, when the Lightning held onto the ball for

nearly 72% of the contest, with Ayres carrying most of the load.

“Our goal is to take six minutes and then punch it in [for a

touchdown],” Monarch said. “If we have four drives like that, it

gives us 28 points and takes up half the game.”