Christian clinches share of title in OT despite red zone woes
- Updated: October 24, 2015
ADRIAN PETTY DOESN’T NEED A BIG HOLE, BUT HE FINDS ONE HERE AGAINST MORSE ON FRIDAY NIGHT / EASTCOUNTYSPORTS PHOTO
By Ramon Scott
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (10-24-15) — Christian High’s NICK SEXTON scored on a 25-yard completion from quarterback DAVID TODD JEREMIAH on a slant route on the first play of double-overtime, and the Patriots defense did what they did all night Friday (Oct. 23) – stop the Morse Tigers. That combination gave Christian a 13-6 win and clinched a share of the City League championship following Hoover’s loss to Serra Friday night.
The Pats’ opening drive of the night was crisp to start, but a sack by the Tigers terminated the drive. 
The Patriots mounted another drive later in the first into Morse territory, as ADRIAN PETTY kept the drive alive with a toss sweep to the left for 4 yards on fourth-and-3. Then JOEY MARONES caught a short pass from Jeremiah and rumbled down to the Tigers’ 13.
The drive stalled, but Christian High took the lead on a 36-yard field goal by NATE CAZARES with :26 left in the first quarter.
Morse regained the lead on a 1-yard touchdown run from Martell Irby in the second quarter.
More Petty, with linemen Nate Cazares (51) and William Valley (77). / EastCountySports.com photo
On what appeared to be the last play of the first half, Jeremiah executed a double pass. He threw the ball to wideout BRANDON HESTER, who relayed a 41-yard completion to Sexton, who stepped out just as time expired. The officials ruled that there was still time left on the clock and Cazares came on to boot a 30-yard field goal to tie the game 6-6 heading into intermission.
A stalemate held through the next 2 1/2 quarters. Christian fumbled late in the game, opening the door for Morse, but the Tigers’ couldn’t hit their open target when the game was on the line.
Not to be outdone, Morse’s defense was just as strong, if not better than the Patriots’ top-notch effort on that side of the ball.
The Tigers just missed on their first play of double OT, as a deep pass was just off target. Christian stopped the potential tying score with a defended pass on the game’s final play by Sexton, who knocked down the decent-looking aerial a couple of yards in front of the left front pylon.
Christian’s solid defensive effort was led by juniors JONATHAN STINE and ISAAC ROSENTHAL, senior MICHAEL TOBIASON, sophomore GARRET NIELSEN and freshman NOAH MADEIROS.
“We had spectacular defense tonight,” said Christian defensive coordinator MIKE MITCHELL. “Our kids played hard and we had several unsung hero types.”
Included in that group were inside linebackers Morones and Cazares.
Christian (6-2, 3-0) made life difficult for itself by being stopped four times in the red zone. They settled for two field goals and twice stalled at the 5-yard line.
“We got 6 points and we should have gotten 28,” said offensive coordinator DAVID BEEZER.
Jeremiah completed 11 of 23 passes for 174 yards and one score. Sexton was the unsung hero, however, for the Patriots. He caught 6 passes for 108 yards and the team’s only touchdown. He also rushed for 5 yards and intercepted a pass.
Petty led the Christian ground game with 78 yards on 22 carries.
