Grace Brethren High School, a ministry of Grace Brethren Church, Simi Valley, Calif. (Jordan Bakker, senior pastor), defeated St. Anthony on Friday night to take the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) football semifinals. Below is a report from the Long Beach Press Telegram. A portion of the story appears. Click here to read the complete article. A story from the Venture County Star is also included below.
St. Anthony cut down late by Grace Brethren in CIF-SS East Valley Division semifinal
Moorpark >> St. Anthony High was 7 yards and nine seconds away from its first CIF Southern Section finals appearance since 1948. However, Grace Brethren running back Andre Bannister took it around the edge for the game-winning score, 41-38, in an East Valley Division semifinal on Friday night at Moorpark College.
Senior quarterback Jake Hooper found Richard Robinson for a 22-yard touchdown that put St. Anthony up 38-34 with 4:28 to play.
Sticking to its game plan, Grace Brethren ran the ball nine straight times into the red zone with less than a minute to play. The Lancers threw what looked to be the game-winning touchdown, but that was called back on a penalty. Then, quarterback Matt Woodard found Caleb Funk for 20 yards on fourth down with nine seconds to play before Bannister capped a huge night with the game-winner.
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Last-second TD lifts Grace Brethren into CIF final
MOORPARK, Calif. – When a high school football team rolls through its league and goes undefeated into the playoffs, there’s cause for concern when it faces its first big test in the postseason.
Grace Brethren passed the test it was given by St. Anthony of Long Beach with flying colors Friday night.
Andre Bannister scored on a 7-yard run with two seconds left at Moorpark College to give Grace a 41-38 win in the CIF-Southern Section East Valley Division semifinals
The Lancers (13-0) will play in the final next Saturday against St. Margaret’s of San Juan Capistrano. St. Margaret’s was a 28-7 winner Friday over Saddleback Valley Christian.
“Andre Bannister, when we needed a man to step up, the man came up,” Grace Brethren coach Josh Henderson said.
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