Trojans handle Sage Hill, 49-14
IRVINE — For the first time in program history, the Sage Hill School football team played a team from the Pacific Coast League on Friday night.
Not just any Pacific Coast League team, but a University squad that is off to its best start in years.
The result was predictable, as the Lightning suffered a 49-14 nonleague defeat on homecoming night at University High. It’s their fourth straight loss.
“It’s tough when you don’t have the experience, but the kids fought hard,” Sage Hill Coach Abram Booty said. “The scoreboard wasn’t indicative of our effort or our play, but Uni’s a good football team, and that’s why they’re undefeated. We look forward to playing those guys in years to come, too.”
Now Sage Hill (1-5) will try to get back to full strength on a short week, as it opens Academy League play against Crean Lutheran on Thursday at Irvine High.
The Lightning weren’t at full strength against University, which is 5-0 for the first time since 2007. Booty said his nephew, junior receiver and safety Jacob Copeland, sat out due to what he called a school issue. Senior receiver and linebacker Jake Fisher missed the game due to a small tear in his groin. Booty said he expects both to play next week.
“Both of those guys will be back, but you know, we miss them,” Booty said. “They’re a senior and junior playmaker, and we missed that [tonight].”
There were positives for Sage Hill. In their absence, senior receiver David Dewey (10 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown) and junior Miles McCord (four for 60 yards) each played well. Dewey provided the biggest highlight on offense for the visitors, with his 35-yard touchdown grab late in the third quarter from quarterback Caden Sheetz on a fourth-on-16 situation.
But turnovers, especially in the first half, hurt the Lightning. They actually held the Trojans to one first down on their first possession, then moved the ball to the University 37-yard line before the drive stalled.
University proceeded to go on a nine-play, 92-yard drive, capped by Matt Abellaneda’s four-yard touchdown run, to take the early lead. On the ensuing kickoff, disaster struck for the Lightning.
The kickoff bounced and died inside the five-yard line, and the Sage Hill kick returner made no effort to pick up the live ball. University’s Jalen Robetson did, giving the hosts first down and goal. Two plays later, Abellaneda punched it in from a yard out.
Miscues continued to hurt Sage Hill. On the Lightning’s next play from scrimmage, a receiver fumbled the ball and the Trojans’ Andre Campbell recovered at the Sage 29-yard line. Four plays later, Uni quarterback Neil Boudreau found senior tight end Michael Jung on a four-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter, and the Trojans had a 21-0 lead.
Boudreau found Jung again for a 27-yard touchdown pass later in the quarter, before Sage Hill finally got on the board on a one-yard touchdown run by DJ Henry. And late in the half, Sheetz was driving Sage Hill to possibly cut the Lightning’s halftime deficit to two touchdowns. But University junior Darrius Outland jumped the route and returned it 71 yards to the Sage Hill one-yard line. Sam Winder punched it in a play later with 50 seconds left in the half, giving the Trojans their 35-7 halftime lead.
University scored its final touchdown in the fourth quarter, after the Lightning nearly made a goal line stand. But, on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line, University senior Riley Smith found the end zone, producing the 49-14 final score as well as a running clock for the final 5:11 of the game.
The Lightning had success in the passing game at times but struggled running the ball, with 49 total rushing yards on 29 carries.
University 49, Sage Hill 14
SCORE BY QUARTERS
SH 0 – 7 – 7 – 0 — 14
Uni 14 – 21 – 7 – 7 — 49
FIRST QUARTER
Uni – Abellaneda 4 run (Loveland kick), 2:24.
Uni – Abellaneda 1 run (Loveland kick), 1:39.
SECOND QUARTER
Uni – Jung 4 pass from Boudreau (Loveland kick), 11:55.
SH – Henry 1 run (Rosoff kick), 5:59.
Uni – Jung 27 pass from Boudreau (Loveland kick), 3:17.
Uni – Winder 1 run (Loveland kick), 0:50.
THIRD QUARTER
Uni – Winder 10 run (Loveland kick), 7:35.
SH – Dewey 35 pass from Sheetz (Rosoff kick), 1:34.
FOURTH QUARTER
Uni – Smith 1 run (Loveland kick), 5:11.
INDIVIDUAL RUSHING
SH – Corona, 9-30; Henry, 12-21, 1 TD.
Uni – Winder, 11-86, 2 TDs.
INDIVIDUAL PASSING
SH – Sheetz, 17-38-1, 211, 1 TD.
Uni – Boudreau, 6-9-0, 86, 2 TDs.
INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING
SH – Dewey, 10-143, 1 TD.
Uni – Jung, 4-63, 2 TDs.
Twitter: @mjszabo
