Our CIF-SS Eastern Division #4 ranked Spartans were "too tough, too fast" read the headlines in the Redlands Daily Facts after the Spartans won the season opener at Citrus Valley HS 27-9 last night. The Citrus Valley Blackhawks entered the game ranked #1 in the CIF-SS East Valley Division and #10 by The SUN newspaper with 19 returning starters from a team that went 9-2 in 2011; however, the "young" Spartans starting 12 sophomores off of last year's SAL freshman championship team coupled with a few key upperclassmen returners and a few senior transfers proved ready for the challenge.

The first quarter began auspiciously for the Spartans as a botched punt at midfield gave the Blackhawks great field position on their first drive which they took all the way to the Spartan goal line on several plays but resulted in a touchback as a Spartan defender stripped the ball away from the Blackhawk runningback as he was about to score a touchdown and the ball rolled out of bounds through the end zone. The Spartans immediately countered though with a 80 yard drive culminating with 27 yard TD pass from QB Tahir Rashed-Mills to WR Nathan Meadors. K Luis Limas added the extra point to give the Spartans a 7-0 first quarter lead.

San G extended the lead at 7:49 of the second quarter to 14-0 as Melik Jackson punched in a 2 yard run up the middle for another TD (Limas extra point). The second quarter then ended as the two teams exchanged field goals in the final minutes... San G's Limas made a 25 yard FG for a 17-0 lead and the Blackhawks kicked a 23 yard FG as time expired at half to make the score 17-3.

At the end of the third quarter after several punts by both teams, San G's Limas increased the Spartan lead to 20-3 on a 22 yard FG. Then midway through the fourth quarter, Rashed-Mills found Nathan Mathews on a 17 yard TD pass and Limas' extra point put the score out of reach at 27-3. The Blackhawks did manage to record a TD with about 6 minutes left to make the final score 27-9. The Spartans drove the ball the length of the field to end the game, running out the clock, and turned the ball over on downs with 4 seconds left at the Blackhawk 12 yard line.

Spartan QB Tahir Rashed-Mills had a great night thowing 8-18 for 120 yards with 2 TD's and running for another 99 yards.

Next up for the Spartans is our home opener next Friday, August 31 vs Cajon at 7pm in Phil Haley Stadium!