Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Sierra Canyon football pulls away from Notre Dame in 2nd half

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CHATSWORTH — A first half plagued by penalties kept the score relatively low between the Sierra Canyon and Notre Dame football teams on Friday night.

Big plays were negated by flags, including what would have been two touchdowns for Sierra Canyon.

The second half wasn’t quite the antithesis of the first 24 minutes, but the holding penalties, illegal block in the back calls and face mask flags didn’t nullify any scores for Sierra Canyon the second time around.

The Trailblazers were able to capitalize by scoring on their first three possessions of the second half, defeating the Knights, 34-10, in a Mission League opener.

“We felt like in the first half we did a lot of really good things and found a way whether it was penalties or little mistakes to keep points off the board,” Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse said. “We got to clean some things up. I wasn’t happy with the penalties but all that matters is our first Mission League win and we’re undefeated.”

Notre Dame’s defense, led by middle linebacker Brandon Bryant, brought the heat early, making things tough for Sierra Canyon quarterback Wyatt Becker and the offense as a whole.

It wasn’t until nearly halfway through the second quarter when the first points of the game arrived on a 7-yard touchdown run by Sierra Canyon senior Terrell Cooks Jr.

Notre Dame scored on its ensuing possession by way of a 29-yard touchdown throw from Steele Pizzella to Lloyd Weaver. Bryant also had a 40-yard run on the scoring drive.

Becker, who set a program record last week with seven touchdown passes against Saguaro (Arizona), threw a pair of TD passes on Friday night.

His first touchdown pass went to Jae’on Young for 24 yards.

Becker’s second touchdown was a 62-yard pass to DJ Xavier Jordan in the third quarter.

The junior quarterback completed 22 of 33 pass attempts for 311 yards to go along with his two touchdown throws.

Sierra Canyon’s defense also made things difficult for Pizzella, chasing him around behind the line of scrimmage and forcing him to use his legs to make positive plays.

The defense held Notre Dame to just three second-half points, as the defensive line led by senior Carnell Ferguson and freshman Richard Wesley kept the pressure on.

“Our defense is valued and appreciated and that’s the special thing about our team, we’re explosive offensively and explosive defensively,” Ellinghouse said. “Our defensive coordinator Chris Rizzo and those kids do a great job and I couldn’t be happier with the job they’ve done this year.”

Freshman running back Jaxsen Stokes scored the first touchdown of his young career on a 33-yard run, weaving his way through Notre Dame’s defense and staying on his feet despite getting tripped up.

Stokes and Cooks Jr. filled in valiantly for Dane Dunn who wasn’t able to suit up.

“To be able to have Jaxsen with that explosiveness, come in and do his job and put us in great position to be able to win this football game, you couldn’t ask for anything better from a freshman,” senior offensive lineman Tristan Harvey said. “Greatest feeling as an O-lineman is knowing you blocked a guy and you get to watch your guy just run and run and run.”

Sierra Canyon continues Mission League competition next week on the road against Bishop Amat. Notre Dame will be away from its home field for the fourth week in a row to take on Serra in a league duel.

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