Sierra Canyon has it all working

Trailblazers show they will be a force again with lopsided victory over Oaks Christian.

Heading into the delayed and shortened high school football season, the lingering question surrounding Chatsworth Sierra Canyon was how the Trailblazers would absorb the loss of four All-CIF players off last year’s Division 1-AA state finalist team.

The first two games — a 4221 setback to reigning CIF Open Division state bowl champion Bellflower St. John Bosco and a 56-0 shutout of Playa del Rey St. Bernard — had provided no definitive answer.

However, Friday night’s 42-0 trouncing of Westlake Village Oaks Christian was proof that the Trailblazers can line up opposite the elites in the Southern Section’s top division.

Avenging a 21-14 nonleague defeat in 2019 — its only regular-season blemish that year — Sierra Canyon was impressive in all three phases in building a 21-0 halftime lead.

By intermission Jason Jones had rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns, Virginia Tech signee DJ Harvey had a 48-yard touchdown catch, a sack and an interception, and kicker Josh Bryan, a Notre Dame commit, had four touchbacks and was three for three on extra points. Jones closed the scoring with a 62yard scoring reception late in the third quarter.

Sometimes teams bond more after a disappointing loss than a rousing win, and that was the case for Sierra Canyon after its opener.

“We competed with the best team in the nation for a half,” Harvey said of the St. John Bosco game. “We were being negative and getting down on each other a little bit, but the St. Bernard game was a learning lesson. That turned us around.”

Oaks Christian (2-1) figured to have the advantage at quarterback with returner Cole Tannenbaum, but he completed only six of his 13 pass attempts in the first two quarters and was picked off twice.

Sierra Canyon newcomer Daniel Duran, meanwhile, completed nine of 16 throws for over 150 yards in the first half and threw a 52-yard scoring strike to Harvey on the third play of the third quarter. He had amassed over 300 yards in the air through three quarters.

“I was super impressed with Daniel and have been ever since he got here,” Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse said. “He’s got a great arm and he’s a great talent. After the first week, we felt we could’ve played [Bosco] even tougher but I was really proud of all the kids tonight. We dominated every facet of the game.

“I think we’ve shown so far this season that we can compete with any team out there.”