Shawn Hobson …..VISTA – The Tri-City Christian School football team shut out Escondido Charter 25-0 in a Pacific League game Saturday afternoon, establishing a matchup with Army Navy Academy that could lead to a league title.
The TCC defense dominated the visiting White Tigers, who managed only 46 yards of offense.
Photos by Shawn Hobson
“Our defense played an amazing game,” Tri-City Christian coach Shane Goodwin said. “They didn’t quit, and they played like it was 0-0 the whole game. I’m blessed with the best defensive staff around.”
The Eagles (6-2 overall, 3-1 league) smothered the Escondido Charter running game. The Tigers carried the ball 33 times for negative eight yards. They couldn’t move the ball at all, and it only got worse. When the White Tigers (2-7 overall, 1-3 league) tried to punt after their first two possessions, they fumbled.
“We killed ourselves,” Escondido Charter coach Mark Carlson said. “They’re a good enough team to capitalize on it. Two snaps over our heads on fourth down, and our inability to block. If you can’t block and tackle, you can’t win ball games.”
Tri-City Christian had great field position after the turnovers. The Eagles responded by converting the first turnover with a 21-yard field goal kicked by Luke Medrano with 2 minutes, 24 seconds in the first quarter. Then after the Tigers’ next fumble, Tri-City Christian sophomore quarterback Zach Reitmeyer threw a 15-yard TD pass to Ben Graves.
“They played a well-rounded ball game,” Carlson said. “They’re a well-disciplined football team.”
Reitmeyer went 12-for-18 for 108 yards and two TDs. It took the TCC quarterback 8 seconds to lead his team into the end zone before the halftime break. The Eagles took possession on the Charter 45, leading 15-0, with 10 seconds left to play before the half. Reitmeyer threw the first pass to Anthony Madden for a 20-yard gain. He then threw a 25-yard TD pass to Jace Mertes with 2 seconds left to play before the break, increasing the lead to 22-0.
Two Escondido Charter quarterbacks combined for 46 positive yards. Aaron Kohut went 2-for-3 for 29 yards, while James Frazier was 4-for-9 with 25 yards and an interception. TCC defensive back Luke Medrano picked off a pass and returned it for 50-yard TD in the second quarter.
The Eagles will play at the Army Navy Academy on Friday (Nov. 6) for the league title. The Warriors are also 3-1 in league, but they lost to Classical Academy. It just so happens that Classical Academy is also 3-1 with its only loss to Tri-City Christian.
“We cleaned up what we messed up,” Goodwin said to his team after the game. The TCC coach was speaking about his team’s only league loss this season, a 40-0 shutout defeat to Maranatha Christian on Oct. 9. The TCC coach said he feels blessed his team is in a position to play for the league championship.
“If we win, we are league champions,” Goodwin said. “It’s a big deal for us, especially after we limped out of that game with Maranatha Christian.”
Army Navy’s only league loss was to Classical Academy on Oct. 9. The team beat Maranatha Christian 15-14 on Oct. 30. The Escondido Charter coach was asked to predict about next week’s matchup between the Eagles and Warriors.
“Based off what we saw today, I would have to say Tri City,” Carlson said. “I predict it’s going to be a close game.”
Escondido Charter plays Classical Academy at Orange Glen High School on Nov. 6.
Escondido Charter….0…..0…0…..0–0
Tri-City Christian……3….19…3…..0–25
First Quarter
TCC–Luke Medrano 21 FG, 2:24
Second Quarter
TCC–Graves 15 pass from Z. Reitmeyer (kick failed), 11:01
TCC–Medrano 50 interception return (kick failed), 1:24
TCC–Mertes 25 pass from Z. Reitmeyer (Medrano kick), 2 sec.
Third Quarter
TCC–Medrano 25 FG, 2:47
Team Statistics
Total Yards: Escondido Charter 46, Tri-City Christian 157. Passing: Escondido Charter 54, Tri-City Christian 108. Rushing: Escondido Charter minus 8, Tri-City Christian 49. First Downs: Escondido Charter 4, Tri-City Christian 10. Penalties: Escondido Charter 4-20, Tri-City Christian 8-45. Turnovers: Escondido Charter 4, Tri-City Christian 1. Records: Escondido Charter 2-6 overall, 1-3 league, Tri-City Christian 6-2 overall, 3-1 league.
Individual Statistics
PASSING: Escondido Charter: Aaron Kohut, 2-3-29-0, James Frazier 4-9-25-1. Tri-City Christian: Reitmeyer 12-18-108-0. RUSHING: Escondido Charter: Matula Kwangaba 12-17, Hunter Boyce 5-9, Frazier 9-(minus 18), Kohut 5-(minus 3), Sean Carbajal 2-0, Jake Fisher 1-(minus 13). Tri-City Christian: Anthony Madden 22-43, Z. Reitmeyer 3-9, Roman Gonzalez 2-(minus 3). RECEIVING: Escondido Charter: Frazier 1-15, Jake Zimmerman 2-17, Fisher 1-10, Jono Pecoraro 1-12. Tri-City Christian: Graves 7-39, Andrew Reitmeyer 2-13, Gonzalez 1-3, Anthony Madden1-20, Mertes 1-25, Matt Clark 1-2.
Contact Shawn Hobson at sportswriter@sbcglobal.net. Follow him on Twitter @HOBMediaWorks.
