The Sierra Canyon football team has quietly been preparing for competing in the Div. 1 playoffs for the first time in school history.
If Friday night’s 30-14 nonleague victory against Oaks Christian is any indication, the Trailblazers will be in the top division.
Wyatt Becker, the junior quarterback, passed for 213 yards, completing 16 of 21 pass attempts, including two touchdowns to lead Sierra Canyon (2-0).
Becker connected with USC-bound Xavier Jordan on a beautiful 41-yard fake-and-go play and threw a perfectly-timed screen pass to Terrell “Choppa” Cooks for another 25-yard score.
The Trailblazers, who were blown out at home by the Lions last year, took a 17-0 lead and were never really threatened.
Oaks Christian’s only score of the game before a late game rushing score came when Christian Knoos stripped the ball from a Sierra Canyon receiver and returned it for fumble recovery touchdown in the second quarter.
Dane Dunn gained 44 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns for Sierra Canyon. Becker chipped in 68 yards on six carries.
Jordan finished with four receptions for 51 yards, Cooks had three catches for 75 yards and UCLA-bound Kwazi Gilmer had three receptions for 35 yards.
Cooks also had an electrifying 75-yard kickoff return to set up a short Dunn touchdown run.
A couple freshmen stood out. One for sure.
Richie Wesley had three sacks and led a defense which sacked Lions quarterbacks eight times.
The Lions gained 76 yards rushing on 21 carries. Devin Tate was 8 of 16 for 59 yards before being replaced in the second half.
Justice Williams caught six passes for 56 yards for Oaks Christian (1-1), which obliterated Chaminade 55-28 a week earlier.
Ashton Zamani’s 22-yard field goal early gave the Trailblazers a quick 3-0 lead.
Sierra Canyon hosts Green Valley of Nevada next week. Oaks Christian travels to Roosevelt HS in Eastvale, the Corona area.
