Lightning Football News...

The Joshua Springs Lightning (12-0, 4-0) took on their arch rival of recent years, the Riverside Christian Cougars (9-3, 5-0), in the semi-finals of the CIF 8-man Div I football playoffs on Friday Night at Lightning Stadium. A crowd of about 1000 fans braved the cold weather to watch the Lightning defense play their best game of the year.

The Cougars came into the game with one of the most potent offenses in 8-Man Div I football. The Cougars star RB Derek Burks through his first 10 games had 186 carries for 1812 yds and averaging 21 points per game. The Lightning defense shut Burks down to 15 yds on 15 carries, -3 yds in the 2nd half. The Cougars only managed 106 total yds on the night while the Lightning rolled up 17 First Downs, 359 Total yds, 272 on the ground and 87 in the air on their way to a 42-13 defeat of the Cougars. The Cougars still lead the series 3-2 in the five times the Lightning have played the Cougars.

The Lightning struck first with 7:16 to go in the first quarter when Senior Tony Garrido got loose on a sweep and made the score 6-0, the conversion failed and it stayed 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The 2nd quarter was an exciting one starting out with Senior CB Tim Krapivin getting an Interception and running it all the way to pay dirt for a 25 yd TD making the score 12-0, Lightning. The extra point failed. The Lightning defense held and the offense got the ball back. Sophomore QB Jesse Frazer then hit Junior TE Tommy Higgins on a 15 yd TD pass making the score 19-0, the PAT was good by Junior Kicker Blake Martz.

The Cougars put a good drive together and with 5:14 remaining in the first half scored a 31- yd field goal making the score 19-3. The Lightning took over and were driving when Garrido took a hard hit and fumbled the ball giving the Cougars some new life. Riverside took advantage and scored on a 4 yd dive making the score 19-10 after the PAT. On the next possession the Lightning were driving again and when Frazer threw a pass to Higgins which got picked off by a Cougar defender and the Cougars put together a good drive. The Lightning defense held and the Cougars only got a field goal making the score 19-13 and that is how the first half ended.

The Lightning defense came out strong in the 2nd half and shut down the Cougar offense holding them to 10 total yards in the 2nd half, 0 rushing and 10 yds passing. The Lightning offense was unstoppable in the 2nd half. Sophomore Eddie Nixon got loose on a 68 yd reception from Frazer and took it all the way to the zone making it 27-13 after the 2pt conversion. At the 4:37 mark of the 3rd quarter, Nixon took a dive off tackle and scored on an 8-yd run making the score 35-13 after the conversion was good. The Lightning would score one more time when Frazer passed to Garrido in the fourth quarter for a 4 yd TD catch making the score 42-13 and that is how the game ended.

Tops in offense were Frazer who was 3 of 7 for 87 Yds and 3 TDs in the air while also picking up 15 Yds on 9 carries , Garrido carried 21 times for 92 Yds and a TD catch of 4yds, Nixon led the team with 165 Yds rushing on 23 carries for 2 TDs and 2 2-pt conversions as well as a 68 yd TD catch, Higgins had just one catch for 15 Yds, but it was for a TD.

The Defensive leaders were Nixon who had 11 tackles, two for a loss and caused a fumble, Senior DE JC Roberts had 8 tackles, 2 sacks for minus 10 yds and 2 QB knockdowns, Senior DE Kyle McClay had 9 tackles, 1 sack fpor minus 3 yds and a QB knockdown, senior Tim Krapivkin had 4 tackles, an Interception return for 22 yds and a TD and 2 pass defenses, Junior Aaron Newman had 10 tackles, one for a loss, Garrido had 7 tackles, a sack for minus 3 yds and a pass defense, Sophomore Vince Ellis had 2 tackles, 1 sack for minus 3 yds and QB knockdown, Senior Joe Virga had 4 tackles and a pass defense, Junior Tommy Higgins had 2 tackles and a pass defense that saved a TD, Sophomore Boomer Arnold had 1 tackle and a fumble recovery and Senior Ray Boetger had 2 tackles.

The Lightning will be playing the Faith Baptist Contenders for the CIF 8-man DIV I championship on Friday Dec 2, at Lightning Stadium at 7:00PM.

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