“We didn’t [meet the goals] tonight,” Tolver said. “[Linfield] is too good to give them opportunities inside your 10-yard line. They’re going to take advantage of it, and they did that tonight.”
It was too much Austin Maranville, who made things difficult all night for the Lightning (5-2), ranked No. 3 in the East Valley Division. The shifty, 5-foot-9 Linfield running back carried the ball only 16 times, but amassed 142 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
Linfield Christian took advantage of Sage Hill fumbles at the Lightning eight- and nine-yard line, respectively, in the second quarter. Maranville scored both times, part of a 28-point second-quarter blitz that put Linfield up, 35-0, at half.
Sage Hill played without senior running back Dusty Orrantia, out for the second straight game due to illness. No Lightning back was able to break off a run longer than 16 yards until sophomore Eric Cheng’s 47-yard sprint in the fourth quarter. But, even then, Sage Hill couldn’t find the end zone.
“We missed our stud Dusty Orrantia tonight,” Tolver said. “He does a good job of softening up the inside for us, and allowing us to do the things we need to do in the passing game and the outside run. Our [offensive] line has been our strength all year but tonight [Linfield] gave us some trouble up front.”
The penalties part of the keys to victory? One of the Lightning’s five penalties was for taunting in the first half, with Linfield already up, 21-0. Maranville pounded it in again on the next play.
The Lions didn’t need to taunt, their play speaking volumes.
“Tonight our line did amazing,” Maranville said. “The holes were wide open and the line just played studly.”
