Prep football: Young Bradshaw Christian shows why the Pride is roaring through season

The kids are more than alright.

Bradshaw Christian’s young guns outdueled an inexperienced Galt team in a 54-0 rout Friday night.

Bradshaw Christian has nine starting sophomores on offense and eight sophomores starting on defense. About 40 percent of Galt’s roster is filled by first-year varsity players.

A stifling defensive showing from the Pride was led by one of the most unlikely sources.

Junior cornerback Robert Garduno got three interceptions for the Pride. This is his first year playing football at any level. Garduno is a star baseball player at Bradshaw. Coach Drew Rickert, who also coaches the baseball team, convinced him to play football.

“I feel great,” he said. “You know, it’s been a rough two weeks recently. Just a lot of practicing. Honestly, man, I’m just playing through the Lord. He’s the one that’s helped me through it all. This was an awesome game!”

The Pride finished the game with eight total turnovers. Sophomore running back Mateo Mojica also starred with an interception and two rushing touchdowns.

Rickert lives and breathes this football team. He started the program back in 2006. A collegiate baseball player and star high school football player, Rickert is loved by his players and fellow coaches.

With the loss, Galt coach Mervin Brookins heaped praise on Rickert.

“He has built an environment that is almost unmatched in the area. His players give it their all in every game. They fight and fight,” Brookins added, “Rickert’s players would run through a brick wall for him.”

Rickert does not have a big staff. There are only nine coaches split between the varsity and junior varsity teams. The two teams usually practice together.

Rickert has built quite a legacy for this team. He has won five section titles with seven total appearances in his time as Bradshaw’s lone head football coach.

Garduno is further proof of Rickert’s coaching ability. The coach can turn a baseball player into a star corner within a year. Rickert has molded a sophomore-filled football team into a championship-level contender.

And he has been doing this for years.

Even Bradshaw Christian’s athletic director, Alex Williams, played under Rickert.

Bradshaw Christian’s night included rushing touchdowns from linemen Manny Marin and Jackson Takahashi. Three more rushing touchdowns came from Nathan Zeppieri, Brandon Burden and Tyler Fu. Quarterback Ethan Rickert, the coach’s son, also threw a touchdown pass to Tyler Anderton in a late score.

It was senior night at Bradshaw Christian, but the team only fielded three seniors. All three of them scored a touchdown.

On their unique grass field, Bradshaw moved to 6-2 on the season.

Despite the disappointing loss for Galt, Brookins wanted his team to continue to improve. The Warriors dropped to 2-7 with the loss.

Bradshaw visits Rosemont next week while Galt has an intracity showdown versus rival Liberty Ranch.