Jake Scanlan (56), Andrew Elfers (15), and Steven Hendry (64) react after Mark Jebbia's pick-six
(Glendale) – Usually Maranatha wins it with a high powered offense. Saturday night it was the defense that finished the job in a 34-20 win over Village Christian in Olympic League action at Glendale High.
The Minutemen forced three turnovers in all including two in the decisive fourth quarter that clinched the victory.
With the score tied at 20, Village Christian quarterback Kyle Custer was hit and the ball popped loose. Isaiah Braithwaite fell on it at the Village 23. Four plays later Andrew Elfers hit R J Straker on a five yard touchdown pass.
On the Crusaders next series disaster stuck again in the form of Mark Jebbia. Custer’s pass was batted and deflected in the air by Jebbia. He then corralled it and trucked into the end zone from five yards out and suddenly a tie game was now 34-20 Minutemen. There was still 8:36 left in the contest but with Jebbia’s touchdown you could see the collective air exit the Village balloon.
Prior to that there were three lead changes as both teams moved the ball effectively. Maranatha marched right down the field on its first drive of the game. The Minutemen drove 62 yards on just five plays. Omar Younger had a 20 yard run to highlight the drive and Straker capped it with a seven yard run. But the extra point was missed.
Village Christian countered with an 80 yard march in the second quarter. Amjed Aboul-hosn caught a Custer pass and took it down to the one yard line. He then capped it with a one yard run. The point after gave Village a 7-6 advantage.
Later in the second Elfers placed a perfect pass into the hands of a sprinting Josh Jones down the right side. Jones caught it in stride and high stepped it into the end zone for a 37 yard score.
Before the half ended the Crusaders grabbed the lead back. Aboul-hosn busted off a 27 yard run that set up his own ten yard touchdown run for a 14-13 halftime lead.
Village Christian came up with a huge defensive play of its own in the third quarter. Tyler McGinnis stepped in front of an Elfers toss and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. However a personal foul penalty pushed VC back and the extra point attempt was missed.
The Minutemen answered right back on the ensuing possession. The Maranatha march covered 61 yards in eight plays with Elfers going over from a yard out. Matt Marbach’s extra point tied it up.
The Minutemen defense then stepped up to ice it.
Elfers completed of 17 of 28 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two picks. Jeremy Major had five receptions for 49 yards and Jebbia hauled in six passes for 54 yards and a score to go with the defensive touchdown.
Aboul-hosn rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 66 yards for Village. Custer racked up 154 yards through the air.
With the win Maranatha stayed alive in the Olympic League race. The Minutemen improved to 1-2 in league and 6-3 overall. Village Christian is 1-1 and 5-3.
M 6 7 7 14 34
VC 0 14 6 0 20
Summary:
1st Qtr:
M 7:43 Straker 7 yd run (Kick Failed)
2nd Qtr:
VC 7:52 Aboul-hosn 1 yd run (Eric Lee Kick)
M 5:57 Josh Jones 37 yd pass from Elfers (Marbach Kick)
VC 2:37 Aboul-hosn 10 yd run (Lee Kick)
3rd Qtr:
VC 5:33 McGinnis 25 yd Int. Ret. (Kick Failed)
M 1:14 Elfers 1 yd run (Marbach Kick)
4th Qtr:
M 10:08 Straker 5 yd pass from Elfers (Marbach Kick)
M 8:36 Jebbia 5 yd Int. Ret.(Marbach Kick)
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