Cloverdale hoping to get healthy entering bye week
The varsity football Eagles weathered their first defeat of the fall campaign on Saturday, dropping a 40-21 decision at Berean Christian in the pre-league finale in Walnut Creek.
The loss pushed Cloverdale’s record to 2-1, with a much needed bye on the schedule this week. The Eagles will kick off the NCL-1 campaign at Clear Lake on Sept. 26.
The Eagles entered Saturday’s road clash with just 20 available players due to a rash of injuries, and the lack of numbers combined with the 90-degree temperature would take their toll in the second half.
“Injuries cost us,” CHS head coach Rick Berry said. “The bye week should help get our four injured players back healthy.”
The Eagle’s third game of the campaign was actually much closer than the final score showed, with the outcome still in doubt until late in the fourth quarter.
Cloverdale drew first blood midway through the opening period when quarterback Greg Scaramella directed a drive culminating in a two-yard scoring burst by junior running back Luke Bernardi. Ivan Jimenez added the PAT kick and the Eagles led 7-0 at the end of one.
Berean Christian seized momentum early in the second quarter, finding pay-dirt on a five-yard scoring pass. The PAT kick failed and Cloverdale led 7-6. The lead was short-lived, as Berean Christian pounced on the ensuing on-side kick to set up a short field resulting in a 35-yard touchdown run and a 13-7 BC advantage.
Disaster struck again moments later when the Eagles were victimized by yet another successful on-side kick, leading directly to a 30-yard scoring strike – the third touchdown in little more than a minute – as Berean Christian took a 20-7 cushion into the half.
The Eagles did not pack it in, as defensive lineman John Janey picked off a pass early in the third quarter and took it 32-yards to the house in cutting the deficit to 20-14. Berean Christian answered late in the period, cashing in on a 20-yard pass play to make it 27-14 at the end of three.
The Eagles came right back on their first possession of the fourth quarter, finding the end zone on a pass and catch from Scaramella to speedy wide-out John McMillan to close within 27-21 with 11:52 left in the game.
It would be Cloverdale’s final offensive highlight, as Berean Christian iced the game with a pair of late scores en route to a 40-21 victory.
Luke Bernardi logged his third straight 100-yard rushing performance, finishing up a terrific effort with 170 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown. Other offensive leaders were Scaramella (6-11, 109 yards passing, TD), McMillan (4-90 yards receiving, TD), and Mason Meier (1-8 yards rushing, 2-14 yards receiving).
Leading tacklers included Damiyon Tamayo (2 tackles, 8 assists), Meier (3 tackles, 5 assists), Adrian Bernardi (1 tackle, 4 assists), McMillan (1 tackle, 1 assist), Danny Bernal (2 assists), Nick Scalabrini (3 assists), Luke Bernardi (6 assists), Damon McKinney (7 assists), Juan Chanure (2 assists), Jose Calivo (12 assists), Nick Scalabrini (INT), Adrian Gonzalez (4 assists), Ean Maya (1 assist), and John Janey (7 assists, INT, TD).
