MidValleySports.Com

By Rich Whittington

(Pasadena) – The Maranatha Minutemen captured the Cottonwood League Championship Friday evening, defeating the visiting Whittier Christian Heralds, 42-9, in front of a very supportive crowd at Maranatha’s Keith Family Field.

The Minutemen wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, moving the ball 74 yards on their opening drive, cumulating in a 1-yard touchdown blast by running back Miles O’Malley. The extra point was added by kicker Owen Meleka, making the score 7-0 with 9:07 remaining in the opening quarter.

Maranatha added its second score of the evening a few minutes later, as quarterback Luke McNulty connected with tight end Camden Jones for a 2-yard score. A second Meleka PAT made the score 14-0 as the first quarter ended.

Maranatha added two more touchdowns in the second quarter. The first coming on a 6-yard pass from McNulty to wideout Niko Vergara. The second coming on a 19-yard run by running back Dejohn Jones. Two more successful Meleka PAT’s made the score 28-0 as halftime approached.

Whittier Christian got on the scoreboard to open the second half, when running back Jake Martinez found pay dirt on a 40-yard touchdown run. The PAT was added by kicker Justin Beller, making the score 28-7.

Maranatha scored twice more in the third quarter, much like they did in the second. Both of these came at the hands, or feet, of Dejohn Jones. The first of the period, and Jones’ second of the evening, was an 11-yard run. The second, a 2-yard scoring scamper. Two additional Meleka PAT’s, numbers five and six for the evening, made the score 42-7 as the third came to a close.

The final period produced only two additional points. Those were the result of an errant Maranatha snap, that passed through the end zone, resulting in a safety being credited to Whittier Christian. This brought the score to 42-9, which would be how the game ended.

Maranatha finishes the 2023 season 9-1, 5-0 in Cottonwood League play. Whittier Christian finishes with a record of 6-4, 4-1 in the Cottonwood. Sources say that both teams have qualified for the CIF Playoffs. Opponents and locations for next week’s contests will be announced Sunday.