Friday's final:

Eagle’s View Academy 40, St. John’s Country Day 0

By MIKE ZIMA

myclaysun.com correspondent

The football program at St. John’s Country Day School is in only its second year of operation. The Spartans have just 35 players on their roster, over half of them underclassmen. Their best player, running back Carlos Sims, Jr., is out with a knee injury. Last year, all home games had to start at 5 p.m. to finish before darkness, as the varsity field had no lights.

On Friday night against Eagle’s View Academy, SJCD debuted field lights and a press box in front of a spirited Homecoming crowd. Excited to host their first night game, the Spartans began the game with a short drive and a booming 46-yard punt by sophomore Joel Haznedl. The Spartan defense then held the explosive Warriors without a first down on their first series. Eventually, the superior speed and depth of the undefeated Warriors overcame the Spartans’ hustle, allowing the Warriors (5-0, 2-0 in District 1-2B play) to coast to a 40-0 victory.

Senior wide receivers Joshua Gray and Hugh Picken did most of the damage for Eagle’s View, accounting for five of the Warriors’ six touchdowns. Kyle Russo threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns, including one to freshman wideout William Rainey. After the game, Eagle’s View head coach Ryan Keith said that the goal for the Warriors, whose strong ground attack had carried them to victories in their first four games, was to work on their passing offense. Indeed, the Warriors threw the ball on their first 10 plays. Their first running play, a touchdown run by Picken, did not occur until 4:15 remained in the second quarter. The Warriors' balanced totals of 203 passing yards and 207 rushing yards are misleading, because they did most of their running with the game well in hand in the fourth quarter.

The Spartans (0-5, 0-2 District 1-2B) managed just 53 total yards and four first downs against the stifling Eagle’s View defense. Junior tailback Hwang Marino (23 yards) and senior fullback T.J. Weaver (10 yards) often broke away from initial contact, but were usually met with a swarm of additional Warriors. Punter Joel Haznedl continually forced Eagle’s View to drive the length of the field for their scores, booming five high-hanging punts for an average of 34.6 yards.

Haznedl and Clayton Jones provided defensive highlights for SJCD, each stopping Warrior drives with interceptions. The Spartan defense played better than the 40 points surrendered implies. They held the Warriors to six first downs. However, they were hurt by the big play, as Eagle’s View had seven plays of at least 27 yards.

SCORING SUMMARY

EV  12  6  16  6  -- 40

1st Qtr:

EVA- William Rainey 17 pass from Kyle Russo (pass failed) 3:31

EVA- Joshua Gray 38 pass from Russo (pass failed) 1:57

2nd Qtr:

EVA- Hugh Picken 9 run (pass failed) 4:15

3rd Qtr:

EVA- Gray 57 run (Russo run) 5:55

EVA- Gray 30 pass from Russo (Picken run) 3:23

4th Qtr:

EVA- Picken 14 run (run failed) 10:48