Santa Rosa Academy football team keeps on rolling, 54-27

Quarterback Daniel Marlow hurdles a defender during Santa Rosa's win. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Santa Rosa Academy football team won its Friday night game against San Bernardino, 54-27.

The Rangers were the first on the board with a 22-yard run into the end zone by quarterback Daniel Marlow, who repeated the move from the 10-yard line in the next drive to put his team up 13-0. But by the 10-minute mark of the second quarter, San Bernardino had tied the game.

From that new start, Santa Rosa had one more quarterback sneak into the end zone before halftime, which gave them the lead they would keep for the rest of the game.

There were four Cardinal fumbles in the first 12 minutes of the game, three of which resulted in turnovers to the Rangers, who fumbled two of their own early on. Coach Perry Jones said the difference in ball position paid off more for his team. In one instance, they recovered a fumble inside the 5-yard line.

In that first half, the Rangers ran for 104 yards and threw for 98, which is something they were hoping to work into the schematics of this week’s matchup, according to Jones.

“Last week Marlow ran for over 250, so I’m sure they were focused on stopping him, but they didn’t know that we had weapons we could have used,” he said. “That was really nice … the receivers were really getting to their spots and that was the difference for us. We weren’t stuck in the run.”

One big touchdown that came from the passing game put the Rangers up 35-13 in the last three minutes of the second quarter, to the tune of a 15-yard catch by Jackson Morace. The air-mail game continued to deliver just after the start of the fourth quarter with a 40-yard catch by Dominic Vicente-Thomas.

The first minute of the fourth quarter saw another touchdown just 40 seconds before that pass. Thanks to one of nine San Bernardino fumbles on the night, the Rangers were up 47-21.

The Cardinals had two total touchdowns in the second half of the game -- their final one was a 72-yard run -- while Santa Rosa had their five. Although the majority of that half was a two-possession deficit, Jones said he and his team felt like it was much closer.

“They’re a good team and they made the kids read their keys right the entire game. They’re so efficient and from our standpoint, it felt like a one-possession game,” he said, referencing the 72-yard play. “It wasn’t until about two minutes left that I realized or hoped they couldn’t possibly come back. It was a huge relief because of the way they kept playing.”

That intensity is something he is hoping to get his kids used to in order to be ready when CIF playoffs come around.

“Those types of games feel good to put on your schedule, but then you get closer and you maybe worry a little bit about them,” he said. “But then you get to it and realize this is a big step up and this is what CIF games will look like. So to be able to come up on this side of it makes me super proud.”

Overall, the Rangers ran for 251 yards and passed for 171. Marlow accounted for four of the team’s eight touchdowns and 80 of the running yards. Although he said there are parts of the game he would like to clean up, this result was more than what he could have hoped for.

“We built a lot of confidence last week but we wanted to stay focused this week, so we pushed hard and accomplished our goal. I’m thankful for my team. I didn’t get touched the entire night,” he said. “So much of confidence is just who you surround yourself with. I get to surround myself with great people on and off the field and that builds my confidence up.”

This match-up with the Cardinals was the last game before league games start up for the Rangers. After a bye next week, they will head to Riverside Prep on Oct. 4 for a 7 p.m. match-up.

Jackson Morace makes a catch for a big gain in Friday's game. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Rangers quarterback Daniel Marlow looks for an open receiver. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Jackson Morace heads for the end zone for a TD with a fumble recovery. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)