Max Vasquez scored four touchdowns, and Cate’s offensive line dominated Upland Christian in a 59-18 victory in a first-round game of the CIF Division 1 8-man football playoffs on Saturday.
“Our offensive line was fantastic,” assistant coach Dave Soto said. “Every single guy we put in there was amazing. The key for us today was the offensive line. They were everything we wanted them to be.”
The teams traded scores early until Vasquez broke a 65-yard run for a touchdown and a 14-12 lead. Oliver Welch booted a 36-yard field goal to put the Rams ahead 17-12.
The offensive line paved the way for another Vasquez touchdown run, this one a 26-yarder.
Quarterback Michael Nettesheim threw a 12-yard scoring pass to Vasquez to make it 31-12. Receiver Abraham Tall ran a reverse for a 30-yard touchdown and Vasquez bolted 45 yards for the Rams’ sixth straight score, giving them a 46-12 lead.
“We got a good punch to the gut in the first couple of possessions,” said Soto. “Once we settled down, the kids responded well. They went into a nice run and didn’t let them score again until late in the fourth quarter.”
The Cate defense made three stops on fourth down to thwart Upland Cbristian..
“We did a good job of bending but not breaking,” Soto said of the defensive effort.
Isaiah Washington scored on a 25-yard run and defender Andrew Smith fell on a bad snap in the end zone to round out Cate’s scoring.
The Rams (7-3) travel to Canoga Park next Saturday for a second-round game against Faith Baptist.
