Lightning shooting for victory No. 2

Explosive offenses will converge when Saddleback Valley Christian

High visits Sage Hill at 7 p.m. Friday night.

Both teams enter the contest having defeated their previous

opponents by a combined, 74-15. Sage battered Fairmont Prep, 41-8,

Friday while SVC pummeled Capistrano Valley Christian, 33-7.

History, however, is on the visitors’ side, as the Lightning are

shooting for their first victory against the Warriors.

“They’re a good, well-coached team,” Sage Coach Tom Monarch said.

“We’ve played them three times and never beat them. They’ve had some

good years over there.”

But Saddleback Valley Christian this year, according to Monarch,

isn’t as strong as in years past. The Warriors lost quite a few

linemen to graduation, Monarch said.

And that’s where Sage’s advantage lies.

The strength of the Lightning squad this year is the beefed up

offensive line, which paved the way for backs Keya Manshadi, a

senior, and junior Don Ayres to rush for a combined 240 yards and

four touchdowns against Fairmont Prep.

All seniors, the starting squad of Kyle Ramer, Brandon David,

Bryan Kornswiet, Nick Sohl and Michael Morgan also provided sophomore

quarterback Jamie McGee the needed time to complete 5 of 8 passes for

75 yards and two touchdowns Friday.

The offensive line translated to the defensive front, as Sage held

Fairmont scoreless until 2:02 remaining in the game. Saddleback

Valley Christian could play out similarly, Monarch said.

“I don’t think [SVC] had the oxes Fairmont had,” said Monarch,

referring to Huskies’ running backs Spencer Williams and Rich

Johnson. “But [SVC] has a little more balance and I think they play a

more disciplined defense.”

Ayres and Manshadi, both first-team All-Academy League selections

in 2004, are expected to carry the load again Friday, Monarch said.

But Monarch also didn’t want to get ahead of himself, saying that

it’s hard to gauge the strength of an opponent this early in the

season.

“We might be a little more physical, but they’ll be tough,” he

said. “I anticipate a good game. I think they’ll scout us well and we

have scouted them well.”