CVC triumphs in return to 11-man game

SAN CLEMENTE - The way Capistrano Valley Christian imposed its will on both sides of the football Saturday night, you’d be convinced that the Eagles have been playing with 11 men on the field the last three years.

Nope. Not quite.

Playing in the their first 11-man football game since 2008, the Eagles used a pair of first-half defensive touchdowns and an efficient aerial attack to down San Joaquin League foe Santa Clarita Christian, 28-6, in the season opener for both teams at San Clemente High.

Freshman Ben Sukut scored an offensive and defensive touchdown to complement his six catches for 89 yards, and quarterback Riley Babick threw for 118 yards and a score as Capistrano Valley Christian claimed its first 11-man victory in over four years.

On its opening possession, CVC used a nine-play drive -- highlighted by consecutive Babick-to-Sukut connections on its first two snaps -- to claim the early lead on Andre Anderson’s 1-yard TD run.

Santa Clarita Christian responded with a drive kept alive by a long fourth-down completion in Eagles territory, but an interception by Sukut on a jumped slant route was returned 82 yards the other way for a score.

Leading by two scores, CVC followed the Cardinals’ subsequent three-and-out with a quick five-play drive (three plays over 15 yards) that culminated with a 31-yard TD catch by Sukut.

On the ensuing possession, another long drive by Santa Clarita Christian (10 plays, 68 yards) pushed the hosts back inside their own 5-yard line.

However, a Cardinals fumble from the three was scooped by Luke Stevens and returned 90 yards for the Eagles’ second defensive touchdown of the half.

Despite running 17 less plays than the visitors in the first half, CVC held a 22-point lead by the break.

Josh Benedict led Santa Clarita Christian with seven catches for 77 yards.