Cougars lead 22-7 at halftime, go on to win 37-7.
By Josiah Rodriguez
Christopher High School endured a bumpy Monterey Bay League debut in a 37-0 loss to Monterey last season.
The Cougars, with a senior class and a year of MBL play under their belts, were out to show that they were ready for the challenge as the two teams again matched up in the MBL opener Friday night.
The Cougars performance proved that they were up to the task in a 37-7 win over Monterey at Gilroy High School.
“This was the biggest game of the year for us,” Cougars head coach Tim Pierleoni said. “The kids worked hard and the coaches worked hard, and that’s how it all came together.”
Despite falling behind 7-0 after a Shaunne Katoa touchdown run with 6:57 in the first quarter, Christopher (4-0 overall, 1-0 MBL) answered on the ensuing drive with a 45-yard touchdown run by Marcus Harrell with 4:06 left in the first. CHS drew Monterey (2-2 overall, 0-1 MBL) offside on the point after attempt and opted for the 2-point try. The Cougars converted for an 8-7 lead, and one they wouldn’t relinquish.
After a Mikey Pirnik interception, senior running back Nic Slater was able to find a hole through the Monterey defense for a 20-yard touchdown giving the Cougars a 15-7 advantage.
CHS quarterback Brandon Pickens (15-of-29, 269 yards, 3 TDs) connected with Harrell on a pretty fade route to lift the Cougars into the locker room ahead 22-7.
The Cougars scored 37 unanswered points in all.
“We took our beatings last year being the younger team, so we knew this was going to be our time to show what Christopher High is about,” said Slater, who finished with 52 yards on nine carries.
Coming off a by week, Pierleoni made sure his coaching staff prepared and scouted the Toreadors offense well enough to defend the veer offense that sent them into the 2010 CCS Division III championship game.
The preparation paid off as the Toreadors were held to just 168 yards of total offense, all coming on the ground because of Christopher’s relentless defensive presence that forced quarterback Jimmy Hill to go 0-4 passing. The biggest stat of the night is that of those four incompletions, three were interceptions by the Cougars’ defensive backs.
Harrell picked off Hill late in the second quarter and was involved in the third pick after tipping a Hill pass in the end zone that landed into safety Bryant Cid’s hands to save a potential Toreadors’ touchdown in the third quarter.
“Our coaches prepared us throughout the whole week that when their (Monterey) running game isn’t working for them, they go to the pass,” said Harrell, who also contributed on offense with four receptions for 82 yards and one touchdown. “We just read whatever our instincts tell us and try not to get beat deep.”
The offense was highlighted in the second half by two Pickens’ touchdowns on fade-route passes – one a 42-yard completion to Rayshon Mills and the other an 18 yarder to Cid that gave the Cougars the 37-7 advantage in the fourth quarter.
The Cougars totaled 392 yards of offense.
“It was a big game and I liked how the kids responded to the big game situation,” Pierleoni said. “The kids believe in what they are doing and we just have to keep working hard.”
Christopher continues Monterey Bay League play Saturday (Oct. 8) as against Pajaro Valley High School. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be held at Watsonville High School.
— The CHS junior varsity team defeated Monterey 47-0 earlier in the evening. The JV Cougars are 4-0 and have yet to surrender a point.
Trevor Hadnot had 165 yards on 12 carries and three touchdowns. Also, Brandon Bui ran for 24 yards and touchdown, and Erik Marshall had a 25-yard pass play for a score. Quarterback Sterling Montgomery, despite be sick all week, was 14-for-26 for 165 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively Nick Rarras and Andrie Arroyo both had fumble recoveries for scores. Jacob Moen had an interception that stopped a Monterey drive and the defense held Monterey to less than 75 yards.
The JV football team has a perfect record of 4-0 with the four wins being all shut outs.
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