Lightning storming with confidence

Patrick Laverty

Sage Hill School football coach Tom Monarch understands the virtues

of patience because of the youth of the Lightning. But he also

understands the benefits of winning and the Lightning were able to

experience that for the first time Saturday after their 14-6 victory

over Calipatria.

“I think it’s a tremendous confidence builder,” Monarch said. “It

brings a good, positive attitude, though I thought our guys had a

positive attitude even after the first two games. But I think the

main thing is the confidence itself.”

The Lightning (1-2) will attempt to add to that confidence Friday

in their first home game of the season against Fairmont Prep at 3:30

p.m.

After difficult games against Midway Baptist and Calvary Chapel of

Downey -- though Monarch said he would like another shot at Midway

Baptist -- the contest against Calipatria began a four-game stretch

that should prove more competitive for the Lightning, whose key

contributors include five freshmen and six sophomores.

Fairmont (2-2, 0-1 in San Joaquin League play) is bound to be

tougher than Calipatria, which is switching to eight-man football

this week, but Monarch still believes his team can give the Huskies a

battle.

“We’ll have to play as well as we did Saturday to win any of the

[next] three games,” Monarch said.

The Lightning dominated Calipatria defensively, led by a front

line that was anchored by sophomore defensive tackle Michael Morgan.

Running backs Eddie Huang and Ray Lim each scored on touchdown

runs for Sage Hill and freshman quarterback Braden Ross continued his

development in his third week as a starter.

“If somebody said, ‘I’m going to give you a ninth-grade

quarterback that has to start, he’s everything I would want,” Monarch

said.

Fairmont has a senior quarterback who could definitely prove a

model for Ross. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Matt Ethridge has completed

42 of 84 passes this season for 636 yards and four touchdowns.

However, he has also thrown four interceptions.

Lining up behind Ethridge is senior running back Justin Harris,

who has combined for 377 yards rushing and receiving and scored seven

touchdowns overall. Harris is averaging 16.5 yards per catch.

“They have a really good passing game, but also nice balance,”

Monarch said.