Final tune-up for Sage

The Sage Hill School football team has Academy League play on the

mind.

But there’s one more opponent before the Lightning (5-0) arrive in

the gritty part of their schedule.

Sage visits Silver Valley (0-5) of Yermo at 7 p.m. Friday in its

last nonleague contest.

“I know they’re hungry for Brethren Christian (Oct. 28),” Sage

Coach Tom Monarch said. “One of the difficult things for our coaching

staff is to not have the team overlook our next opponent.”

Silver Valley has lost to its five opponents by a combined 214-64.

Sage, on the other hand, has trounced its opponents by a combined

204-49.

Monarch said he will be looking to strengthen the team’s passing

attack a little more before heading into league play.

Sophomore quarterback Jamie McGee shined brightest last week in a

47-6 win over visiting Twin Pines, completing 16 of 25 for 236 yards

with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

It was also a breakout game for senior receiver Zach Milder, who

hauled in six catches for 133 yards and two scores.

Monarch said when league play begins, the opponents will likely

try and shut down Sage’s dominant running game. So the passing attack

has to be ready, he said.

“I’m more concerned with having a successful passing attack in

league,” Monarch said. “If we’re one-dimensional, it’s easy to play

defense. Our goal is to make defenses spread ou. We want them to

appreciate our running and passing games.”

The Lightning, ranked No. 8 in CIF Southern Section Division XIII,

will likely face their toughest opponent when they visit St.

Margaret’s Nov. 4. The Tartans, ranked No. 2 in the same division,

are also undefeated.

“When league comes, we’re going to have to pass because they’re

going to try and shut down our run,” Monarch said.

Silver Valley will provide the Lightning with one more chance at

fine-tuning the passing game.

“The passing game is about 80% there,” Monarch said. “We just need

to hit the receivers a little more in stride.”

Silver Valley is led by quarterback David Hatch and running back

Thomas Barnes.

Hatch has completed 17 of 43 for 206 yards and a touchdown, while

he has run for four touchdowns. Barnes has carried 44 times for 265

yards and three scores.

SAGE HILL STARTERS

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OFFENSE

No. Player Ht. Wt. Yr. Po.

7 Jamie McGee 6-2 175 So. QB

9 Keya Manshadi 6-0 175 Sr TB

45 Don Ayres 6-0 175 Jr. FB

10 Braden Ross 5-10 170 Jr. WR 1 Zach Milder 5-9 140 Sr. WR

61 Krishna Sani 6-2 210 Sr. TE

58 Kyle Ramer 6-2 240 Sr. LT

55 Brandon David 5-10 230 Sr. LG 54 Bryan Kornswiet 5-9 175 Sr. C

50 James Barrata 6-0 240 Sr. RG

65 Michael Morgan 6-4 230 xx. RT

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DEFENSE

No. Player Ht. Wt. Yr. Po.

65 Michael Morgan 6-4 230 Sr. DE

56 Morgan Brief 5-4 160 Sr. DT

55 Brandon David 5-10 230 Sr. DT 61 Krishna Sani 6-2 210 Sr. DE

45 Don Ayres 6-0 175 Jr. OLB

22 Nick Sohl 6-1 180 Sr. ILB

8 Max Torres 6-0 165 Sr. ILB

54 Bryan Kornswiet 5-9 175 Sr. OLB

10 Braden Ross 5-10 170 Jr. CB 9 Keya Manshadi 6-0 175 Sr. CB

1 Zach Milder 5-9 140 Sr. S

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