Sierra Canyon football blows out Oaks Christian

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — For the Oaks Christian football team, Friday night’s game against Sierra Canyon started with a thud.

Deshonne Redeaux fumbled the opening kickoff, and Sierra Canyon’s De’Markus Barnes scored an 8-yard rushing touchdown two plays later.

It was as bad an omen as the Lions could have experienced, and the game quickly spiraled out of control.

Turnovers and penalties plagued the Lions, while the Trailblazers continued to pile on points, taking a 56-0 lead into halftime.

With a running clock in effect, the second half came and went in a flash. A 65-yard touchdown run by sophomore Micah Slade was the only score in the second half, ending the game, 63-0.

Barnes, a senior who plays all over the field for Sierra Canyon, ignited the scoring spree, finding the end zone a second time on his second touch of the game.

“It 100 percent set the tone for the game,” Barnes said about his two early touchdowns. “I saw my guys on the sidelines really hyped after that. So yes, it set the tone.”

Senior quarterback Laird Finkel got into the touchdown column soon after, connecting with senior wide receiver Tron Baker for a 7-yard score.

Epitomizing how quickly things were getting out of hand, star defensive end Richard Wesley even got the opportunity to play on offense, taking an end-around on fourth down for a 23-yard rushing touchdown.

It was the first offensive touchdown of his varsity career.

“I told one of the assistant coaches, ‘Are we ever going to run this play,’” Wesley said. “I probably envisioned that play happening 50 times. I practiced celebrations at home. That was a surreal moment.”

Junior running back Jaxsen Stokes, who scored three touchdowns in Sierra Canyon’s 35-0 win over JSerra last week, broke off two big scoring plays in the middle of the second quarter.

Stokes took a handoff to the house for 59 yards and followed it up by catching a screen pass and taking off for a 60-yard touchdown on Sierra Canyon’s ensuing possession.

Amidst pitching a shutout, the Trailblazers’ defense got in on the scoring action as well.

Junior safety Myles Baker returned an interception 13 yards for a touchdown. Senior cornerback Havon Finney Jr. followed suit, taking an interception 90 yards for a touchdown.

“I’ve been saying since spring that defense was going to be our juice. Defense was going to be what we feed off. They are our heart and soul,” Sierra Canyon head coach Jon Ellinghouse said. “But I’m also really proud of the way the other side of the ball is playing. The best way I can say it is this is a fun team to coach. I enjoy coming to work and I’m along for the ride, enjoying every second of it.”

Sierra Canyon plays Punahou, a team from Hawaii, at home on Saturday.

Oaks Christian will play for its first win of the season against Liberty on the road Friday.