EL CAJONEL CAJON — A coach’s first encounter with the juggernaut football program at Christian High is normally an eye-opener.
Such was the case on Friday night for Central coach Davis Pena as he watched the Patriots take down his formidable squad, 31-28, at Granite Hills’ Valley Stadium.
“They’re big and they’re fast, and they’re a very well-coached football team,” Pena said. “They do a lot of things that give your defense fits.”
Gabe Krug had a lot to do with that. Christian’s junior quarterback rushed 17 times for 107 yards and scored on 18- and 48-yard runs to lead the Patriots (3-2). Christian Salacup added 75 yards and a TD, and Nate Stine had 62 yards as the Patriots rushed for 266 yards.
“We executed really well,” Krug said. “The line was great. I had a lot of open holes.”
Jack St. Fleur returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, and Christian never trailed.
But Central (3-2) made it interesting. Angel Nava-Esparza returned an interception 9 yards for a TD to tie it at 7-7.
The Spartans also got late scores at the end of the first half — a 69-yard from Deniro Osuna to Michael Sullivan — and at the end of the game, a 10-yard from Osuna to Skyler Cook.
With 0:03 left, Central recovered an onside kick at the 45-yard line but missed on a last-ditch attempt.
“I was nervous the whole game,” Christian coach Matt Oliver said. “We just couldn’t put them away.”
Osuna was 14-of-25 ing for 209 yards as Central totaled 330 yards to Christian’s 308. Sullivan caught six es for 107 yards.
Despite having only 150 boys in the school, the Patriots have won 10 San Diego Section titles, third most in section history, and now have been elevated to Division II playoff status.
Both teams lost to Morse in the Division III playoffs last year, Central in the championship game. The Spartans (12-1 last year) have now lost two in a row for the first time since 2016.
Central Union 7 14 0 7 – 28
Christian 14 10 7 0 – 31
Chr – St. Fleur 92 kickoff return (Hunter Provence kick)
CU – Angel Nava-Esparza 9 interception return (Sebastian Coronel kick)
Chr – Christian Salacup 1 run (Hunter Provence kick)
Chr – FG Hunter Provence 24
CU – Angel Nava-Esparza 1 run (Sebastian Coronel kick)
Chr – Gabe Krug 18 run (Hunter Provence kick)
CU – Michael Sullivan 69 from Deniro Osuna (Sebastian Coronel kick)
Chr – Gabe Krug 48 run (Hunter Provence kick)
CU – Skyler Cook 10 from Deniro Osuna (Sebastian Coronel kick)
Lindgren is a freelance writer.
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