EIGHT-MAN SMALL DIVISION : Cal Lutheran Hangs On For First-Ever Title

Matt Krug made a touchdown-saving tackle on the final play of the game to preserve California Lutheran’s 26-20 victory over Bloomington Christian in the Small School eight-man championship Friday night at Bloomington High School.

Krug was the last defender with a shot at Bloomington Christian’s Matt Bracken, who gained 50 yards on a screen pass before Krug tackled him at the Cal Lutheran 20-yard line as time expired.

“He’s no hitter, but he’s always there to make the big save,” Cal Lutheran Coach David Bartelt said of Krug. Krug also had two interceptions for the C-Hawks, who were unseeded, but won their first Southern Section title in any sport.

“This is unbelievable, a dream come true,” Bartelt said.

Fullback Brian Ehinger led Cal Lutheran (9-2), rushing for 168 yards with two touchdowns, and halfback Matt Foley added 72 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Rex Wolf completed three of six passes for 46 yards and also scored on a one-yard run.

Bloomington Christian (10-3), the third-seeded team, rallied from a 20-8 deficit in the fourth quarter. Tim Wright scored on runs of four and five yards, and Tim Jiannino tossed a 33-yard touchdown pass to Bracken for the Ravens.

Cal Lutheran upset top-seeded Antelope Valley Christian, 62-12, in the second round.

California Lutheran 26, Bloomington Christian 20

CL--Wolf 1 run (run failed)

CL--Ehinger 34 run (pass failed)

BC--Wright 5 run (Wright run)

CL--Foley 16 run (Foley run)

BC--Wright 4 run (run failed)

CL--Ehinger 12 run (run failed)

BC--Bracken 33 pass from Jiannino (pass failed)

LEADING RUSHERS--CL: Ehinger 23-168; BC: Wright 29-97. LEADING PASSERS--CL: Wolf 3-6-1, 46; BC: Jiannino 6-10-2, 110. LEADING RECEIVERS--CL: Krug 2-20; BC: Bracken 4-111.

Attendance--400.