Sage speaks loudly

The Lightning, facing their biggest test of the season so far, score a big victory and move closer to an Academy League title.NEWPORT COAST -- Untested, unchallenged and unproven. Those were the knocks on the Sage Hill School football team.

But on Friday night, the Lightning answered some pertinent questions.

Senior tailback Keya Manshadi rushed for two touchdowns and senior wideout Zach Milder caught a 45-yard score late in the fourth quarter to help the Lightning post a 27-16 victory over visiting Brethren Christian in an Academy League opener.

It was the first time Sage Hill (7-0, 1-0 in league) had defeated Brethren Christian (5-3, 0-1), and the victory all but locked up a playoff berth for the Lightning.

“Brethren Christian, year in and year out, is a very difficult team to beat,” Sage Coach Tom Monarch said. “They’ve pounded us for years. They’ve pounded the majority of the league for years. I always said if we get to a level to compete with Brethren, then we’re no longer the stepping stone for other teams.”

The Lightning, ranked No. 8 in CIF Southern Section Division XIII, made their move toward winning the first league title in the young program’s history.

But looming ahead is St. Margaret’s, ranked No. 1 in CIF Division XIII.

So, with the victory Friday -- also fueled by junior fullback Don Ayres’ 112 yards on the ground and one touchdown -- the Lightning players basked in the glory of defeating their league foe.

“This is probably the best win we’ve had in the past four years,” Manshadi said. “Coming into this, we knew we had to seek revenge.”

In the prior meetings among the two opponents, Brethren Christian had come out on top handily. But on Friday, the Lightning had the last strike.

Manshadi scored on a 49-yard run in the first quarter and Milder caught a 45-yard pass from quarterback Jamie McGee with 4:32 remaining in the game to all but ice the situation.

Milder also hauled in a clutch 17-yard catch at the beginning of the fourth quarter that appeared to be intercepted. The Lightning receiver wrestled the ball away from the cornerback on his way down to secure the catch.

“He’s been awesome,” McGee said about Milder, who finished with four catches for 83 yards and the touchdown. “He’s a new to the team this year and he’s been a great addition.”

McGee finished the night completing 7 of 13 passes for 113 yards and the score.

“This game was critical,” McGee said. “The last few years, we’ve lost to Brethren Christian by a pretty wide margin, so we were all pumped up to play this game.”

The McGee-to-Milder connection late in the game proved to be pivotal for the Lightning.

Just after Sage Hill had forced Brethren Christian to punt with 5:18 remaining and leading, 20-16, it appeared as if the Lightning would try to run the clock down.

But after Ayres plunged ahead for three yards, McGee took the next snap, faked a handoff, dropped back, lost his footing momentarily, but recovered and let the ball fly. Milder, streaking down the left sideline, pulled away from the corner, caught the ball and reached the end zone.

With the Warriors loading up in the middle on defense, the play-action call proved to be clutch.

“We were pounding them and pounding them,” Monarch said. “But then they put eight guys in the box. As soon as we saw the safety start creeping up, we threw the deep post.”

With the victory, Sage Hill has to win one of its two remaining contests to clinch one of the league’s top two guaranteed playoff spots.

Sage Hill visits St. Margaret’s (7-0, 1-0) on Friday, which likely will be a hefty challenge, but the Lightning’s last game -- Nov. 11 against Capistrano Valley Christian -- should be a little less strenuous.

“St. Margaret’s is the No. 1-ranked team. That’s why I told the kids to cherish this win but you have to put things in perspective,” Monarch said. “We’ve got a tougher team next week, and we’re a substantial underdog...”