Schools
VIDEO: Sierra Canyon Takes Care of Business at Home Depot Center
See exclusive highlights and interviews from the Home Depot Center of the Trailblazers' 34-13 Div. IV state championship win. Coach Jon Ellinghouse, Danny Jordan, Xavier Menifield and William Young discuss the victory.
See a replay of the game on Time Warner Cable channel 101 at:
- 7 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 18
- 8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 19
- 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 22
Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (15-0) defeated Le Grand 34-13 Friday night for the Div. IV state championship at the Home Depot Center.
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The Trailblazers raised the state trophy in only their third season as an 11-man program - the first ever San Fernando Valley team to accomplish this feat.
The Trailblazers jumped out to a quick start when Tyler Stewart led a 10-play, 80-yard drive to open the game. Stewart capped off the drive by finding Reggie Prince over the middle for a 13-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead. Stewart finished 13 of 25 for 163 yards and one touchdown.
Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Le Grand answered with two touchdowns, was clinging to a 13-7 lead and driving again in the second quarter when Brian Tucker's redzone interception (his second in two weeks) stopped their momentum. It was all Sierra Canyon from then on.
The Trailblazers scored 27 unanswered points beginning with a 41-yard touchdown burst by Xavier Menifield.
“I just saw one of the receivers blocking downfield and I knew I had to cut off his block because he was doing his job, so I had to do my job,” said Menifield, who finished with 129 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries.
Sierra Canyon took a 14-13 lead into the half.
“The defense made some adjustments after halftime, and we got back to our brand of football,” said William Young, who forced two fumbles in the game.
In the second half, Reggie Prince swung the momentum for the Trailblazers by intercepting a pass on the first play from scrimmage. Sierra Canyon capitalized on the great field possession with a three-play 19-yard drive culminating in a Danny Jordan seven-yard touchdown dash extending the lead to 21-13.
“It was a great hole, I have to give all the credit to the line,” said Jordan, who rushed for 70 yards on 11 carries. “It was a great feeling. It felt like I blacked out. I scored and then I looked up and saw my mom and dad in the stands. It was one of the greatest feelings ever.”
Sierra Canyon’s defense stifled a Le Grand offense that was averaging 58.5 points a game, forcing three more fumbles and recovering two. Tucker and Sunny Helo recovered the fumbles.
Menifield sealed the deal with touchdown runs of 2 and 7 yards to give the Trailblazers a 34-13 lead in the third quarter. They finished with an impressive seven-plus minute drive to milk the clock.
“This program is in an incredible place and we’re very proud of what’s been built here,” said Coach Jon Ellinghouse. “Now we have a challenge to keep it going.”
