Silva, Brown help Thunder offense overcome Jesuit in Division II quarterfinals

The running back duo of Rocklin High seniors Mason Silva and Elias Brown combined for 154 yards and four touchdowns and helped carry the Thunder to a 34-13 win over the Jesuit Marauders on Friday night. "The line was really performing and all week at practice, scouts have been giving us a good look and we went out and executed," Silva said. The win gets the Thunder back to the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals for the second year in a row. Last year, Rocklin High made it to the Division I finals where they lost to Folsom High. "That run last year just taught me grittiness and we powered through a lot of fights and this year is the same," Silva said. Rocklin's defense also performed well on Friday and pitched a shutout in the first half. Derek Keeley, Spencer Patton, Tom Sackinsky and Eli Hardy all had big nights for the Thunder. Hardy intercepted a pass with three minutes remaining in the first half that led to a Brown touchdown. "It all starts with Patton, who is a junior, but he is a two-year starter for us," Thunder coach Jason Adams said. "Also Koen Bell, John Correa and Tom Sackinsky. Those four guys set the tempo for us tonight and our defensive line controlling the line of scrimmage helped us control the tempo." Rocklin High began the game with a 16-play, 73-yard drive that lasted more than eight minutes and resulted in a 1-yard touchdown from Silva. Jesuit High decided to go for it on fourth down on their first offensive possession deep inside their own territory and failed. Thunder kicker Logan Pandis went on to make a 21-yard field goal to put Rocklin up 10-0. The Marauders struggled to move the ball in the first half and only totaled one first down. Rocklin High led 24-0 at the end of the half and Pandis converted a 27-yard field goal to start the second half, making it 27-0. "We had to win the line of scrimmage," Adams said. "They get off the ball really fast and we don't see their type of offense a lot, so our scout offense really gave us a good look. In some ways, even though we played well tonight, the kids who work for us on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday helped us win tonight. We won on both sides of the ball." Jesuit High began moving the ball more in the second half and scored to start the fourth quarter with a connection between quarterback CJ Lee to Trenton Dewar. Both teams traded turnovers on downs before Silva punched it in from 17 yards out to put the game to bed. Jagger Shaddix scored a touchdown for the Marauders with 27 seconds remaining. The Thunder advance to the Division II semifinals next Friday and they will travel to face the top-seeded Manteca Buffaloes, who beat Vacaville 42-0. "I think we just need to keep doing what we're doing," Adams said. "We're going to get in the weight room tomorrow and we'll work hard. They have to beat our whole team. We're going to take the Rocklin show on the road and we're looking forward to the opportunity of playing a really good team." Jesuit&emsp;&emsp;0&emsp;&emsp;0&emsp;&emsp;0&emsp;&emsp;13 Rocklin&emsp;7&emsp;&emsp;17&emsp; 3&emsp;&emsp;7 Rocklin - Mason Silva 1 run (Logan Pandis kick) Rocklin - Pandis 21 FG Rocklin - Elias Brown 2 run (Pandis kick) Rocklin - Brown 10 run (Pandis kick) Rocklin - Pandis 27 FG Jesuit - Trenton Dewar 5 pass from CJ Lee (kick) Rocklin - Silva 17 run (Pandis kick) Jesuit - Jagger Shaddix 1 run (kick failed)