In a battle of raptors to kick off the 2024 season, the Falcons of Scripps Ranch held their wings high for a 42-27 home victory over the Golden Eagles of San Pasqual Friday evening.
Despite trailing 7-0 after the first quarter, Scripps Ranch emerged with a string of 28 unanswered points that went into the third quarter.
None of the scores was more important than Falcons senior Ryan Stadtherr picking up a loose ball on a missed field goal attempt and getting into the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown.
“We practice and know that the ball’s live for field goals,” Stadtherr said after the game. “So, I heard the block, turned around, saw the ball in the ground. I took that opportunity, picked it up, live ball. Took it to the end zone.”
That was in addition to Stadtherr leading the way offensively with 24 carries for 214 yards. He also had three receptions for 31 yards.
“We knew Ryan would be good,” Falcons head coach Marlon Gardinera said after the game. “He just established himself as one of the premier backs in San Diego County. We were just thinking, linebacker, linebacker, linebacker. Today, he showed everybody, he’s a running back.”
Stadtherr said that as much as he can accumulate his numbers, it is also a testament to his teammates.
“They’ve been putting in so much work,” he said. “They come out early to practices, they leave late, they make sure the game plan goes the way it’s supposed to. And I have a lot of respect for them boys.”
In total, the Falcons got 260 yards on the ground as sophomore quarterback Parker Armstrong made his first varsity start.
After San Pasqual got within eight points with four minutes left in the third, Armstrong put together a three-minute drive, which included finding junior Rex Theilacker for 32 yards on third-and-6 and junior Kai Kinsley for a 12-yard touchdown. That built the lead back to double digits with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter.
“He stepped it up great,” Stadtherr said of Armstrong, who completed 8 of 16 passes for 151 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. “He’s definitely a key player that every school needs in their offense, and he held his own for his first night. I’m excited to see what he does as he gets more involved.”
Senior Robert Renteria, Armstrong’s counterpart for San Pasqual, completed 7-of-12 passes for 131 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Renteria added five carries for 62 yards and a rushing touchdown.
Renteria was able to get into the end zone from 30 yards out on an option that he took on third-and-1 with 5:15 left in the first quarter.
Next Friday, San Pasqual has its home opener against Rancho Bernardo while the Falcons travel to El Capitan, which defeated Mira Mesa 21-14 on Thursday.
Honda is a freelancer
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Scripps Ranch 42, San Pasqual 27
San Pasqual – 7 0 13 7 – 27
Scripps Ranch – 0 21 14 7 – 42
SP – Renteria 30 run (Tuin kick)
SR – Stadtherr 1 run (Meltzer kick)
SR – Stadtherr 20 block field goal return (Meltzer kick)
SR – Stadtherr 1 run (Meltzer kick)
SR – 42 pass from Armstrong (Meltzer kick)
SP – Marquez 1 run (Tuin kick)
SP – 25 pass from Renteria (kick failed)
SR – 12 pass from Armstrong (Meltzer kick)
SR – Stadtherr 68 run (Meltzer kick)
Originally Published: