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Crean Lutheran Coach Rick Curtis is mobbed by Saints players after a victory in the final seconds Friday. (Photos courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbug, Ted Rigoni and John Luciano).
Crean Lutheran High School’s football team is moving on to the quarterfinal round of the CIF Division 3 playoffs after a thrilling 20-17 victory over Long Beach Millikan in the opener.
The Saints meet Loyola Friday in Los Angeles in the quarterfinal round. Loyola stunned Tustin 30-13 in the opener.
Against Millikan, Connor Stephens led the way for Crean Lutheran kicking two field goals including the game-winning kick with seven seconds left. He also had a 34-yard field goal for the 12th seeded Saints (9-2).
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Fifth-seeded Millikan came in with an 8-2 overall and was averaging more than 45 points a game.
yards to add to his 34-yarder earlier in the contest.
“The win was the biggest win against the highest rated opponent in the highest division in
school history,” said Crean Lutheran Coach Rick Curtis.
“The defense and special teams’ units led the way for most of the game until the offense heated up in the fourth quarter to help secure the victory. The entire defense swarmed the field to hold down the explosive Ram running attack, giving up very few big plays during the game.”
Leading the way were Mason McCullough (14 total tackles, one sack, one tackle for a loss and one caused fumble) Carter Jones (17 total tackles), Javari Nash (10 total tackles, one tackle for a loss) and Taurian Nash (nine total tackles) led in tackles.
The defensive front of Tyler Parker (nine total tackles), Ryder Barnes (nine total tackles, one tackle for a loss) and Anthony Jones (eight total tackles) controlled the line of scrimmage, Curtis said.
Ben Byszewski added to his school record in interceptions (20) with a key interception in the fourth quarter. A caused fumble by McCullough and a recovery by Taurian Nash led to Stephens game winning field goal.
“The special teams’ units had some big returns by Byszewski and Robert “Dash” Smith to give the
Saints offense a short field while the coverage teams and Stephens pinned the Rams deep in their
territory to force long drives, ” Curtis said.
Offensively, Eli Bray had another solid game (11 carries, 58 yards, one TD), but it was Dillon Booth
(13 carries, 71 yards, one TD) and the offensive line who led the Saints from the Wildcat
formation to overcome a 7-point fourth quarter deficit, according to Curtis.
“The offensive line (Tyler Garcia, Kyler Petronis, Ethan Stirrat, Grant Culbertson, Heinrik Shriver, Adonijah Moena and Anthony Jones) controlled the stout Ram defensive front in the fourth quarter after the two key turnovers created by the defense,” Curtis said.
The receiving unit was led by Booth (four receptions) and Drew Deese (three receptions). Quarterback Dylan D’Epifanio completed 13 of 23 passes for 106 yards.
