62 Unanswered Points Too Much for the HC Eagles!
(Yucca Valley, CA) It was the first game of the playoffs for the Lightning, the Hillcrest Christian Eagles were in town to pull off the upset and about 800 fans were ready to help the Lightning start the march to the Championship. The Lightning 9-0-1 were coming off a huge victory against Victor Valley Christian claiming their 4th straight Agape League championship in four years and the Eagles were coming off a game where they lead the #1 ranked Faith Baptist in the first half only to lose in the 2nd half by 21 points. To keep Faith that close was a victory for them and gave them the confidence to be the giant killers at Lightning stadium.
The Lightning struck first when Senior RB Eddie Nixon took one in from 5 yds out and the Lightning went up 7-0 after Senior Kicker Derek Brogdon got the PAT. The Lightning played good defense but sputtered on offense losing a fumble and getting interecepted and before you know it; the eagles were up 7-20. The crowd seemed a little stunned but it was only 11:21 in the 2nd quarter and there was plenty of time left. Then all of a sudden Junior David Manley recovered a Lightning fumble for a score and this seemed to get the crowd back into the game. Senior QB Jesse Frazer ran in the 2pt conversion and it was 15-20. Less than a minute later Frazer would pick up a fumble and run it in for a score and all of a sudden it was 21-20 Lightning with 9:36 left in the 2nd quarter.
The Lightning then continued thier storm as they unleached 48 more unanswered points stopping the game at the 8:15 mark of the 4th quarter by the 45 pt mercy rule. A total of 62 unanswered points is what destroyed the momentum of the Eagles. The defense shut down the Eagles offense from the 2nd quarter on creating 11 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and 6 pass defenses. Nixon tied his own school record of 6 rushing TD's in a game.
Speaking of offense; Frazer was 2 of 4 for 48 yds, 1 TD, 1 Interception as well as 9 carries for 30 yds and a 2pt conversion, Nixon had 20 carries for 218 yds, 6 tds and 3 - 2pt conversions, Junior Cole Roberts had 7 carries for 72 yds, Senior Alex Carter had 5 carries for 26 yds, Junior Denzell Dobbins had 1 carry for 10 yds and Manley had 1 carry for 8yds. Senior Jon Krapivkin had 1 catch for 29 yds and a TD and Senior Jeff Brady had 1 catch for 19 yds.
On Defense Carter lead the team with 16 tackles, 1 for a loss, .5 sacks, and a fumble recovery, Roberts had 13 tackles, 2 for a loss, Krapivkin had 10 tackles, 1 for a loss .5 sacks, and a pass defense, Frazer had 9 tackles, 1 for a loss, 1 sack, 2 pass defenses and a recovered fumble for a TD, Brady had 9 tackles, 4 for a loss, .5 sacks, and a fumble recovery, Dobbins had 9 tackles, 2 for a loss and .5 sacks, Brogdon had 8 tackles and 2 pass defenses even though he was injured in the game and had to be taken to the hospital for x rays, it was later determined that he just had a brused neck. Nixon had 6 tackles, .5 sacks, and a pass defense. Sophomore Steven Henderson had 6 tackles, Junior Nose guard Vince Ames had 3 tackles and Manley had 2 tackles.
Next up on the road to the 8 Man Championship is a road trip to Van Nuys, CA to take on the Montclair Prep Mounties (6-4) in the 2nd round game. The game will be played at Van Nuys High School at 7:00PM. A reuter bus will be available for those fans wanting to travel to the game. The Pep Band and Drum Corps will also be along for this trip, plus there will also be a tailgate party starting at 5:00PM in the Parking lot.
