HUNTINGTON BEACH – The Brethren Christian football players and coaches shared laughter, tears and hugs after their 49-0 win over Carnegie-Schools Riverside on Thursday at Ocean View High.
The Warriors are not expected to get into the Division 10 CIF-SS playoffs, despite being ranked No. 4 in the division and having a 9-1 record. Their only loss was a forfeit to Ocean View, the team’s first game of the season.
Coach Pat McInally and the players are still hoping to earn a playoff berth somehow.
“We are ready to go. We are undefeated on the field,” McInally said. “We gotta enjoy it tonight though. We may never be together like this ever again.”
—————————————————————
Miller: Brethren Christian trying to deal with heartbreaking lesson
—————————————————————
As a freelance team, the Warriors’ only way into the playoffs is as an at-large team, but the CIF-SS does not expect Division 10 to have room for any at-large teams. (The playoff pairings will be released Sunday morning and published on ocvarsity.com.)
Nathan Sagastume had three touchdowns Thursdsay – a punt return, a touchdown pass and a reception. The senior said he hopes Thursday was not his final game in a Warriors uniform.
“All we can do is hope that they put us in the playoffs,” Sagastume said.
Brethren Christian dominated from the opening whistle. After a 75-yard punt return by Raimon Sagastume, Nathan Sagastume completed a touchdown pass to Philip Moroso to put the Warriors up 8-0.
After forcing another put, Nathan returned the kick 95-yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 15.
Joey Gutierrez completed the first of his three touchdown passes Thursday to Sagastume to put the Warriors up 22-0. Gutierrez threw for 273 yards on 15 completions.
On the ensuing series, Raimon Sagastume intercepted a Carnegie pass and returned it for a 62-yard touchdown.
Gutierrez threw a pair of touchdowns to Brent Nash Jr. to put the game out of reach for Carnegie.
“We tried to get the ball to our seniors. We had a fun night and it feels great to win,” McInally said.
