Big Win in Homecoming Battle Against Bishops
On a beautiful, sunny Homecoming Saturday afternoon at Santa Fe Christian the SFC Eagles won a very hard‑fought battle against the Bishop Knights by a score of 31-24. The Eagles remain undefeated and are now 6-0 on the season and 2-0 in the Coastal League.
The game started a bit rocky for the Eagles’ offense with a fumble on SFC’s 27-yard line on the first offensive play of the game. Six plays later, Bishops converted that turnover into a touchdown. It was the last time the Knights would see the end zone or score in the first half as the Eagles’ defense shutout Bishops for the balance of the first half.
The rockiness continued on the Eagle’s next two offensive possessions which ended with a 3‑and‑out and another fumble. It is said that how we face adversity reveals our character. And, after a rough start, the Eagles offense collected themselves, settled down, and found a rhythm.
With Bishops all but shutting down a normally powerful SFC running game, the Eagle’s passing attack took flight (321 yrds total). Greupner completed 7 of 10 passes for 226 yards, including a beautiful 75-yard touchdown to Zach Marshall. Zack had 193 receiving yards for the game. Someone needs to take a look back in the SFC record books for the last time an SFC player had 193 yards receiving in a game. Coach Wallace also dialed up some razzle dazzle with Luca Torti completing a 50‑yard pass to Charlie Sawyer and Kevin Olah passing to Greupner for 45-yards. Sawyer’s diving, “full superman,” catch will go down as one of the best catches of the season. Jackson Bush also hauled in a 33 pass.
Initially the running game sputtered without the team’s leading ball carrier – Cooper Whitton – who missed the game due to injury. However, in the second half the Eagles’ offensive line opened holes for Dante Rotchford (31 yards and first half touchdown), Colton Lehberg (27 yards), Luca Torti (23 yards) and Jackson Bush (17 yards and a touchdown). Kevin Olah also added a rushing touchdown.
The defense played tough the entire game. Luke Heggie led the team in tackles with 11, including a quarterback sack. Zack Marshall added 10 tackles. Rochford and Tori contributed 7 tackles, with Rochford also tallying a sack. Brendon DeBont and Bert Carnes each had 6 tackles. DeBont, in his first game back after a knee injury, also caused a fumble (recovered by Olah) and hauled in an interception late in the game which helped seal the victory for the Eagles.
On special teams, Colton Lehberg kicked a 39‑yard field goal on the last play of the first half giving the Eagles a 10-7 lead and some momentum heading into the second half.
The “Talon Shoutouts” this week go to:
Zack Marshall (6 catches for 193 yards, 1 touchdown, 10 tackles)
The Passers - Thomas Greupner (226 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 45 receiving yards), Luca Torti (50 yards), and Kevin Olah (45 yards) [and Coach Wallace for dialing up some razzle dazzle]
Charlie Sawyer (50-yard diving catch, plus 5 tackles)
Brendon DeBont (6 tackles, 1 interception, 1 caused fumble)
The next game for SFC is against Classical Academy at Del Norte High School on Friday night (10/8) at 7:30pm.