Lightning Defense Stuffs the Eagles!
(Victorville, CA) The Lightning varsity football team was on the road Saturday, October 8th, visiting the Excelsior Education Eagles at their home field at the Victor Valley Christian campus in Victorville, CA. This would be the first Agape League game of the year for the Lightning, and after a disappointing 12-12 tie against Rolling Hills Prep the week before, the Lightning was hungry to show some offense on the scoreboard. That's exactly what they did.
The Lightning struck 5 times in the first quarter leading 30-0. Senior RB Eddie "Nitro" Nixon scored first on a 20-yd rush and a 2-pt conversion, then Junior FB Cole Roberts scored on a 5-yd run and Senior QB Jesse Frazer scored the 2-pt conversion. Senior safety Derek Brogdon got a pick and ran it back 65 yds and was bumped out of bounds at the 3 yd line, Roberts scored again on a 3-yd rush, the PAT was no good. The fourth score came when Nixon returned a punt 40 yds for a TD, the PAT was again no good. The last score of the quarter came when the defense line blitzed the QB and Sophomore Steven Henderson caused a safety.
The 2nd quarter was more of the same as the Lightning added 23 more points. Nixon got loose again for a 35-yd punt return for a TD and Brogdon caught a 3-yd catch for the 2-pt conversion. Then junior TE David Manley picked up a Lightning fumble and ran it in 6 yds for a TD, Manley also caught the a pass for the 2-pt conversion. The last score of the half was a 30-yd breakaway run by Junior RB Chris Rogers and the PAT by Brogdon was good. The final score was 53-0, Lightning.
Yes, the offense was unstoppable but the most impressive sight in this reporter's eyes was the new defensive alignment that was shown tonight. The defense shut down the Eagle offense allowing only 24 total yards. The defense caused 3 sacks, 2 fumbles and 1 interception. The Eagles did get two 1st downs, both on penalties.
Top in offense were Frazer who was 3 of 3 for 19 yds and had 5 carries for 22 yds, Nixon had 10 carries for 100 yds and a TD, Senior FB Alex Carter had 2 carries for 35 yds, Roberts had 3 carries for 21 yds and 2 TD's and Brogdon had 2 catches for 16 yds.
Top in defense were Carter who had 8 tackles, Nixon who had 7 tackles, Senior Jeff Brady who had 6 tackles and a fumble recovery, Frazer who had 5 tackles and a sack, Junior Boomer Arnold who had 2 tackles and 2 sacks, Brogdon who only had 1 tackle but an interception, Henderson and Roberts both had 4 tackles.
