LA CANADA—St. Francis running back Isaac Fajardo refused to let a sprained ankle get in the way of his team’s quest for a CIF-Southern Section playoff spot. His three touchdowns, 156 rushing yards on 22 carries and clutch running on St. Francis’ final drive pushed the Golden Knights to a 39-30 win over Paraclete on Friday night in Angelus League play.
St. Francis (2-6, 2-1) has now won two games in a row and is in position to secure a playoff spot if it can win at least one of its two remaining games.
Fajardo said he sprained his ankle in practice more than a week ago and that it’s been on his mind.
“I know we’re definitely in a tight spot right now for the playoffs,” Fajardo said. “I told myself it is what it is. I got to fight through and try to get a win as best we can and that’s what we did.”
St. Francis coach Dean Herrington praised Fajardo.
“He’s a warrior,” Herrington said. “That kid might be one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached in all my years of coaching. The kid is a stud to play like he did in this type of game.”
Fajardo’s most impressive runs came on a drive in which he didn’t even score.
St. Francis led 29-10 early in the third quarter but then found itself clinging to a 36-30 lead with 9:04 left in the game.
St. Francis started that fourth quarter drive with 9:04 left at its own 17. Herrington then put the game on the shoulders of Fajardo and the offensive line. Fajardo carried the ball three straight times. He gained four yards on a 3rd-and-2 at the Golden Knights 25 to get a first down and keep the clock moving.
On Fajardo’s fifth straight carry of the drive, he broke free for a 27-yard run that gave the Golden Knights a first down at the Paraclete 43. He then busted through for a 16-yard gain on the next play. Fajardo followed that with runs of nine, six, minus-2, two and six yards.
The clock kept running as St. Francis waited each play until the play clock nearly hit zero. Paraclete only had one timeout left which it used with just over two minutes remaining. St. Francis was able to move the ball all the way to the Paraclete 6 after 11 straight Fajardo carries. The clock wound down to just 26 seconds when kicker Shawn Sanders nailed a 23-yard field goal to give the Golden Knights a nine-point lead that iced the game.
Fajardo laughed and admitted he was a little tired after the final drive but he credited his offensive line.
“The offensive line worked very hard,” he said. “It’s been a struggle since the beginning of the season but as we’re ending the season I have faith in all of them.”
Herrington agreed.
“The offensive line did a great job,” said Herrington. “Everyone was blocking. (Quarterback) John Sanders was blocking so it was a great job.”
Herrington said he’s letting Sanders run more now that he’s played a few games after coming back from a knee injury. Sanders rushed for 86 yards on eight carries. He only completed six of 10 passes for 74 yards and one touchdown.
St. Francis led 21-10 at halftime. Sanders found Brady Cofre for a 19-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter to put St. Francis up 7-0. Fajardo added touchdown runs of 10 yards and one yard in the second quarter.
He capped an eight-play, 73-yard drive to start the third quarter with a two-yard touchdown run. He even ran in the 2-point conversion following an offsides penalty by Paraclete.
Paraclete though came back and cut the lead to 29-23 early in the fourth quarter before Deveon Blaylock returned a kickoff back for a 79-yard touchdown. He took the ball up the middle before cutting right down the sideline to give the Golden Knights a two-score cushion.
Paraclete’s Eric Green scored on a one-yard run a couple of minutes later to narrow the gap to 36-30. He finished with 10 catches for 144 yards. He also caught a 29-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter from quarterback Joseph Mesa that tied the game 7-7.
The Golden Knights will play Cathedral next week before ending the season against St. Pius X-St. Matthias.
