Sage can do no worse than 2-2 in league play, and has beaten the other two league teams that already have two losses.
Only a string of unlikely upsets and league tiebreakers that could leave Sage on the wrong end of a three-way tie for second with the Capistrano Valley Christian-St. Margaret's loser and the Linfield Christian-Brethren Christian winner could present any obstacle to the Lightning's third straight postseason appearance.
Corona del Mar fell to third place in the Pacific Coast League with its 26-20 loss to Laguna Hills Friday night at Mission Viejo High. Even worse, the Sea Kings have lost two-way star Erik Rask for the season, CdM Coach Dick Freeman said.
Freeman said an MRI on Rask's right knee indicated the junior tailback and inside linebacker had a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Freeman said there it is also likely that Rask, who through seven games had 102 tackles (an average of nearly 15 per game) and is also the team's leading rusher with 374 yards, has additional damage in the knee and will likely undergo surgery after initial swelling has gone down.
Here's a team-by-team recap:
Sage Hill: The Lightning (4-3) overcame a 21-14 halftime deficit by utilizing a dominating ground game to score all 21 second-half points.
Coach Tom Monarch has praised the development of a young offensive line, but also praised his defense against Brethren Christian.
"Our O-line is creating some holes and our defense has stepped it up," Monarch said.
Defensively, Monarch points to the linebacking corps of Don Ayres, Max Torres, Joey Puishys and Braden Ross as the catalysts.
Monarch said Puishys' move from defensive end and Ayres' shift from inside to outside 'backer have solidified the defensive unit, particularly against the run.
