Making history

Prep football: Cardinals rout Southlands to put final touches on storybook season

In a season full of dominating wins, Santa Clarita Christian School saved something special for its regular-season finale.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 48-point halftime lead on their way to a 62-6-win Thursday over Southlands Christian at College of the Canyons. They finished out the first undefeated regular season in the school’s 11-man football history. They also won their first-ever San Joaquin League title.

Junior quarterback Blake Kirshner connected with Blaike Orth on touchdowns of 24, 22 and 43 yards within the first five minutes of the game. Orth set up the Cardinals’ (10-0, 4-0 San Joaquin League) first touchdown of the night with one of the team’s four interceptions.

Kirshner finished the first half, which ended with a running clock, with five touchdowns. He’s thrown for 12 touchdowns over the team’s last two games.

Lucas Pettee sandwiched an 11yard rushing touchdown amid Kirshner and Orth’s scoring frenzy. Pettee entered the night 296 yards shy of reaching 1,000 on the season.

The sophomore was helped off the field due to an apparent leg injury after an 11-yard touchdown run in

the third quarter. Pettee ended the night with 106 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries.

Orth and Dylan Rowsey also left with respective injuries in the second half and needed to be helped off the field.

Kade Kalinske was the beneficiary of Kirshner’s final two touchdown strikes of the first half, hauling in two 8-yard touchdown passes in the second quarter. Ethan Frields finished out the first-half scoring with a 32-yard pick-six. Frields also collected 2 ½ sacks while Wyatt Kennedy added two interceptions.

Southlands Christian (2-8, 1-4) tackled on its only points with a 2-yard rush from Bryson Smith in the fourth quarter.