Prep football: Christian Brothers edges Vista in nail-biter, dedicates win to Spencer Webb

Before the season started, the Christian Brothers High School football team knew who they were playing for.

They dedicated the season to Spencer Webb, who was one of the most notable football alumni of the Sacramento school. Webb, 22, was a tight end at Oregon entering his junior season. He died in July in a cliff-diving accident.

On Friday against Vista Del Lago, with the game knotted at 28 with four minutes left, Falcons linebacker Dustin Regino sacked Vista del Lago quarterback Johnny Koett in the end zone for a safety. Minutes later, freshman quarterback Deakon Holden connected with Marcus Price for a 22-yard game-sealing score.

Price wears No. 4, the same number Webb dawned when he was in school. Christian Brothers was able to run out the clock after a late Vista del Lago score to win 37-35 in Folsom.

It sealed the Capital Athletic League championship and a perfect 6-0 league record. The last time No. 13 Christian Brothers won a league title was 2017, Webb’s senior season. The Falcons beat Vista del Lago on its home field that night.

“Preseason, we said this season was for Spencer,” Christian Brothers coach Larry Morla said. “We haven’t won a league championship since (Spencer’s senior year). I promised we were going to get here.”

Morla added, “This does mean a lot to us. For the school and for the Christian Brothers community. That’s why we brought the jersey over because this game was for him. This team rallied around the coaches and players.”

No. 14 Vista del Lago led 20-6 at halftime before Christian Brothers scored 22 unanswered.

Holden stepped in for junior quarterback William Littlejohn late after he suffered from cramps. Morla says having a freshman quarterback is new territory for him but was confident the 14-year-old could get the job done.

“Deakon Dimes came in and wasn’t phased,” Morla said. “He’s been playing all season for us. It was nothing for him. (I’ve) never seen anything like it. We had a freshman receiver last year and a freshman quarterback this year. We are young. We are going to win more banners in the future.”

As for Holden, he felt the pressure and delivered.

“I was nervous,” Holden said. “I got in and knew we had to win this game. This means a lot because not a lot of freshmen get this opportunity. I was one of them and we came down with it.”

Littlejohn threw for 243 yards and had two total touchdowns. He connected with star receiver Phillip Bell for a 20-yard touchdown and rushed for a 3-yard touchdown. Landon Howard had rushing touchdowns of 2 and 22 yards.

For the Eagles, Koett threw for 375 yards and had touchdown passes of 2, 8 and 70 yards. Matt Long had seven catches for 116 yards and a touchdown and Crew Santero added five catches for 115 yards.

Vista del Lago running back Xaiver Bryant ran for 91 yards and scored a 13-yard touchdown to tie the game at 28. Bryant caught three passes for 38 yards in the second half.

Both teams now await their playoff seeding. The Sac-Joaquin Section will release the playoff brackets on Sunday afternoon. Both teams should be seeded high in the Division lll bracket.

“When we play our brand of football, we can be unstoppable,” Morla said. “I anticipate a bye so we will get rested up for the playoffs.”