Aquinas’ Branden Rankins (#7) runs away from Ontario Christian’s Jarod Belden (#12) and Christian Brooks (#9), scoring a touchdown on a kick-off return during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas quarterback Salieu Ceesay (#1), stiff arms Ontario Christian’s Christian Brooks (#9), during the first half of Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Ruben Fabian,(#12), catches a pass for a touchdown over Ontario Christian’s Adrian Parada (#22), during the first half of Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Marceles Gooden (#23) returns an interception against Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Ontario Christian’s Ethan Venerable (#21) is tackled by Aquinas’ Juan Ortega (#6) during the first/second half of Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Ontario Christian’s Ethan Venerable (#21) is tackled by Aquinas’ Marceles Gooden (#23) during the first/second half of Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Ontario Christian’s Ethan Venerable (#21), and Connor Mooneyhan (#13), go after a fumble during the first half of Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Ruben Fabian,(#12), catches a pass for a touchdown over Ontario Christian’s Adrian Parada (#22), during the first half of Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Branden Rankins (#7) runs away from Ontario Christian’s Christian Brooks (#9), scoring a touchdown on a kick-off return during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Branden Rankins (#7), finds room to run against Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Salieu Ceesay (#1) reaches to tackle Ontario Christian’s Ethan Venerable (#21), during the first half of Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Marceles Gooden (#23) returns an interception against Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas High School hosted Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. The visiting Knights were no match for the undefeated Falcons. Aquinas recorded its third straight shutout, winning 52-0. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas High School hosted Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. The visiting Knights were no match for the undefeated Falcons. Aquinas recorded its third straight shutout, winning 52-0. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas High School hosted Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. The visiting Knights were no match for the undefeated Falcons. Aquinas recorded its third straight shutout, winning 52-0. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Marceles Gooden (#23) finds room to run against Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Branden Rankins (#7) runs away from Ontario Christian’s Jarod Belden (#12) and Christian Brooks (#9), scoring a touchdown on a kick-off return during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas High School hosted Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. The visiting Knights were no match for the undefeated Falcons. Aquinas recorded its third straight shutout, winning 52-0. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas High School hosted Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. The visiting Knights were no match for the undefeated Falcons. Aquinas recorded its third straight shutout, winning 52-0. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas High School hosted Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. The visiting Knights were no match for the undefeated Falcons. Aquinas recorded its third straight shutout, winning 52-0. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas High School hosted Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. The visiting Knights were no match for the undefeated Falcons. Aquinas recorded its third straight shutout, winning 52-0. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas High School hosted Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. The visiting Knights were no match for the undefeated Falcons. Aquinas recorded its third straight shutout, winning 52-0. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Branden Rankins (#7), finds room to run against Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Branden Rankins (#7), finds room to run against Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas High School hosted Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. The visiting Knights were no match for the undefeated Falcons. Aquinas recorded its third straight shutout, winning 52-0. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Branden Rankins (#7), finds room to run against Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Branden Rankins (#7), finds room to run against Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Branden Rankins (#7), finds runing room against Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Ruben Fabian,(#12), catches a pass for a touchdown over Ontario Christian’s Adrian Parada (#22), during the first half of Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas High School hosted Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. The visiting Knights were no match for the undefeated Falcons. Aquinas recorded its third straight shutout, winning 52-0. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Branden Rankins (#7), finds runing room against Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Branden Rankins (#7), finds runing room against Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas quarterback Salieu Ceesay (#1), stiff arms Ontario Christian’s Christian Brooks (#9), during the first half of Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas’ Branden Rankins (#7) runs away from Ontario Christian’s Jarod Belden (#12) and Christian Brooks (#9), scoring a touchdown on a kick-off return during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
Aquinas High School hosted Ontario Christian during Friday’s Ambassador League game at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Ca., Friday, November 3, 2017. The visiting Knights were no match for the undefeated Falcons. Aquinas recorded its third straight shutout, winning 52-0. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)
SAN BERNARDINO >> Another dominant defensive night from the Aquinas football team made quick work of Ontario Christian on Friday night.
The Falcons returned an interception for a touchdown on the Knights’ first possession and rolled from there to an easy 52-0 win for their first perfect 10-0 regular season and the outright Ambassador League title.
Aquinas led 38-0 at halftime and played with a running clock the entire second half after Branden Rankins returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown to make it 45-0.
The Falcons finished the season with three straight shutouts and outscored their five Ambassador League foes 295-22, with the closest margin of victory coming in the league-opening 43-15 win over Riverside Notre Dame. Ontario Christian managed just 105 yards of offense.
“Defense stepped up,” Aquinas coach Jordan Brusig said. “They have been all through league, and we haven’t given up too many points all year. They have a relentless attitude, and I’m really proud of my guys, because they go both ways.”
Aquinas’ offense couldn’t be forgotten either, as it racked up 441 yards of offense and scored on each of its first six possessions. On the seventh and final drive, the Falcons ran out the clock.
Rankins, who is the all-time San Bernardino County career rushing leader, ran for 164 yards on 12 attempts with TD runs of 25 and 34 yards. He finished the regular season with 1,839 rushing yards.
Quarterback Salieu Ceesay completed 7 of 9 passes for 155 yards and two TDs, and Ruben Fabian caught a TD and returned an interception for a TD.
On Friday, the closest that Ontario Christian came to the end zone was the Aquinas 35, and that came on the first possession. That ended badly when the Knights went for it on fourth-and-4, and quarterback Kevin Jack’s pass ended up in the hands of Fabian. Fabian returned the interception 68 yards for a TD.
Jack was picked off again on the next drive, this time by Marceles Gooden. On the next play from scrimmage, the Falcons’ first offensive play, Rankins made Ontario Christian pay with a 25-yard TD run.
After a three-and-out by Ontario Christian, Aquinas drove into the red zone to only settle for a 37-yard field goal by Ceesay.
After another three-and-out by the Knights to start the second quarter, Aquinas drove down to Ontario Christian’s 32, where it had a fourth-and-9. Ceesay completed a pass over the middle to Fabian for the touchdown to make it 24-0 and the rout was on.
“Whoever gets the ball has got to do their job, and whoever we call on seems to step up and get it done,” Brusig said.
Now, Aquinas, ranked No. 1 in Division 9, turns its focus to the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
Last year the Falcons fell to St. Anthony 33-32 in the Division 10 championship game.
Meanwhile, Ontario Christian finished the regular season with an overall winning record for the third straight year, but will have to wait until Sunday to see if it gets an at-large bid into the Division 11 playoffs. The Knights took fourth place in the league standings.
Running back Ethan Venerable led Ontario Christian with 66 rushing yards on 10 attempts, and Jack completed 7 of 14 passes with two interceptions for 55 yards.2
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