Lightning looking for playoff boost

sage fb prev vs. polySage Hill aiming to win first postseason game in history of young program.Sage Hill School football Coach Tom Monarch has his own theory on playoff draws.

“With high school football playoffs, it really doesn’t matter who, what, when or why,” Monarch said. “To be the champions, you’ve got to go through all the other teams anyway. For those who pray for a weaker opponent in the first round, [it] doesn’t make sense because sooner or later you’re going to run into [the tough opponent].”

With what Monarch describes as Sage Hill’s best team in the young program’s history, the Lightning (8-1) opens their postseason campaign against visiting Pasadena Poly (5-4) at 7:30 tonight in a CIF Southern Section Division XIII first-round matchup.

Comparing team records, it would appear Sage Hill has the stronger team on the surface. But after diving into the Panthers’ schedule, the picture becomes a little murkier.

Poly’s four losses have come at the hands of foes arguably stronger than the majority of the opponents the Lightning has faced.

“If they weren’t in [the Prep League], they would be undefeated in local leagues around here, easily,” Monarch said. “But we’re going to come in with a lot of confidence.”

Sage Hill enters with boosted confidence after its 56-6 Academy League victory over Capistrano Valley Christian on Friday. The lopsided victory came at a key time, after the Lightning was upended in a 56-8 loss to St. Margaret’s (10-0) the week prior, giving the team its first taste of defeat.

St. Margaret’s is at the top of the draw and could face Sage Hill -- if both teams make it that far -- in the final.

But while St. Margaret’s is the top-seeded team and has the definite potential to reach the final, the Lightning faces a hefty challenge in the early rounds.

Should Sage Hill win, either California School for the Deaf of Riverside (10-0) or Campbell Hall (7-3) will be waiting.

“We have to face the cream of the crop,” Monarch said. “All of our games are going to be tough, but this is what high school football is all about.”

Senior tailback Keya Manshadi enters the postseason with a team-high 21 touchdowns, including a seven-touchdown performance against Silver Valley of Yermo on Oct. 14.

Junior fullback Don Ayres has 13 touchdowns this season, while sophomore quarterback Jamie McGee has thrown for 17 scores and run for two more.

The league runner-up, the Lightning look to earn their first playoff win. Sage Hill lost to Linfield Christian, 32-8, in last year’s first round.

SAGE HILL STARTERS