It looks like it will be the battle of the “Brethren” this week in Southern California as #2 Grace Brethren (11-0) takes on Brethren Christian (8-2-1) in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) football playoffs at Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach. Both high schools have founding histories in Grace Brethren churches — Grace Brethren is a ministry of the Grace Brethren Church, Simi Valley, Calif. (Jordan Bakker, pastor) and Brethren Christian has roots in the Grace Brethren Church, Long Beach (Lou Huesmann, pastor), and other Grace Brethren churches in the area, though it now operates independently. (Click here to see the history of Brethren Christian High School.)
Below are some of the stories that have been posted about the match-up:
Brethren Christian earns 1st playoff victory since 1997
(Orange County Register, November 14, 2014)
Brethren Christian won its first playoff game since 1997, knocking off Desert of Edwards Air Force Base, 35-24, on Friday night in the first round of the CIF-SS East Valley Division playoffs Friday night.
Running back Jordan Leonard rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns for the Warriors (7-2-1), who went ahead, 21-0, in the first half.
Click here to read the complete story.
High School Football: Brethren Christian is the only local survivor
(Huntington Beach Independent, November 19, 2014)
The CIF Southern Section football playoffs are in week No. 2 this week and the local scene will be represented by just one school in the quarterfinal round.
Brethren Christian ended a long playoff drought by winning its East Valley Division opener Friday that earned the Warriors a berth in the quarterfinals. Two other local teams, Edison and Ocean View, were eliminated in after losses in their respective division first-round games.
Below is a preview of this week’s action, and a recap of the first-round games:
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Grace Brethren (11-0) vs. Brethren Christian (8-2-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Ocean View High: Teams that met two months ago meet again with much more riding on the outcome: a berth in the East Valley Division semifinals.
Brethren Christian advanced in the postseason by virtue of a 35-24 victory over host Desert at Edwards Air Force Base last Friday . The Warriors took control of the game by opening up a 21-0 halftime lead on the Scorpions (8-3, Desert Mountain League No. 2).
The victory was the first playoff win for the BC program since 1997. The Warriors entered the postseason as the second-place team from the Academy League.
Click here to read the complete story.