Sage Hill gets back on track with resounding win

One week after loss to St. Margaret’s, the Lightning seal playoff bid with a rout in regular season finale.NEWPORT COAST -- The Sage Hill School football team returned to its winning ways in convincing fashion in an Academy League finale Friday night against Capistrano Valley Christian.

With the 56-6 victory over the Eagles, the Lightning assured themselves of a return trip to the CIF Southern Section Division XIII playoffs in the program’s fourth varsity year.

The Lightning (8-1, 2-1 in league) did their best to erase the memory of the previous week’s 56-8 setback to St. Margaret’s with a spirited and opportunistic performance.

Sage Hill forced five turnovers, which led to 36 points -- 30 coming in the first half -- as the hosts built a 36-6 lead by intermission.

“The theme this week was redemption,” Sage Hill Coach Tom Monarch said. “We wanted to get back to fundamentals: tackling, blocking, executing. I’m proud of our team to bounce back. The best thing is their attitudes. They came out like a ball of fire instead of weeping after a bad loss.”

The Lightning entered Friday’s contest tied with Brethren Christian in the standings, with St. Margaret’s holding first place at 2-0. The Lightning knew that with a win, they would secure at least a second-place finish in league and a guaranteed playoff berth.

It didn’t take long for Sage Hill to take a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Linebacker Max Torres recovered a fumbled snap on the first play from scrimmage on the Eagles’ 18-yard line. On the next play, Keya Manshadi burst off left tackle, dodged two defenders and found the end zone 26 seconds into the game. Manshadi ran for the two-point conversion.

The Eagles (0-9, 0-3) answered with a nine-play scoring drive on their next offensive series, capped by a 4-yard touchdown run from Mike Christensen.

But Sage’s defense stiffened from there, while the offense exploded. Don Ayres recovered a fumbled punt snap for a touchdown on CVC’s next possession -- linebacker Nick Sohl forced the mishap. Manshadi’s interception on the Eagles’ next offensive series led to Ayres’ 20-yard touchdown run and Sage Hill led, 22-6 with 3 minutes, 35 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Ayres finished with 164 rushing yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns, keying a Lightning ground attack that netted 250 yards. Manshadi powered his way for 72 yards on nine carries and found the end zone twice.

Quarterback Jamie McGee found his rhythm in the second half, throwing for two of his three touchdowns and 113 of his 145 passing yards in the final two quarters.

Milder and McGee electrified the crowd in the third quarter on the first play from scrimmage following an interception by Braden Ross. McGee hit Milder on a crossing pattern and Milder outran the defender, crossing the goal line and helping increase the lead to 47-6.

The Lightning, primarily Sohl, blitzed frequently, wreaking havoc in the Eagles’ backfield.

“We found a weakness in the center [of CVC’s line],” Sohl said. “It felt good [to win] because we didn’t play to our potential against St. Margaret’s.”

The Lightning’s stingy defense limited the Eagles to 40 rushing yards on 37 carries.

SAGE HILL 56, CAPO VALLEY CHRISTIAN 6

SCORE BY QUARTERS