Skip to content
Author

IRVINE – Tanner Atkinson rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown as he led Crean Lutheran to victory over the California Military Academy, 57-18, in a nonleague game Friday afternoon at Crean Lutheran High.

The Saints (1-0) started the scoring early when quarterback Paul Sardo made it into the end zone on 6-yard run just two minutes into the first quarter against the Rough Riders (0-1).

It was the perfect start to the season after a rough 2013 which saw the Saints finish with a record of 1-9.

“I feel like we had a good offseason,” Crean Lutheran coach Brett Mertens said. “We wanted to try to establish some physicality, and I felt we had a great start.”

Following a series of downs which ended with Saints senior Samuel Fluegge intercepting a pass on a fake punt attempt by the Rough Riders, Atkinson broke through a series of tackles and carried the ball 46 yards to extend Crean Lutheran’s lead.

The Rough Riders made it onto the scoreboard with a 52-yard run by junior Corey Ver Planck with less than five minutes left in the first half. But the Saints responded as Sardo connected with senior Matt Frisbee for an 18-yard touchdown pass.

Sardo completed 16 of 27 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns. He added two rushing touchdowns. Frisbee had four catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns.

The Saints defense contributed to the scoring as junior Daniel Ruiz returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter.