Calvary Finds Third Quarter Is the Charm

Calvary Chapel broke open a tie game by scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter on the way to defeating Whittier Christian, 29-20, in an Olympic League football opener Saturday night at Westminster High.

Justin Calas scored on a 17-yard run to cap a seven-play, 59-yard drive to open the second half, breaking a 7-7 tie. Calas, who carried the ball only twice in the first half, had four carries in the drive.

The Eagles moved 71 yards on their next scoring drive, with quarterback Terry Mermer running in from the one-yard line. A 23-yard run by Andy Avila and a 29-yard pass from Mermer to P.J. Novak set up the touchdown.

Avila’s 33-yard touchdown run with 13 seconds left capped the third-quarter rally. Blake West took a bad snap on the conversion try and ran for the two-pointer to increase Calvary Chapel’s lead to 29-7.

Whittier Christian cameback with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Quarterback Abe Santos scored on an eight-yard run with 11:16 left in the game.

David Jones reduced the lead to 29-20 with a 41-yard touchdown run with 3:30 remaining. The two-point conversion run failed when Calas tackled Anthony Ruiz on a reverse.

Avila ran for 195 yards for Calvary Chapel in 19 carries, and Calas added 113 yards in 15 carries. Mermer completed 14 of 31 passes for 180 yards and directed a no-huddle offense that gained 518 yards.

Santos completed six of 12 passes for 119 yards. Tim Albeanu was Whittier Christian’s leading rusher with 46 yards in 15 carries.

Calvary Chapel scored first on a one-yard run by Mermer early in the second quarter.