From the back of a crowded elevator, they'd be first out

By Michael Ashcraft --

Lighthouse wants Renaissance Valley Academy to know they're not tired.

In the third quarter, RVA San Jacinto rallied themselves to overtake the Saints saying, "They're tired."

They should have been tired. They were 8 boys playing against 20 -- the same guys play offense AND defense.

But what RVA thought was tiredness was just a guy who was sulky because coach wasn't giving him the ball to run it.

At the final whistle, Lighthouse Christian Academy's football team taunted: "We're not tired. We can keep playing."

It was a hot day in Hemet for the 1st round playoff, but not even the sun could zap the boys.

When you have 10 players total on your roster to play 8-man pigskin, you have to train three times as hard as the other schools. They have to outlast bigger schools with bigger boys.

The Saints trained four hours everyday before Saturday.

On Saturday, they stymied RVA's passing game by executing a press and throwing off the quarterback's timing, giving the D-line time to break through and pressure him.

Undermanned and underweighted, LCA outfoxed a top-ranked team to cruise to 2nd round of playoffs.

In the first quarter, the Saints stopped the Royals' drive in four downs. They immediately scored.

Ball carriersJustice Neos and little brother (LOL, he's not very little) Shaughnessy Neos hit the holes with such speed and precision that the Saints went on to score four touchdowns in the first quarter.

It was 24-0.

The Newsboys (a junior and a sophomore) gave convincing proof that, if at the back of a crowded elevator, they'd be the first to squirm through and exit, when needed.

In the second quarter, the Royals made two touchdowns, but so did the Saints. RVA's final drive before halftime was halted. It was 40-16.

The Saints did not squander their lead.

Juniors Exjani Rojas and Jeremiah Love were harrying the receivers and slowing down their route time, frustrating the QB who had troubles recalibrating his timing.

Showing soccer aplomb, senior Caleb Campos headered a long pass with his helmet to deny a TD.

Meanwhile, sophomore Jasu Diaz delivered another full game of perfect hikes and bulldogish blocking to keep RVA at bay.

Senior Morgan Miles employed the throw-yourself-down-on-the-ground, they-can't-step-on-you blocking strategy. A frustrated 300-pounder threw himself on top of poor Morgan down after down.

Morgan is a hero.

In the third quarter, RVA forced a turnover on downs for the first time in the game.

LCA responded by similarly forcing a turnover on downs.

The Royals thought they saw the Saints getting tired.

They were wrong.

On offense, the Saints alternately ran Justice and Shaughn to grind down RVA with bruising runs.

The Saints astounded their higher-ranked rivals. The game ended 56-28.

About this writer: Michael Ashcraft teaches writing and journalism at the Lighthouse Christian Academy.

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