Things are looking up for Maranatha and Terrance Lang. (Photo by Joe T.)
By Joe Torosian
(Pasadena)— For a moment it looked like an old school OIympic League brawl as Whittier Christian and Maranatha traded blows in the first quarter, but it was the Minutemen who kept coming and delivering in a 38-20 victory on Friday evening at the Bounce & Pounce on St. John’s Avenue.
At the start it was a game of contrast. Maranatha used nearly six minutes on its first scoring drive that ended with Kwon Peterson going 8-yards to the lengthy Terrance Lang. Less than a minute later the Heralds countered when Justin Osborn went 83-yards to paydirt to tie the game.
The Minutemen took over three minutes off the clock on their next possession before Daniel Torres went in from 2-yards. The WC quickly returned volley with a 53-yard scoring pass from Quinn Commans to Nick Watase.
Then the game settled into place. Osborn remained the option for for Whittier Christian and the Maranatha defense came alive thanks to the play of Lang, Josh Johnson, Brent Kinsman and friends.
The Minutemen also kept converting key plays at the right time. Including a 21-yard touchdown pass from Peterson to David Allen two plays after recovering a fumble and a 36-yard scoring pass from Peterson to Drew Algori on a fourth and six from the Heralds 26 at the start of the fourth quarter.
***Maranatha QB Kwon Peterson completed 8 of 14 for 102 yards, 3-Tds.
***Whittier Christian QB Quinn Commans completed 24 of 34 for 242 yards, 2-Tds & 1-Int.
***Justin Osborn led the Heralds with 145 yards on 15 carries before leaving the game in the third quarter with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.
***Daniel Torres and David Allen led the Minutemen in rushing. Torres 18 carries for 134 & 2-Tds. Allen14 carries for 86 yards.
***Whittier Christian’s starting offensive line: LT: Chris Almeda, LG: Nate Swift, C: Ben Reyes, RG: Jared Ramirez, RT: Jacob Monarres.
***Maranatha’s starting offensive line: LT: Ethan Fields, LG: Marcus Moses, C: Trevor Marrs, RG: Nick Castello, RT: Andrew Ojeda
***In the third quarter Heralds defensive lineman Ethan Hawks was taken to the hospital with a leg injury.
***Nick Watase led Whittier Christian with 7–catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.
***Whittier Christian (0-1, 3-4 overall) hosts Valley Christian next week.
***Maranatha (1-0, 4-3 overall) welcomes Heritage Christian to the Bounce & Pounce next week.
Scoring Summary:
1st. Qtr.
Natha: 6:41: Kwon Peterson 8-yard pass to Terrance Lang (Alejandro Lopez)
WC: 5:45: Justin Osborn 83-yard run (Alex Lane kick)
Natha: 2:11: Daniel Torres 2-yard run (Lopez kick)
WC: 0:14: Quinn Commans 53-yard pass to Nick Watase (Lane kick)
Maranatha 14 Whittier Christian 14
2nd. Qtr.
Natha: 9:16: Lopez 29-yard field goal.
Natha: 1:20: Peterson 21-yard pass to David Allen (Lopez kick)
Maranatha 24 Whittier Christian 14
3rd. Qtr.
Natha: 7:14: Daniel Torres 1-yard run (Lopez kick)
Maranatha 31 Whittier Christian 14
4th Qtr.
Natha: 10:04: Peterson 26-yard pass to Drew Algori (Lopez kick)
WC: 2:52: Commans 8-yard pass to Thomas Ditmar (Pass failed)
Maranatha 38 Whittier Christian 20
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