At-large chance still looms

Rick Devereux

It looked as if the Sage Hill School football team was going to be

able to secure one of the three CIF Southern Section Division XIII

at-large playoff berths regardless of whether the Lightning beat

Capistrano Valley Christian -- the teams clash at 7 p.m. Friday at

San Clemente High in the Academy League finale -- or not.

Sage Hill (6-3, 0-2 in the Academy League) might have been able to

rely on its six nonleague wins as ample currency to buy a playoff

spot. But upon deeper research of the rest of the Division XIII

schools, it appears Sage will need a victory combined with some

fortuitous coin flips to reach the playoffs for the first time in the

program’s three-year history.

A win will be difficult if Sage is not at full health.

Keya Manshadi has been nursing a strained calf muscle. Braden Ross

suffered a high ankle sprain. Dylan Milstein broke his collarbone.

The three did not play in the 49-0 loss to St. Margaret’s last week.

Manshadi leads the Lightning with 12 rushing touchdowns and is

second on the team with 701 rushing yards on 95 carries. He is also

second with 13 receptions for 258 yards and two touchdowns.

Ross leads all Lightning receivers with 21 catches for 248 yards

and two touchdowns.

Coach Tom Monarch said Tuesday that Manshadi and Ayres were both

probable starters against the Eagles.

“I think [Manshadi and Ayres need to play] to give us a good

chance of winning,” Monarch said. “Capo Valley Christian is playing

extremely well, though.”

The Eagles have won two of their last three games and battled

league-leading Brethren Christian to the last minute, but ultimately

lost, 33-27.

Capo Valley Christian beat St. Margaret’s, 13-6, in overtime Oct.

29, holding the Tartans to a season-low in points scored.

Monarch believes the key to success starts up front.

“We need our [offensive] line to get a surge,” he said. “And we

will definitely need to be able to pass.”

Tackles Bryan Forrest and Michael Morgan, guards Kyle Ramer and

Brandon David, along with center Bryan Kornswiet, will take on the

responsibility of giving quarterback Jamie McGee enough time to

throw.

McGee, a freshman, has passed for 683 yards with four touchdowns.

He is averaging more than 12 yards per completion.

A win against Capo Valley Christian would be the Lightning’s first

league victory in program history.

“I know from the last couple of years that we have one of the best

leagues in the division,” Monarch said. “We’re just that little

brother in the league that gets pushed around. But we’re looking to

start pushing back.”