Sage hopes to stuff Minutemen run game

If Sage Hill School football Coach Tom Monarch had his choice he would face a tough team early on in the playoffs.

The CIF Southern Section obliged by giving the Lightning the No. 2-ranked team in the Northeast Division in Maranatha for the opening round of the playoffs. The proposition is made more difficult because Sage Hill will travel to San Marino High to play the game today at 7:30 p.m.

While the Minutemen bring a high ranking to the playoffs, they are not one of the top four seeds, drawing the second slot out of the Alpha League despite sharing the championship, for the first time in 20 years, with Brentwood and Whittier Christian.

“I don’t hope for a weak opponent in the first round to make it later in the playoffs,” said Monarch, whose Lightning have made the playoffs three consecutive seasons. “If you beat a couple of weaker teams and advance it’s really a farce. Why be a paper tiger for a round or two. I’d rather play well and lose to a good team, rather than beating a team we should beat.”

Maranatha brings a strong offense which centers around junior running back Mark Love, who has rushed for 1,345 yards.

“On paper they should beat us by three touchdowns,” Monarch said. “But this team has baffled me all year. As soon as I thought St. Margaret’s would blow us out, 50-0, we regroup and play them head to head for a half.”

It will be up to defensive ends junior Cody Gates and senior Dan Kernan to keep the Maranatha rushing attack from extending too far outside. Linebackers Don Ayres, Joey Puishys and Max Torres will be in charge of ending the threat once it’s contained.

“That’s really it,” said Monarch, who added that he will blitz a little more to force mistakes. “If those five guys play well we have a good chance.”

Throughout the year, the Lightning has played their best in the second half, but Monarch said it will take a high level of play over both halves to beat the Minutemen.

“If we play fundamental football for four quarters we can beat anybody,” Monarch said.

On offense for the Lightning, Monarch said his team will need balance between passing and rushing. Senior receiver Braden Ross, who caught eight passes for 118 yards against St. Margaret’s, will have his share of passes thrown his way today, especially on short routes because of Maranatha’s quick defense, Monarch said.

“They’re the best defense we’ve played all year,” Monarch said.

Monarch said his team will need to score 35 points, with Ross catching at least eight passes and Torres and Ayres rushing for combined 100 yards.

“They’re going to come at us strong,” Monarch said. “If they get an early lead they can blow you out. If we can get momentum and keep momentum we can make it a dogfight.”