Two-minute drill

From grunt to glam.

That’s the transition Sage Hill School seniors Brendan Killaly, Adam Donchess and Mo Kreitenberg made during the late stages of Friday’s 41-0 Academy League football victory over visiting Crean Lutheran South.

The three players, Lightning Coach J.R. Tolver said, usually do the “grunt work” that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. But during a quick stretch of the fourth quarter, Killaly, who starts at center and linebacker, Donchess, a right tackle on the offensive line as well as a defensive tackle, and Kreitenberg, the left offensive tackle and a linebacker, took turns in the spotlight at running back.

“Our offensive line has carried us all year,” Tolver said. “They are the guys who get no credit, who are the workhorses. Tonight was senior recognition night for us and we wanted to do something special for them, to show them how special they are to us. We wanted to honor them, and I think they all had a blast carrying the ball.”

Killaly got the call first. He bruised his way for 26 yards and shed a few would-be tacklers in the process on carry No. 1. He gained six more yards on his second touch.

Donchess was next and had consecutive carries, the first a one-yard gain. He bobbled a handoff on his second attempt, but made a mid-air recovery and turned it into a 13-yard gain to create first-and-goal at the seven-yard line.

Kreitenberg carried the next play and went around left end for a touchdown. He held out the ball with both hands as he crossed the goal line for the first rushing touchdown of his varsity career.

“It felt great,” Kreitenberg said after the game.

For Killaly, his turn in the backfield had special meaning.

“As much as I like playing center and linebacker, playing running back in my final home game is a huge highlight of my career,” he said.

Donchess said running a “red right 28 toss,” and a “red right 33,” was thrilling, but he’ll continue with what he knows best.

“It was really exciting to carry the ball tonight but at the end of the day, I think I’ll stick to the offensive line,” he said.

A fourth Sage player, Sam Simon, was also to figure in the running back mix toward the end of the game but the Lightning only ran seven offensive plays in a second half that featured a running clock and the senior offensive/defensive lineman – “another unsung player who does the grunt work,” Tolver said, wasn’t able to get a touch … or two.

“Sam has been the rock of this team and I wish that he got a carry, but time ran out,” Tolver said. “He’s such a team player and he works harder than anyone.”

 Senior quarterback Joel Zisholtz, who transferred during the summer from Pennsylvania, earned loud cheers from the Newport Harbor High sideline Friday, when he waltzed into the end zone on a one-yard sneak with 1:22 left to cap the Sailors’ 49-0 Sunset League win over Marina at Wesminster High.

Zisholtz hardly seemed excited, merely jogging with his head down toward the sideline, where his teammates congratulated him with enthusiasm.

 Estancia (5-4, 1-2 in the Orange Coast League) must beat Calvary Chapel (5-4, 1-2) in the league finale Friday at 7 p.m. at Estancia to earn the league’s third guaranteed berth in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs.

The Eagles fell into the situation after seeing a four-point lead in the third quarter vanish as Laguna Beach came back and won, 27-17, Friday at Estancia.

In a similar situation last season, the Eagles lost to Calvary Chapel, 12-10.

 When the season began, Corona del Mar had senior workhorses and captains J.D. Abbott and Alex Swigert, in the backfield.

But, after a 27-0 nonleague win over Magnolia on Oct. 2, Abbott has not played, due to an ankle injury.

Since then, CdM is 0-4, obviously missing the play-making abilities of Abbott.

But Swigert rushed for 303 yards and three touchdowns in the Sea Kings’ 49-42 Pacific Coast League loss to San Juan Hills Friday.

“Alex played a good game for us,” Hitchens said. “In J.D.’s absence, we’ve been looking for someone to step up and be a playmaker for us and he did that for us this evening.”

 Estancia is getting healthier at running back.

Senior Alex Abalos returned last week against Laguna Beach after injuring his ankle in the league opener against Costa Mesa on Oct. 16.

Senior Sean Davis looked good after suffering a bone bruise in his shin in the second half against Godinez on Oct. 31.

“He was a little bit rusty,” Bargas said of Abalos, who ran eight times for 10 yards.

Abalos’ best run was his first, coming on Estancia’s second possession. Abalos leads the Eagles with 1,165 yards on the ground.

Davis led Estancia with 115 yards on 16 carries Friday.

Alex Trancoso, a sophomore, started against Laguna Beach. He rushed for 37 yards on eight carries.

 It wasn’t until Marina recovered a muffed punt reception at midfield midway through the fourth quarter that the Vikings were able to penetrate Newport Harbor territory.

On the ensuing possession, against a defense comprised of reserves, Marina advanced to the Tars’ 30-yard line, before a 47-yard field-goal try missed.

 The Eagles’ tried to keep their league title hopes alive last week.

Estancia opened the second half with a 12-play, 92-yard scoring drive. Alek Kirshner scored on a five-yard run to the left, cutting Laguna Beach’s lead to 13-10 midway through the third quarter.

On the next possession, safety Matt Carlyle intercepted a Laguna Beach pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown. The Eagles took a 17-13 lead, their first advantage of the game.

But back-to-back touchdowns in the fourth quarter by the Breakers ended Estancia’s chance to go into the regular-season finale with an opportunity to share the title for the first time since 2007.

— From staff reports