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MISSION HILLS — 1-0 each week.
That’s the mentality Chaminade football head coach David Machuca engrains in his players.
Friday night in the Mission League opener for Chaminade and Alemany, his team heeded his words, defeating the Warriors 43-8 to remain undefeated on the season and start league play 1-0.
“The mission may be from the media’s perspective to go all the way and we’re 6-0, but I tell them every week we’re 1-0,” Machuca said. “We went 1-0 tonight and tomorrow we’re gonna watch the film and we’re gonna start Monday and try to go 1-0 and win Homecoming next week against Notre Dame.”
Screen pass from Tupouata-Johnson to Alex Reyes for the 16-yard touchdown
Chaminade 29
Alemany 0
Two mins til halftime @Tarek_Fattal pic.twitter.com/r1rWc0st2P
— Dan Lovi (@LoviSports) October 1, 2022
“That’s coach’s motto, we got to start 1-0,” echoed running back Jaelon Barbarin. “We don’t want to get too over our heads with what happened in previous weeks. Stay fresh, stay humble, keep our heads focused and that’s all that matters.”
Barbarin led an explosive Chaminade offense that scored in four plays on its first offensive possession. Quarterback Javance Tupouata-Johnson found a wide open Robert Burns in the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown.
On the Eagles’ next possession after recovering a successful onside kick, Barbarin scored on a 21-yard run. The senior back finished with 62 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.
“It’s very special. It’s fun to play with this team and an O-Line that’s with you every play,” Barbarin said. “Go to the ground every single play with you and pick you back up. Nothing but fun, nothing but excitement.”
While Chaminde’s offense did its job masterfully, the defense did its job with the same vigor, suffocating Alemany’s rushing attack.
Going into the contest knowing the Warriors run the ball over 80 percent of the time, the defense stuck to the game plan of maintaining the gaps and plugging any holes, giving Alemany’s running back tandem of Paden White and Jeremiah Claiborne little room to navigate.
“Throughout the week our main focus was being aggressive against the run,” said linebacker Isaiah Chisom. “Our game plan was to bring it to them. They have big and physical linemen, so bring it to them first and they’ll get tired.”
White and Claiborne did their best to keep Alemany’s offensive moving with their power-running style. White ran for 123 yards on 25 carries and Claiborne rushed for a touchdown and 39 yards on 12 carries.
Jaelon Barbarin takes it 21 yards to the house.
Chaminade 16
Alemany 0
4:14 1Q @Tarek_Fattal pic.twitter.com/5YBsqGAZqT
— Dan Lovi (@LoviSports) October 1, 2022
Chaminade’s defense was too overwhelming, however, making Alemany earn every yard with physical play up front.
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“We had some successful plays, but we have to do better breaking tackles,” White said. “At the end of the day, it wasn’t enough against Chaminade tonight. Our running game works but we have to get better, we have some flaws. This is a learning experience.”
Tupouata-Johnson finished the game with three touchdown passes, the opening score to Burns, a 16-yard touchdown screen pass to Alex Reyes and a strike to Logan Carpenter who took it to the house for 72 yards.
Backup quarterback Seth Shigg saw some time under center as well, scoring on an 81-yard quarterback keeper in the third quarter.
Chaminade will face Notre Dame next week and Alemany will take on Sierra Canyon.