Brethren Christian Defense Helps Score 19-0 Victory

GRANADA HILLS — When Brethren Christian’s 19-0 victory over Sun Valley Village Christian at Kennedy High School was complete, Warrior Coach Mike Roark gathered the team around him.

What did he tell them?

“I told them that offense wins games, defense wins championships,” Roark said. That adage was true on Friday night as the Warriors held Village Christian to three yards rushing and 46 yards passing in a Division X quarterfinal.

Another key to Brethren Christian’s victory was the performance of tailback James Harris. The senior rushed 23 times for 117 yards and one touchdown.

The touchdown Harris scored came in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run that sealed the victory.

“I felt real good tonight,” Harris said. “I thought our offense was as good as (the Village Christian) offense. Our offensive line played real well.”

Brethren Christian (9-3) scored its first touchdown early in the first quarter. After defensive back Scott Thomas recovered a fumble at the Crusaders’ 35-yard line, fullback Keith Washington rambled 22 yards on the third play from scrimmage to give the Warriors a 6-0 lead.

Washington scored again in the fourth quarter on a four-yard run that capped a four-play, 12-yard drive. The Warriors got excellent field position when defensive back Tim Jackson intercepted David Treanor’s pass at the Crusaders’ 20-yard line and returned it to the 12.

When asked how bad his team’s running game was, Village Christian Coach Mike Plaisance said, “We could have had Jim Brown and Walter Payton in our backfield and it would have done us no good. Our offensive line played terrible.”

Village Christian ended its season with a 6-6 record.

BC--Washington 22 run (pass failed)

BC--Washington 4 run (kick blocked)

BC--Harris 1 run (Price kick)

LEADING RUSHERS--B: Harris 23-117; V: Borden 1-4. LEADING PASSERS--B: Harris 2-7-1, 14; V: Treanor 6-12-3, 46. LEADING RECEIVERS--B: Thomas 2-14; V: Dingman 3-36.

Attendance--500.