TEMECULA — Rancho Christian and Xavier Prep ended their Week Four matchup in a 7-7 tie on Thursday, Sept. 19. In accordance with CIF rules, overtime was not played as both teams failed to agree on the provision before kickoff.
Xavier Prep set the tone early, marching down the field on their opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. Rancho Christian responded in the second quarter, leveling the score at 7-7. From that point, both defenses dug in, preventing further scoring and forcing the game into a draw.
The Eagles faced challenges throughout the week, most notably a change at quarterback following Blake Nadler’s transfer to Roosevelt. Junior quarterback Ben Roy stepped up but completed only one of his three passing attempts, connecting with senior Everett Glover for a 20-yard gain.
Senior running back Will Ford carried the brunt of the offensive workload for Rancho Christian, recording the only TD with 42 carries for an impressive 231 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. His longest run from scrimmage was 24 yards. Despite Ford’s efforts, the Eagles struggled to penetrate the red zone in the second half.
Both teams’ inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities left them with a tie. The draw moved Rancho Christian’s record to 3-1-1 and Xavier Prep’s to 2-1-1. Players Nonso Metu, Lola Carson, and Will Ford were recognized as Rancho Christian’s standout performers of the game.
Rancho Christian will have a chance to reflect and regroup, as their next matchup isn’t until October 4, when they face Valley View at 7 p.m.
Send local sports tips and updates to sports@reedermedia.com.
