MidValleySports.Com

Minutemen Caleb Devine going 61-yards to paydirt. (Photo courtesy of Gary Lee)

By Joe Torosian

(Pasadena)- Maranatha scored five touchdowns, four coming from 28-yards out or more, to big play themselves to a 34-24 victory over visiting Whittier Christian at “Bounce & Pounce Stadium” on Friday night.

“I told the kids when I got here great teams and great offenses are able to convert on third down, they’re able to convert in the clutch and pick up those big plays to succeed,” said Minutemen HC Jude Oliva.

Even when they struggle. After Maranatha put itself in a bind by stumbling on the opening kick-off and nearly losing a fumble, it was the Heralds who hit the board first after converting a short punt into points.

Ryan Esslinger, on fourth and goal from the five, rolled to his right and fired a bullet to Jack Huitt to make it 7-0.

A kick-off and two plays later, Caleb Devine hit the hole, and with poetic brevity, side stepped a defender to go 76-yards for the tying touchdown.

Maranatha’s next three possessions ended with two interceptions and a punt as as Whittier Christian built a 16-7 lead.

With 1:12 to play in the first half Minutemen quarterback Eli Snyder connected with Xavius Boone for a 45-yard gain to the Heralds 23. Three incomplete passes and a false start later put the ball at the 28 with less than a minute to play.

Snyder, flushed out of the pocket to his left, on fourth down let go of a pass towards the end zone. Jojo Karavedas at the front pylon with three defenders around him caught it with his outstretched hands. The officials looked at each other to confirm and then put their hands up.

“We thought we had a match up on the wheel, kind of our last gasp, he scrambled out very Andy Guerrero-ish he took one in the chin and delivered a strike,” said Oliva. “JoJo Karavedas came down with a great play down in the corner.”

In the third Maranatha added two touchdowns to take a 27-16 lead. Devine scored his second touchdown on a short pass that he turned into a 61-yard score on a second and thirteen. Then late in the period Darron McWhorter caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Snyder on fourth and 16 from Whittier Christian 30.

In the fourth the Heralds close the gap on a 16-yard pass from Esslinger to Noah Evans. Derek Brush caught the pass for two to make it 27-24.

Late, with 3:20 remaining, following an interception by Dexter Myers, on a third and goal from the 10 Snyder found Aiden Yamada for the final touchdown and closure.

So we’re starting to coming along. There is definitely the learning curve of the system. Even though it is week nine there is still that learning curve but we’re really excited about the progress we are making here,” said Oliva.

***Minutemen quarterback Eli Snyder went 19 of 30 for 255 yards for 4 touchdowns & 2 interceptions.

***“He’s real nonchalant when you meet him…Every week he just gets better and better, he can throw two picks in the first half and still have the confidence to make a big throw with somebody in his face.”—Jude Oliva on Snyder.

***Heralds quarterback Ryan Esslinger completed 9 of 27 passes for 80 yards, 2 touchdowns & 3 interceptions. He also rushed 18 times for 81 yards and made 5 tackles from the safety spot.

***“Is that that their quarterback right there? That dude’s legit.”—Minutemen receivers coach Cedric Ho on Heralds quarterback Ryan Esslinger.

***Whittier Christian running back Nick Watase, who rushed for 304 yards on 57 carries a week ago, was limited to 13 carries and 38 yards due to a tender ankle. Michael Cajero rushed for 10 yards including a 5-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

***Minutemen running back Caleb Devine carried the ball 18 times for 107 yards. Two touchdowns, one on the ground, one through the air.

***The Heralds played without running back David Fischer for the third consecutive week.

***Running back Baile McDavid and outside linebacker Nick Scanlan both sat out for the Minutemen.

***Whittier Christian cornerback Cooper Hughes picked off Eli Snyder twice in the first half.

***Maranatha sophomore Dexter Myers intercepted two passes in the fourth quarter. Caleb Devine intercepted Esslinger’s final pass after it was tipped at the line of scrimmage.

***“It was a screen and go. We had some success hitting that bubble screen a little bit so we came back to it …it was a pump and go…we kind of figured that corner was going to get a little anxious because we had success on the bubble. Sure enough he stepped into the mix and gave us an open lane.”—Jude Oliva on the fourth & 16 touchdown pass from Snyder to McWhorter.

***Whittier Christian started on the offensive line: LT: Kyle Slager. LG: Anthony Marasco. C:  Parker Subia. RG: Zach Rodenbucher. RT: Ryan Schemmer.

***Maranatha started on the offensive line: LT: Tanner Richter. LG: Ben Hynes. C: Chris Ajalat. RG: Marcus Moses. RT: Jacob Olson.