GILROY – Despite its offense being held scoreless in the second
half, another stout defensive effort by the Anchorpoint Christian
Warriors helped secure a relatively tight 30-6 victory over North
County Christian on Saturday afternoon in Gilroy.
GILROY – Despite its offense being held scoreless in the second half, another stout defensive effort by the Anchorpoint Christian Warriors helped secure a relatively tight 30-6 victory over North County Christian on Saturday afternoon in Gilroy.
Junior Samuel Apolinar forced two fumbles and Josh Masteroieni recovered another for the Warriors’ rugged defense, which already has two shut outs in four games this season.
The Warriors have averaged 50 points per game, so the team’s 30 point output Saturday left head coach, KC Adams, a bit mystified, yet grateful for the win.
“We got spanked by this team last year,” Adams said. “That was the first time in three years we haven’t scored in the second half. I didn’t know what to do. They shut us down in the second half, but I think we were playing not to lose instead of playing to build on the score.”
Anchorpoint set the tone early, electing to attempt some trickery on the opening kick off. The gamble paid off as the Warriors recovered the onside kick. Seven plays later Apolinar bulled into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown, his first of three rushing scores on the day.
The Crusaders mounted their own scoring drive on the ensuing series but a chain of key defensive plays, highlighted by a Masteroieni quarterback sack on a second-and-goal play, helped extinguish the threat.
The Warriors took over on downs and efficiently built on their lead as the offense gobbled up 55 yards in seven plays, with Apolinar finishing the march with a 5-yard jaunt. Senior Nicholas Colmon, who filled in for the Warriors’ regular starting quarterback Josh Ignagni, found his groove during the drive, connecting twice with Jacob Brendle on passes of 16 and 25 yards.
“We had to make sure we were extra prepared because we knew that they were a tough team,” Brendle said. “We had to be tougher. It was Nick’s first week. We made sure we were on the same page. He came through.”
Brendle hauled in nine catches for 127 yards and also rushed for 38 yards and a score.
“That’s just how he plays all the time,” Adams said. “That’s what he does.”
Colmon was effective in his starting debut hitting 11-of-20 for 157 yards.
The scoring continued at a hastened pace as Apolinar scampered 14 yards, leaping over a defender on his way to his third touchdown of the first half to put the Warriors up 22-0.
Apolinar wrapped up the day with 101 yards on 19 carries.
Anchorpoint opened up a 30-0 lead three minutes before halftime, as Brendle did some damage on the ground scoring a 3-yard touchdown.
