Lightning aim to respond

The goal for the Sage Hill School football team this week has been to look toward the future.

In the immediate future, the Lightning are preparing for today’s Academy League game against Brethren Christian, at 3 p.m. at Sage Hill.

And, in looking toward the future, the Lightning hope not to dwell on the past, Coach Pete Anderson said.

“The players are just focused on what lies ahead,” Anderson said. “The past is the past and we’ve got to look ahead.”

The immediate past is Monday night’s 84-14 loss to nemesis St. Margaret’s, the defending CIF Southern Section Northeast Division champion.

It was in that game where the Lightning (6-2, 0-1 in league) took an 8-7 lead in the first quarter, then watched the Tartans score 63 consecutive points. Still, if nothing else, it was the Academy League opener, so Sage Hill has two more games to try to right the ship and advance to the CIF playoffs.

“That’s a reason why you play the game, to see how you respond to adversity,” Anderson said. “That’s a great part about the game of football, and it applies to life, too. You can cry over spilled milk, or you can clean it up and keep going.”

If the Lightning hope to apply a sponge today against Brethren Christian (4-4, 1-0), senior quarterback Jamie McGee should again play a big role. The four-year varsity starter had two interceptions against St. Margaret’s but only has four on the season, to go along with 1,893 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes.

But today McGee might not have the protection that 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior left tackle Cody Gates can provide. Gates, who also starts at defensive tackle, has been missing school this week with a stomach ailment and Anderson said he would likely be a game-time decision.

If Gates can’t go, Sage Hill would likely move senior Joey Puishys from offensive guard to tackle and start senior Zach Rabowsky at guard against Brethren’s 4-3 defense. On defense for the Lightning, sophomore Adam Donchess could take Gates’ place.

Sage Hill, ranked No. 8 in the Northeast Division, is facing a Brethren Christian team that operates out of a double wing offense and likes to run the ball. Senior running back Jesse Sundstrom has run for 1,011 yards and eight touchdowns through the Warriors’ first eight games, while junior quarterback Brad Hess has passed for just 524 yards — less than 28% of McGee’s output.

“That’s different than what they’ve done in the past,” Anderson said. “They’ve changed their offensive philosophy a little. It’s an offense we’ve gone against in the past, it’s just a matter of whether or not you’re prepared for it.”

In last year’s 35-21 Sage Hill victory, Brethren Christian passed for 95 yards but ran for 71. The Warriors were also leading that game at halftime, 21-14, before the Lightning scored three second-half touchdowns to secure the victory.

Anderson said he expects a similarly close game this time around.

“We’re very comparable in size and talent,” he said. “It should be a pretty good matchup.”

Sage Hill is 2-3 all time against Brethren Christian, but the Lightning have won the last two meetings with the Warriors.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.