Adventure Christian earns respect in loss to Mira Loma

In football, respect is earned. Adventure Christian did plenty of that Thursday night, even in an 82-27 loss to Mira Loma. The teams shook hands before kickoff, as Mira Loma had seen its previous four games end in forfeits before the clock reached zeroes, Adventure Christian made it clear before Thursday night's matchup: The Warriors were going to play until the final whistle, and when it came, both teams would shake hands once again. The final score favored the Matadors, but the scoreboard couldn't capture the fight Adventure Christian brought against one of the state's top 8-man football teams or the circumstances that made the matchup mean so much more. "We were not going to give up. We were going to play until the very last play," Adventure Christian coach Deane Surface said. "I went over at halftime, and I told that coach, regardless of the score, we will shake hands at the end of the game." Mira Loma, which entered the night unbeaten at 7-0, had overwhelmed opponents throughout the season. The Matadors showed why again Thursday, with Keion Kado accounting for six touchdowns and quarterback Deangelo Keys connecting with receivers for several explosive scores. But Adventure Christian, a first-year varsity program with just two seniors, refused to go quietly. The Warriors traded scores with the Matadors early, taking a 13-8 lead on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Miles Boudreau to Ryan Fretland after Kado returned the opening kickoff 83 yards for a score. Mira Loma answered with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Keys to Kado to reclaim the lead, 14-13, after the opening quarter. The Matadors began to pull away in the second quarter, capitalizing on mistakes and turning defensive stops into points. Kado added a touchdown reception and a pair of special teams scores, while Cesar Diaz returned an interception for a touchdown. Keys found Diaz for a 52-yard score before Boudreau answered with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Josh Cherry. Keys and Diaz connected again for a 75-yard touchdown late in the half, sending Mira Loma into the break with a 52-21 advantage. The Warriors had every reason to fold but they kept swinging. Mira Loma continued to pile on points in the third quarter, including a pick-six by Kado, but Adventure Christian kept competing as Fretland powered into the end zone late in the quarter to give the Warriors their final points. Mira Loma's lead grew to 82-27, but the Matadors' coaching staff came away impressed with what it saw from the Warriors. "It was fantastic. They're a great team, super competitive, well-coached," said Mira Loma coach Jesse Collins of the Warriors. "It was nice to get a full game in and our kids could actually get some work in. They did a great job." Surface said the difference came down to experience. Mira Loma has roughly 15 or 16 seniors, while Adventure Christian relies heavily on freshmen and sophomores. "When it came down to critical situations, we made bonehead plays," Surface said. "That's the difference in the game." Still, the coach said he believed his team belonged on the field with the Matadors, who have established themselves as one of the premier teams in 8-man football. "We earned their respect tonight," Surface said. The feeling was mutual, as even Mira Loma players tipped their cap to their opponents after the game. "That was the best opponent we have faced. It was good, I'd love to have that rematch," Kado said of Adventure Christian. That respect meant something to a program that has spent the season trying to establish itself and was dealt a significant blow earlier this month. Adventure Christian learned during its bye week in early October that it had not been approved as a full-fledged CIF Sac-Joaquin Section member, leaving the Warriors ineligible for postseason play despite being state ranked and rated among the section's top 8-man teams. The decision came after a disappointing loss to Foresthill and left players questioning whether the season was worth continuing. Surface said some players wanted to quit when they learned they would not get the chance to compete for a section championship. Instead, he challenged them to finish what they had started. That became the team's theme over the past two weeks and will remain the message through the final two games of the season. "Very disappointing," Surface said of the CIF decision. "It's just disappointing for these kids that they're going to miss out on the playoffs, and we feel like we could make some noise in the playoffs." The Warriors responded with a win over Valley Christian before taking on Mira Loma, a team Surface said he would welcome another opportunity to face. Adventure Christian is expected to be eligible for a revote in February, Surface said, giving the program another opportunity to gain full CIF membership. For now, the Warriors must wait while continuing to build a foundation for the future. Surface believes Thursday night's performance represented that foundation, noting the grit and resilience the Warriors have shown to finish their season after a gut punch. He pointed to Fretland, who finished with multiple touchdowns despite playing through injuries, as an example of the team's determination. The Warriors have dealt with injuries throughout the season, Surface said, but the players have continued to show up and compete. "Ryan really, I think, epitomizes the heart and the spirit of our team," Surface said. "There's just no quit." For Surface, that mentality is about more than football. It's about building a culture that will last long after his coaching career ends. "The key word is culture, and that is exactly what we're trying to build," Surface said. "To me, the culture has to outlive me." Adventure Christian didn't leave Thursday night with a victory, and the result won't change its postseason fate this season. But against a team that has made a habit of overwhelming its opponents, the Warriors competed and earned the respect of a program that has rarely been challenged the last two years.