LA CAÑADA — All teams are hopeful entering their first game of the season. The healthier the team remains, the higher the chance of making a successful season a reality.
However, St. Francis started on the wrong foot as starting quarterback, Shawn Sanders, broke his collarbone a week ago. On Friday, Aug. 22, at St. Francis High School, the Golden Knights could not catch a break as their backup quarterback, Ashton Gill, exited the game with an arm injury and never returned.
The struggle to find an offensive identity proved too much against St. Bonaventure, who took advantage and won 19-7. There’s never a good enough excuse for losing a game, but even with their backs to the wall, the Golden Knights put up a fight.
“We got it to one score there, unfortunately, the kid jumped offside, but the defense played great,” said Golden Knights coach Dean Herrington. “We were down to our fifth-string quarterback, and we even scored with him despite taking no reps in practice. When we get Shawn back, he’s a dynamite player. Hopefully, he’s back in four weeks, but Brady (Cofre) will be starting next week. Time to get back to work.”
Once Gil was taken out of the game, the Golden Knights went with a wildcat approach. Elijah Wilson took the bulk of the offense and was ready to put the team on his back.
Wilson and the Golden Knights’ defense, which forced one turnover and limited the Seraphs to just three first-half points, did all they could. Wilson ended the first half with 59 rushing yards on 14 carries.
The Golden Knights had an opportunity to get some points on the board thanks to a late interception by Keilyn Mills, but a blocked field goal as the clock expired left the Golden Knights scoreless heading into the halftime locker room.
The Seraphs’ third-quarter surge was the difference maker. St. Bonaventure outscored the Golden Knights 9-0, and in a low-scoring game, that was just enough to put the final nail in the coffin.
Instead of backing away, fifth-string quarterback Brady Cofre came into the game with no reps in practice all week. Cofre is a senior captain who also plays defensive back and recorded an interception in the third quarter.
Despite the odds, Cofre helped lead the lone touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. On that drive alone, Cofre hit three passes for 8 yards each while rushing for 21 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown.
The efforts earned Cofre another chance to start with a week of practice to come.
The Golden Knights needed one more stop late in the fourth quarter to keep their hopes alive, but were unable to get it. The valiant effort doesn’t go unnoticed, and the Golden Knights are keeping their heads high for their next matchup against Mira Costa.
“We came out, and our defense showed out. We’re battling a ton of injuries right now, so it’s hard to get anything going,” said Cofre. “We played hard, and I’m not mad about anything. I played quarterback my first two years, so it’s all in the system. I’m just learning to get better. We’re battling injuries, so I have to step up. I’m not worried about this at all.”