Arcadia Beats Rancho Cucamonga, 23-13

Senior quarterback Brian Ziska ran for touchdowns of two and three yards and the Arcadia defense came up with two safeties in a 23-13 nonleague victory Friday night over Rancho Cucamonga at Arcadia.

Arcadia (5-0,) ranked No. 2 in the Southern Section Division III poll, also got 94 yards and a three-yard touchdown run from Michael Howe in 22 carries.

While Ziska, who completed nine of 22 passes for 92 yards, and Howe accounted for the offense, the Apaches’ opportunistic defense and special teams also contributed.

Arcadia, which won its opening game, 2-0, over La Canada St. Francis, had two safeties against its Division II opponent, the first to take a 9-7 halftime lead. Rancho Cucamonga quarterback Justin Zellhauer was tackled in the end zone by Arcadia’s Justin North and Samson Jagoras with nine seconds left in the second quarter. The second one pushed their lead to 17-13 when Reese Phillips sacked Zellhauer early in the fourth quarter.

“That helps the momentum,” Arcadia Coach Jon Dimalante said.

Rancho Cucamonga (2-2-1) forced the Apaches to punt after six plays on their next possession, but fumbled the return. The ball was recovered by Arcadia’s Hansen Sheih at the Cougars’ three-yard line. Ziska ran the ball in on the next play to give Arcadia its final margin of victory with 8:40 left.

Rancho Cucamonga drove 74 yards in 13 plays on its ensuing possession, but running back Josh Sayles fumbled at the one-yard line.

Sayles finished with 108 yards in 25 carries, including touchdown runs of 28 and 12 yards.