The perfect storm is brewing for Sage

With its mascot the Lightning, and two players nicknamed “Thunder”

and “Lightning,” the Sage Hill School football team has quite the

storm brewing this season.

But it’s not just superfluous nicknames and titles surrounding the

team. Sage is off to a 2-0 start, sparked by its thunderous ground

game with the two coveted runners.

It was “Lightning” that flashed brightest last week, however,

earning senior tailback Keya Manshadi Daily Pilot Player of the Week

honors.

Manshadi rushed 25 times for a career-high 204 yards and one

touchdown in the Lightning’s 32-19 nonleague victory against visiting

Saddleback Valley Christian Friday night.

More than 200 yards while splitting carries with junior fullback

Don Ayres, who rushed 21 times for 105 yards and two TDs.

“If we only had one or the other, he would probably get 35 carries

and 250 yards a game,” Sage Coach Tom Monarch said. “And he would be

leading the county in rushing right now.

“But [Manshadi] understands he would rather win a championship

than rush for 3,000 yards.”

The benefit of the two horses outweighs the drawbacks, if there

are any.

“The key is the fact that Don is getting the ball half of the

time,” Manshadi said. “It keeps the defense on its toes. They can’t

assume No. 9 (Manshadi’s jersey number) is getting the ball every

time. It makes my job easier.”

Indeed, with “Thunder” and “Lightning,” the Sage squad has

sprinted out of the blocks early this year.

Sage has defeated its first two opponents by a combined, 73-27,

while racking up a total of 579 yards on the ground and seven

touchdowns, led by the duo.

But just where exactly did the two nicknames originate from?

“A couple of weeks ago, during practice, Don and I were messing

around,” Manshadi said. “We ran off a bunch of plays in a row, both

springing for touchdowns, and coach [Monarch] came back and said,

‘Look, it’s like Thunder and Lightning.’ It kind of took off from

there.”

If Sage defeats host Midway Baptist, from San Diego County, Friday

afternoon, it will be the first time in the school’s young history

the squad has started 3-0. The first varsity team was fielded in

2002.

But this is the year the Lightning has come of age, with Manshadi,

a senior, running behind a bulked-up offensive line of seniors.

Everywhere you look, you see senior.

“It’s an easy job when you have a hole 10-yards wide to run

through,” he said.

KEYA MANSHADI

Born: Jan. 20, 1988

Hometown: Irvine

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 170 pounds

Sport: Football

Position: Tailback

Coach: Tom Monarch

Favorite food: Ribs

Favorite movie: “The Matrix”

Favorite athletic moment: Beating Capistrano Valley Christian last

year in Academy League play.

Week in review: The senior rushed for 204 yards and one touchdown

on 25 carries in the Lightning’s 32-19 nonleague victory against

visiting Saddleback Valley Christian Friday night. Also anchored a

concrete defense that held SVC to minus-15 yards in the first half.

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