By: Joe Quinn
Special to the Valley News
Two teams with strong records met in Week Six for the Santa Rosa Homecoming game, Saturday, Oct. 2. The game was the first to be played under the lights at the Rangers field. Capistrano Valley Christian School (5-1) entered the game averaging 35 points per game and had only lost previously to Calvary Chapel (4-2). Although Capistrano Valley came out on top, it was with hard gained opportunistic success as they beat the Rangers 14-6.
The Rangers scored first and looked confident as they had the only real gains of either team in the first quarter. In fact, they put a surprise on the Eagles with a spread offense attempt on the extra point after their early TD. It failed but gave the impression the Rangers were confident this was not going to be their last touchdown.
Although both teams went back and forth for most of the game, a breakout offense was not easy to come by against the hard defensive play by both teams. Gang tackling on the edges was common on the night and showed how well coached both defensive sides are. That, matched with the continual pressure on the QBs over the night, most throws by both teams were to the flanks and for short gains. Proving how tough the defenses were playing, the Capo Eagles second and final TD came by way of an interception in the second quarter deep in the Rangers end of the field, followed by a 90-yard plus return. That was the last score of the night and the game would end in a dull fashion with the Eagles taking a knee on their last possession.
The strong arm of Adam Pinard was evident throughout the game while some dropped balls, continual pressure from the Capo defense and several untimely penalties kept them from moving the ball. Justin York, Brody Worthington, and Daniel Gonzalez tried to do their part keeping Capo Valley guessing all night. Continual defensive line pressure and the standout efforts of Luke Adams kept the Eagles hoping and if not for the one pick-six the game might have gone either way.
This week the Rangers are away at Nuview Bridge for a league game. Nuview is at 2-3 on the season but are coming off a convincing 56-0 win over St. Jeanne de Lestonnac of Temecula. The Rangers also beat St. Jeanne early in the season 53-7.
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