Whittier Christian Shuts Down Cantwell

WHITTIER — Whittier Christian limited Montebello Cantwell to 20 yards total offense and gained 324 yards of its own in a 31-2 Division IX playoff rout Friday night at Whittier College.

Whittier Christian (9-2) advances to next week’s second round against Tehachapi, which defeated Highland, 17-7, Friday night.

Leading, 9-2, after a sloppy first half in which the Heralds turned the ball over twice and were penalized five times for 70 yards, Whittier Christian came out strong in the second half.

Tracy Hoffman, who rushed for 166 yards, capped a 10-play, 77-yard drive with a 43-yard touchdown run. Aaron Meschuk added a two-point conversion, giving Whittier Christian a 17-2 lead.

After Whittier Christian stopped Cantwell (5-5-1) on downs, the Heralds marched down the field again, this time on a 10-play, 65-yard drive capped by a one-yard Meschuk run. Cantwell fumbled the ensuing kickoff, which set up Hoffman’s final one-yard touchdown run.

“We stunk the place up in the first half,” Herald Coach Tom Caffrey said. “We really executed in the second half. We pressured them on defense and executed on the line of scrimmage.”