VISTAVISTA — After averaging 35 points per games during a seven-game win streak, the Tri-City Christian School football squad found another way to claim a victory.
A 20-yard field goal in the second period by Meo Laurenceau provided the game’s only points and Tri-City held on for a hard-fought 3-0 win over Maranatha Christian Academy in a Pacific League matchup of Eagles on the brand-new turf at Bickley Field.
Tri-City (8-1, 4-0) extended its winning streak to eight games with a league title showdown at stake when the Eagles visit Orange Glen on Oct. 27 for the regular-season finale.
It’s quite the turnaround for a program that won just three games over the previous two seasons, including a 1-9 campaign a year ago.
“It’s a complete opposite from last year,” said Tri-City junior Logan Daichendt, who played both ways throughout the contest at receiver and linebacker, catching five es for 70 yards. “It was a matter of growing up as a team, and this was one of those games that shows we need to play all four quarters.”
Junior quarterback Joel Valverde completed 14 of 22 es for 176 yards with one interception by Maranatha’s Owen Leonard at the Maranatha 4-yard line, a turnover that halted a scoring threat by Tri-City early in the fourth quarter.
Tri-City is leading the pack in the eight-team Division V-AA Division, which made its debut this season in the CIF San Diego Section. Playoffs begin Nov. 3, and the Division V-AA championship final is set for Nov. 18 at Escondido High School’s Chick Embrey Field.
“We’ve shown a lot of perseverance,” said senior defensive end Mikhail Dziuban, who along with Laurenceau had constant pressure going into the Maranatha backfield. “I’m proud of how the defense kept fighting.”
Maranatha Christian (3-6, 2-3) managed just 2 yards of total offense for the game, including 37 yards ing and minus-35 yards on the ground, including a costly 22-yard loss on an errant snap with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth period.
“We got better today,” said Maranatha coach Nick Novak. “We play with a lot of heart, but we need to learn how to move the ball for first downs.”
Third-year Tri-City coach Neil Breight has his team in the midst of its best season since 2018, the last time the Eagles won the Pacific League championship when they advanced to the CIF Division V playoff semifinals and finished with a 9-3 record.
“The nucleus of our team is a junior class that took a beating last year as sophomores but never lost faith,” Breight said. “We only had 18 players suited up for our first game against Southwest, but after we lost that game, five seniors and one sophomore came out and asked to the team.
“Some had never played football, but they’re just athletes who want to help.”
Maranatha pinned a 39-14 loss on the Eagles last year during a one-win season for Tri-City Christian, which failed to score in seven of 10 games.
“Our guys are understanding it now,” said Breight.
Said Dziuban: “We’re getting good coaching, and we’re playing for a ring in the CIF playoffs.”
TRI-CITY CHRISTIAN 3, MARANATHA CHRISTIAN 0
Maranatha Christian 0 0 0 0 – 0
Tri-City Christian 0 3 0 0 – 3
TCC – FG Laurenceau 20
