Santa Rosa's football season ends in playoff loss

Brendan Quesada makes an interception in Santa Rosa's playoff game. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Santa Rosa Academy football team lost their first-round CIF-SS playoff game against Pasadena, 23-15, at home Friday night.

The final score was the widest margin on the scoreboard, as most of the game the teams were less than six points away from one another.

That level of competition was evident from the first drive when Pasadena got the ball down to the 1-yard line and the Rangers were able to hold them and force a turnover on downs. Just four plays later, however, the Bulldogs scored a safety while Santa Rosa’s offense struggled to move the ball up the field.

But the Rangers forced a punt on the next Pasadena drive and then had a touchdown run on their next drive to take the lead for the first time on the night.

The Bulldogs answered with one of their own and each team exchanged another touchdown before the end of the second quarter. Pasadena kept just a one-point advantage due to their safety earlier on, with the sore 15-16 going into the half.

Neither team was able to convert anything in the third quarter, both defenses forcing turnovers at least two different times in those 12 minutes. But Pasadena came out in the fourth quarter and seemed to figure something out, taking the ball into the end zone on their first drive.

Santa Rosa had a great opportunity to answer and got as far as the 2-yard line, but a sack and penalty call had them pushed back near the 45 when a Hail Mary pass was intercepted by the Bulldogs, who were able to run the clock out and take the win.

Head coach Perry Jones said those moments are the ones that make it tough for programs like his that are new to their division.

“I think these guys have to learn to be calm in those moments. We got a little excited or ahead of ourselves,” said Jones. “But these guys worked so hard and this game was so good.”

Jones mentioned that his team had been moved up to a higher division and saw a new level of competition, to which he thought they rose in a big way. The program is the only of the four Menifee high schools to advance to the CIF-SS playoffs this year and will graduate 11 seniors this year.

Senior quarterback Daniel Marlow is one absence the team will have to make serious adjustments. He is not only the three-year starting quarterback, but also the kicker and safety.

Marlow said he hopes that the heart he gave to the game will be what the younger kids remember about him and implement in years to come.

Marlow’s fellow senior and friend of 13 years, Brendan Quesada, said his highlight in this final game of his high school career was watching Marlow play so well.

“Daniel Marlow is just a stud. For all that is accredited to him, that’s the most humble guy I know,” Quesada said of Marlow. “I just can’t wait to see what’s in store for him and what God does for my best friend.”

The senior class led by these two made it a special goal to help the team feel like a family for their last year and both said they hope that can live on beyond them.

“We want them to be able to build on that brotherhood,” Quesada said. “We hope they can take it and do more with it, and I can’t wait to see how they do that.”

Santa Rosa finishes the season with an 8-3 overall record, with a 4-1 league record for second place in the Cottonwood League.

Dominic Vicente-Thomas finds some running room on Friday. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Quarterback Daniel Marlow rolls out to pass during Friday's game. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Caleb Delgado heads for the end zone for Santa Rosa Academy. (Photo by Action Captures Medias Group)

Ryan Peterson eludes a Pasadena High tackler during a touchdown run. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)