Sports
With leaping catches, Saints bested coverage
Zion Jenkins showed prowess despite pain in LCA's loss against Sherman Oaks Center of Enrichment.
By Michael Ashcraft --
Dinged up in the first quarter, Zion Jenkins beat coverage twice with leaping catches to put Lighthouse in range for a last minute touchdown to end its bruising loss to Sherman Oaks Center for Enrichment with some measure of respect.
"Pain is in the mind. It hurts, but I'm going to go out and give it all for my team," the senior said. "I changed my mindset. My team needed me, so I said, 'Screw it. I'm going to go till my body collapses.'"
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Lighthouse Christian Academy came back from a 3-week break to lose to the Knights in Reseda 14-42.
Zion, who is an offensive and defensive star for LCA, took a hard hit to the shoulder early in the game Friday. He played through the pain, in spite of the pain. His heroics paid off.
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After Sherman Oaks scored two TDs in the first quarter, sophomore quarterback Justice Neos ran back a kickoff return to get the Saints their first points. Soccer player Exjani Rojas made a diving catch to the extra points.
At half, it was 8-18.
LCA threw three interceptions to the well-coached team, whose football roster has basically as many kids as the entire Lighthouse student population (which is 38).
To make the late drive to TD, Zion bested the interception coverage twice with spectacular leaping catches. Justice ran the ball in for the final yards.
