Crown City Classic Goes to Maranatha

Andrew Elffers was elusive the entire night. Photo by Anne Cypress

(Pasadena) – For the second consecutive week, La Salle was out-muscled by an Olympic League opponent that exposed their undersized line and linebackers as Maranatha won 38-7.

“It was a tale of two halves,” said Lancers head coach Antoine Peterson. “They (Maranatha) just out-played us tonight.”

Minutemen quarterback Andrew Elffers showed the poise of a veteran leader by going six of 10 for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

“Not bad for a sophomore,” said Maranatha head coach Joel Murphy speaking of Elffers game.  “He really matured tonight. He is doing good stuff and everyone saw that.”

Elffers put Maranatha ahead for good midway through the second quarter as he rolled out to his right and found Mark Jebbia in the corner of the end zone that made the score 14-7.

Late in the first half, La Salle had every opportunity to tie the game. A roughing the kicker penalty by Maranatha after Ethan Anabel’s 40-yard kick was good allowed the Lancers another shot at the end zone. The Minutemen were than flagged for a pass interference penalty that set La Salle up with a first and goal at the 8-yard line. Jeremy Major intercepted Michael Novell’s ill-advised pass into triple coverage to end the half.

“It could have been the turning point of the game,” said Coach Peterson about Novell’s interception. “There were lots of turning points in the game. I took points off the board before that.”

The Minutemen didn’t waste any time coming out of the halftime break as Chris Cornell (8 carries for 51 yards and two touchdowns)

Chris Cornell (#24) drags down Antoine Peterson Jr. (#3). Photo by Anne Cypress.

took an innocent pass from Elffers and eluded all Lancer defenders enroute to a 55-yard touchdown score to blow the game open.

After a quick three and out for La Salle, Omar Younger (11 carries 113 yards) made the most of his opportunity with a 33-yard score to give Maranatha an insurmountable lead at 35-7.

The Lancers offense completely sputtered in the second half as Maranatha’s defense allowed 26 yards in offense. The biggest play for La Salle during the half came from Israel Lacy’s 11-yard run that ended up a fumble with 6:56 remaining in the game.

The lone bright spot for the Lancers came on the first drive of the game when Kishon Sanders took the handoff from Novell and scored from 31-yards out.

LA SALLE                        7          0          0         0          7

MARANATHA                7          7         17        7        38

SCORING – (LS) Kishon Sanders 31 run (Ethan Anabel kick)

(M) Chris Cornell 13 run (Matt Marbach kick)

(M) Mark Jebbia 16 pass from Andrew Elffers (Marbach kick)

(M) Cornell 55 pass from Elffers (Marbach kick)

(M) Omar Younger 33 run (Marbach kick)

(M) Marbach 28 yard field goal

(M) Cornell 1 run (Marbach kick)

Hall of Famer Marcus Allen gave a pre-game speech to the Lancers. Photo by Brad Wright - copyright

NOTES:  Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen addressed the Lancers prior to the game.  Maranatha Head Coach Joel Murphy will be on the midvalleysports.com show on Tuesday.

Game photos will be available at cypresstreephotos.printroom.com tomorrow.

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