The Santa Fe Christian Eagles beat the Orange Glen Patriots last night at Orange Glen by a score of 50‑14. The Eagles remain undefeated and are now 9-0 on the season and 5-0 in the Coastal League. Last season the Patriots and Eagles played in the highest scoring game in San Diego Section history – 135 points- with the Eagles walking away with the win by a score of 81-54. In the last two games against Orange Glen, SFC has scored 131 points for an average of over 65 points per game.
Prior to last night’s game the Eagles and Patriots were both undefeated in Coastal League play. With the win, SFC is in control of the race for the Coastal League title. SFC will win the Coastal League title with a victory next Friday against Tri City Christian.
Kudos to the SFC defense and the defensive game plan against a pass-happy Patriot team. Orange Glen’s passing attack is ranked 7th in San Diego county and 2nd in CIF Division III, but the SFC defense shut down the high-flying Patriots. Led by two freshmen, the defense registered a season high 7 quarterback sacks. Freshman Nate Clifford recorded 3 sacks with his forearm and hand fully wrapped. One person questioned after the game “who is that one armed freshman getting all those sacks?” Way to go Nate. Jackson Noonan, also a freshman, recorded a sack as did Dante Rotchford, Joey Olmore and Luke Heggie. Nothing shuts down a passing attack like a dominant pass rush and sacking the quarterback.
The SFC defense also recorded a season high 4 interceptions, with Zack Marshall picking off two passes (including a pick 6) and Brendon DeBont and Kevin Olah each intercepting a pass. DeBont’s interception occurred in the end zone as the Patriots were about to score. On the season, the Eagles’ defense has recorded 11 interceptions with Marshall, DeBont and Olay each having 3 picks. Noonan and Heggie also caused two fumbles. On Zack Marshall’s pick-6, Clifford delivered the pancake block of the game putting a Patriot defender on his back at the goal line. It was a thing of beauty.
Leading the Eagles in tackles were Clifford (5) and Heggie (4), while Luca Torti put some punishing hits on Patriot runners and receivers. Overall a tremendous defensive performance by Santa Fe Christian.
On the offensive side of the ball, the offensive line protected the quarterback and opened holes for the SFC runners. The Eagles scored on every possession in the first half, scoring all 50 points in the first two quarters. The Eagles racked up 355 yards on offense - 154 passing yards and 201 rushing yards. Thomas Greupner completed 6 out of his 7 passing attempts, including 2 touchdowns, both to Zack Marshall. Greupner’s average yards per completion was a ridiculously high 25.7 yards. Marshall caught 4 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Leading the Eagles’ runners were Dante Rotchford (57 yards) and a touchdown, Jackson Bush (48 yards) and a touchdown, and Colton Lehberg (41 yards) and 2 touchdowns. Bush also had a reception for 33 yards.
The “Talon Shoutouts” this week go to:
The Entire Defense – D-Line, Linebackers and Secondary (4 interceptions, 2 caused fumbles, and 7 sacks – awesome performance)
The Offensive Line (winning the trench, opening holes, and not allowing a sack)
Zack Marshall (2 interceptions, 3 touchdowns (including a pick 6), and 4 catches for 116 yards)
Nate Clifford (4 sacks, team leading 5 tackles, and a pancake block, all with one hand tied behind his back)
The final regular season game for SFC is against Tri City Christian on Friday (10/29). The game is scheduled for 7:30pm at Torrey Pines High School. It is a home game, and it is also Senior Night where we will honor the seniors on the team.
Let’s Go Eagles!