Sage Hill fails to hold on

NEWPORT BEACH Despite bringing an 11-point lead into the second half, Sage Hill was unable to secure a victory Friday night as visiting Grace Brethren rallied for a 20-17 victory in the opening round of the CIF-SS East Valley Dvision playoffs.

After consecutive three-and-outs to start the game, Sage Hill (7-4) managed to move the ball well the rest of the first half. Running backs Dusty Orrantia and Taylor Ross combined for 126 first-half rushing yards, with Orrantia scoring on a 1- yard run in the middle of the second quarter to give Sage Hill a 10-6 lead.

Grace Brethren (6-5) fumbled the ball away on its 41-yard line on the ensuing possession, giving the Lightning excellent field position. Sage Hill quarterback Randall Mycorn was able to capitalize on the mistake, lofting a 37-yard fade pass to tight end Connor Gaughan, who jumped up and snatched the ball away from a Grace Brethren defender for the score.

Up 17-6 to start the third, Sage Hill’s offense started to sputter. It started the second half with another pair of three-and-outs, giving Grace Brethren’s offense plenty of opportunities to score. Midway through the third, the Lancers did just that when quarterback Max Leffler connected with Chris Meyers for a 21-yard touchdown pass, shrinking Sage Hill’s lead to 17-14.

With its offense needing a score to make it a two possession game, Sage Hill again went three-and-out and followed it up with a fumble and another three-and-out.

And while Sage Hill’s defense did well to slow down Grace Brethren’s aerial attack, halfway through the fourth quarter, it allowed a 41-yard drive that was capped off by a Nick Schmidt 1-yard touchdown run, giving Brace Brethren a 20-17 lead.

Leffler finished the game completing 22 of his 44 passes for 342 yards, bringing his season passing yardage to 3,052.