Rocklin’s defense makes statement in blowout win over Capital Christian
Rocklin High School junior Austin Adams fantasized of playing football on Friday nights. Ever since he was barely old enough to talk, he was a fixture watching his dad Jason coach the Placer County team.
Adams’ dream came true and it’s all he could’ve ever wanted. Adams is the ringleader of a vicious Rocklin defense. The second-ranked Thunder flashed plenty of defensive stops as they steamrolled ninth-ranked Capital Christian 43-14 Friday night in Sacramento.
“It’s a dream come true, even though it’s high school football,” Adams said. “I have been out here since I was 2, thinking, ‘When will it be my turn.’ Just watching my dad come home and showing me film, I wanted to be just like him and make big plays out there. It’s very surreal.”
He added, “It’s pretty amazing (to be out here). It feels so good (watching your teammate) make a big play and you can go hype him up after. Every time we make a play, it’s not about us, it’s about all 11 that’s on the field, everyone on the sideline, even though they’re not in. Everyone is into it. No one is pouting around because they’re not in. We are just a big unit and you can’t beat a unit.”
The Thunder (3-0) forced a pair of turnovers, an interception each by Adams and senior Teeg Sloan. Kaiden Baker and Josh Kelly had sacks and the rest of the defensive line applied constant pressure on Capital Christian star quarterback Anthony Garcia, who didn’t have a clean pocket to throw in for the majority of the game.
“It all starts in practice,” Rocklin defensive coordinator Brandon Bochi said. “We were really excited for this one because we knew they had some great players and a great quarterback. We were really excited for the challenge and (our team) brought in tonight. … It’s a great feeling when they’re executing the game plan. They do a good job. They’re so coachable, passionate and hard-working. We tell them what to do and they play hard every play.”
Bochi added, “(Our team) has some ballhawks. They’re really good at playing the ball in the air. Our defensive line just plays so fundamentally sound. They get great pressure on the quarterback. We knew those two groups were going to shine.”
Rocklin led 43-7 at the half and pulled all of its starters once the game had a running clock in the third quarter. On the season, Rocklin has allowed only 22 points total.
Garcia’s 70-yard touchdown pass to Kanye Clark in the second quarter was the first touchdown Rocklin’s starting defense had given up. Garcia threw a touchdown to sophomore Kayo Patu with two minutes remaining.
On the other side of the ball, the quarterback play from Rocklin senior Kenny Lueth was nearly flawless. Lueth passed for 304 yards, with two touchdown passes to Elias Mullican and one each to Kyran Bell and Anthony Johnston. Johnston ran for 123 yards and had a 3-yard touchdown.
This game was supposed to happen on Aug. 27, but it was postponed due to wildfire smoke. Both teams had a bye week opening for Friday night.
Rocklin will host crosstown rival Whitney in the Quarry Bowl on Friday in a Sierra Foothill League opener. Capital Christian (1-2) hosts Vista del Lago in a Capital Athletic League opener.