Leap of Faith : Faith Baptist Routs Brentwood, 60-26, to Win Eight-Man Title

BRENTWOOD — Faith Baptist High football coach Greg Weiss said his team’s only chance to beat Brentwood was to adjust to the Eagles’ defense.

Brentwood’s blitzing and trapping schemes bottled up Faith Baptist in an earlier meeting won by Brentwood.

But on Saturday afternoon, it was Faith Baptist that pulled the biggest stunt, defeating Brentwood, 60-26, to claim the Southern Section Eight-Man Large Schools Division championship.

Faith Baptist ended Brentwood’s 34-game winning streak and handed the Eagles a home loss for the first time since a 1990 playoff loss to Hesperia Christian. “In the first game, I got an F because I wasn’t prepared,” Weiss said. “This time, my staff and I got an A.”

Faith Baptist also avenged last year’s 35-34 loss to Brentwood in the championship game.

Quarterback Judd Granzow paced the Contenders, rushing for 127 yards in 16 carries and scoring on runs of 30, eight and two yards. Granzow completed three of six passes for 96 yards, including two for touchdowns.

Robert Escalante had a 16-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. Colby Carpenter scored on a 43-yard screen pass early in the second quarter to make the score 30-13. Escalante closed out the scoring with a 10-yard run in the fourth quarter.

“I’m glad to be leaving the same way I started,” Granzow said. “My first year here (1990), I quarterbacked a championship team, and now I get to close out the season and leave as (a champion), too.”

Faith Baptist led, 40-13, at halftime.

In the second half, the Contenders established a ground game to eat up the clock. Running back Rani Zahr had 129 yards in 15 carries and scored on a 30-yard run.

Said Weiss: “This is a fitting way for my seniors to end their careers at Faith. They went from third place to first place in a span of three years.”

Faith Baptist outscored opponents, 164-33, in its three playoff victories.