Aggies rack up 641 yards, remain undefeated

Arbor View used 641 yards of offense to turn a nail-biter into a romp on Thursday, earning a 48-28 road wn over Faith Lutheran.

The Aggies improved to 9-0 overall and 7-0 in the Northwest League to set up next week’s showdown with Palo Verde.

Arbor View gained all but 25 yards on the ground, including 288 yards from Roderick Eason, who rushed for 194 yards in the fourth quarter alone.

Eason was also a defensive star. With the Crusaders (4-5, 2-5) marching late in the first half, Eason had the first hit on Faith Lutheran quarterback Joe Portaro to halt the drive at the 1-yard line with no time on the clock.

Defense at the 1 would make a difference in the second half as well. After a 21-21 fourth-quarter tie was broken by a 40-yard Eason TD run, the Aggies forced a Crusaders fumble just outside the goalline after a 79-yard drive.

Arbor View got 252 yards rushing from junior Christian Rodriguez, while Faith was led by its air attack with 396 passing by Portaro. Faith seniors Don Pearson and Brett Lubbe had 164 and 149 yards receiving, respectively.

“They do something that nobody else in the league does,” Arbor View coach Dan Barnson said. “It was a good thing we came off the bye week. They’re going to get their yards. It’s just bend but not break.”

Arbor View clinched a home playoff opener with the win, while the Crusaders were eliminated from postseason contention in their second year in Class 4A.