SD Prep Sports: Football
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Crusaders crown Bishop Manogue 42-6 in season opener
By Phillip Brents
Marian Catholic won back-to-back San Diego Section Division IV championship titles before jumping back into Metro Conference play last season. The Crusaders returned to face off against their former South Bay rivals with a young team decimated by graduation. The result was a roller coaster campaign that ended with a 6-4 regular season record (2-2 in South Bay League play) and a first-round playoff exit against Valley Center.
It could be a much different story this season.
Marian Catholic kicked off its 2001 season Sept. 1 with a 42-6 non-league victory against Bishop Manogue last Saturday in Reno, Nev. The Crusaders - buoyed by 22 returners and seven returning starters on both offense and defense - piled up 590 total offensive yards while allowing their op-ponent just 58 total yards.
"If you look at our roster, we have a lot of young players. Everyone came together and played a great game. Our seniors did an outstanding job of providing leadership," Marian Catholic head coach Mike David said.
The Crusaders allowed just six yards rushing against Bishop Manogue and 52 yards passing. Marian Catholic recorded four quarterback sacks and two inter-ceptions.
Highlighting the returners on defense is First Team All-South Bay League defensive lineman Eli Garcia. He's joined by teammates Mickey Pimentel (outside linebacker), Steve Bossett (defensive end) and two-way players Cesar Serrano and Stanley Daniels (both offensive and defensive linemen). David also singled out the play of linemen Victor Banda and Arthur Emos, middle linebackers Miguel Molina and Joey Olvera, outside linebackers Justin Yates and Ozzie Acosta and inside linebacker Enrique Schultz in the season opening win in Reno. Yates and Mathew Cruz both had pickoffs.
"Our defense was outstanding. The front eight were very tough," the Crusaders helmsman said.
The offensive unit likely had opposing players' eyes rolling like slot machines as well.
Running backs Eugene Alaniz and Mario Contreras line up in the backfield behind quarterback Mario Ledesma this season. Alaniz rushed for 172 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns while hauling in an aerial strike from Ledesma to lead the team with three touchdowns. Ledesma completed eight of 12 passes for 166 yards while Contreras carried the ball 10 times for 124 yards.
Marian Catholic totaled three rushers with more than 100 yards as sophomore Patrick Gates gained 103 yards on 10 carries. As a team, the Crusaders rushed for 424 yards.
"We had our ups and downs last year. We feel this year this is one of our strongest teams (in terms of physical strength). We've got excellent team speed, especially at the running back position," David explained.
Marian Catholic led 14-6 at halftime but put the game away with 28 unanswered second-half points. Alaniz, who opened scoring in the contest on a 25-yard pass play, initiated the scoring outburst with a 42-yard TD run while Contreras followed with scores on a 54-yard run and 50-yard pass play. Alaniz capped the scoring on a 35-yard scoring run.