Crean Lutheran’s Troy Roberts scores a touchdown in the first half as Rancho Cucamonga’s Chance Marshall defends Friday night. (Photos courtesy John Luciano, For OC Sports Zone).
After capturing the Bravo League championship with a perfect 5-0 record, Crean Lutheran’s football team had high hopes as it entered the CIF Division 2 playoffs at home against another league champion Rancho Cucamonga.
But Rancho Cucamonga dashed the Saints hopes for a long post-season berth, winning 33-24 at Crean Lutheran Friday night.
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone
Rancho Cucamonga took an early lead when quarterback Trey Towns Jr. connected with Semaj Smith on a 61-yard TD pass on the Cougars second play from scrimmage.
Rancho Cucamonga (8-3) never trailed after that, taking a 17-point lead in the second quarter. Crean Lutheran (8-3) cut the lead to three points in the fourth quarter.
Many Crean Lutheran players gathered in groups in prayer with coaches after the game to cope with the loss.
“I’m kind of in shock, I guess,” said Crean Lutheran Coach Rick Curtis. “But it was a good football team we played and we knew that going in, and they hit us real early on that screen pass so we were chasing points the whole game. I was proud of our kids, they played really well and they played hard.
“We made some uncharacteristic mistakes, but it was just one of those kind of games. It’s a playoff game and you got to play your best. I don’t think we played our best tonight. I don’t think we coached our best, they did a great job coaching, that’s on me. I got to do a better job. But 28 seniors, it’s tough to tell them good-bye. They had a super run, just disappointed in the outcome.
“But life goes on, right? We don’t get to celebrate a win but we have 10 guys getting baptized within the next couple of weeks, they’ve come to the Lord so that’s the really big achievement and we’re happy for that and the culture they brought. It’s {the loss} just hard to take.”
Rancho Cucamonga was led by junior running back Lamont Gooden, who scored two touchdowns and rushed for 169 yards on 20 carries.
Crean Lutheran closed the gap to 27-24 on an 8-yard TD run by Caleb Bey Jr. with 9:21 left in the game.
The Saints were able to stop the Cougars on their next possesion and following a short punt which was affected by severe winds that arrived for the second half, the Saints got the back on the Rancho Cucamonga 43-yard line.
But Crean Lutheran was unable to move the ball and was forced to punt with 6:54 remaining.
Gooden’s 46-yard TD run with 2:52 left in the game put Rancho Cucamonga ahead 33-24. The Cougars missed the point after.
Towns Jr. also had a 66-yard TD run and threw a TD pass while passing for 132 yards.
“It took all four quarters, they’re a great team, hats off to them, they kept battling back, we were lucky enough to come away with the victory at the end,” said Rancho Cucamonga Coach Alex Pierce. “Lamont had the big run at the end, it was huge. He keeps getting better every single week and our quarterback has been playing really, really well and he had the big touchdown run starting the second quarter.
“I’m just real proud of our guys, because it took all three phases and we messed up on offense, defense and special teams, but then we also made great plays on offense, defense and special teams. That’s what it takes to win the playoffs.”
University of Arizona bound quarterback Caden Jones, as he has all season, led the Saints offense with 16 completions for 175 yards and two TD passes with one interception. Jones, who leaves as a record holder in several categories, also rushed for 85 yards on 10 carries.
Bey Jr. rushed for 58 yards on 15 carries. Eric Miao had a 36-yard field goal for the Saints which cut the Rancho Cucamonga lead to 6-3 in the first quarter.
After falling behind 20-3 in the second quarter, Crean Lutheran showed some fight.
Jones connected with Troy Roberts on a 26-yard TD pass with 3:24 left in the second quarter to cut the lead to lead to 20-10 at halftime, giving Saints fans some hope.
Then in the second half, Jones hooked up with Ty Johnson on a 39-yard TD pass with 8:55 left in the third quarter to make it 20-17.
However, Rancho Cucamonga countered on its next drive, moving ahead 27-17 on 17-yard TD run by Jerome Smith and although the Saints rallied, they were unable to complete the comeback.
“Obviously a tough loss,” Jones said. “We’re grateful for this team, this place, the school, our seniors, we’re playing for a bigger purpose. We had 11 guys I think getting baptized next week. We’re a Christian school, that’s what it’s all about.
“Offensively, they played well, our defense picked it up in the second half, they did their job, that’s all there is to it.”
Jones said the message from the coaches was clear in the post-game talk.
“One game doesn’t define us,” he said. “It doesn’t define our season and the team we have, we just have to be grateful for the season we had and what we’ve built over this season.”
“Caden always plays well, he’s a great leader and he does his best and I thought he had a good game and Caleb ran really hard,” Curtis said. “His ankle was bothering him and he kept going back in and got that last touchdown for us.”
Rancho Cucamonga was able top advance despite being flagged for eight penalties. Crean Lutheran was penalized less, but a couple were costly allowing the Cougars to maintain possession.
“They did a great job mixing it up, he hurt us on several runs, that’s what we needed to stop, they hit us on several explosive plays which sort of broke our backs,” Curtis said. “We got it down to 27-24 and we were rolling, battled back, we just didn’t finish.
“Close ball game, you got to make the plays when you’re down by three and we just didn’t do that. We had key points when we had some penalties, we didn’t have a lot, but in a game like this, those are critical.”
Rancho Cucamonga will host San Juan Hills in the quarterfinals Friday night. The Stallions defeated Tustin 13-10 Friday night.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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