GILROY – Behind the powerful 193-yard rushing performance of
sophomore Kareem Lucas, the Anchorpoint Christian 8-man football
team knocked off previously unbeaten, and Coastal Conference
opponent, Crystal Springs Uplands 66-22 on homecoming Saturday
night in Gilroy.
GILROY – Behind the powerful 193-yard rushing performance of sophomore Kareem Lucas, the Anchorpoint Christian 8-man football team knocked off previously unbeaten, and Coastal Conference opponent, Crystal Springs Uplands 66-22 on homecoming Saturday night in Gilroy.
The win improves the Warriors’ record to 8-0-1 and puts them in position to make the playoffs with one game remaining on their schedule. It also erased any ill thoughts lingering from their 40-40 tie against Marina two weeks ago.
“Coming off of the tie last week, we knew we had to work harder this week in practice,” Lucas said. “I haven’t done that well this season but I came out healthy and it was good.”
It appeared that the visiting Gryphons were the ones poised to leave the field Saturday as the undefeated team, getting off to a quick 10-0 lead two minutes into the contest on a safety and then a return of the Warriors’ ensuing free kick.
However, Lucas and the Warriors rose to the occasion and in a flash rattled off 34 unanswered points to take a commanding 34-10 halftime lead.
“Last week we played hard but not as hard as tonight,” said senior linebacker Josh Masteroieni. “The whole team left it all out on the field. We were pumped up at the beginning of the game and at the end. I want to play again. I feel great.”
Lucas cut into the 10-point defecit with a 60-yard touchdown run, coasting virtually untouched for the score. He would strike again on the Warriors’ next possession this time on a modest 2-yard plow into the end zone.
After a Jacob Brendle interception, the Warriors put together a five-play, 56-yard drive culminating with a Josh Ignagni-to-Lucas touchdown connection less than a minute into the second quarter to put Anchorpoint up 20-10.
Lucas continued his onslaught with two more scores before the break.
Unlike two weeks ago against Marina, the Warriors were able to hold, and build on, their lead in the second half – and they went right to work.
Ignagni dashed up the right sideline 80-yards for a touchdown on the opening kick of the second half all but sealing the fate of the Gryphons.
The two teams traded touchdowns to a 46-22 score heading into the final quarter before the Warriors piled on the points, scoring three more times on runs by Lucas, Ignagni and Samuel Apolinar.
Ignagni finished the night 7-of-12 for 114 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. To go along with his 193 rushing yards, Lucas caught four balls for 79 yards. Brendle led the way with five tackles on defense followed by Kenneth Urbanski who contributed four takedowns.
“They had their Wheaties,” head coach KC Adams said. “(Crystal Springs) is a good team and to play that well against them is good, especially as good as they played against Marina.”
The Warriors have one game left on their schedule, a home match-up against Calvary Christian on Saturday. Finishing undefeated will help the Warriors’ playoff chances.
“I’m just praying, but I really don’t know what’s going to happen,” Adams said.
