Football Recap: Jerome Smith (Spanky)'s Big Game Can't Quite Lead Upland over Damien

Upland extended their losing streak to four on Thursday, dropping them down to 1-7. They came up short against the Damien Spartans, falling 35-14. The contest was a 14-14 toss-up at halftime, but the Highlanders/Scots couldn't quite close it out.

Upland's defeat came despite a true team effort from the offense with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jerome Smith (Spanky), who rushed for 60 yards and one touchdown, and also picked up 80 receiving yards. Another signal caller making a difference was Lequand (Jack Jack) Jackson, who threw for 182 yards and one TD.

Even if they lost, Upland's defensive line still kept up the pressure with three sacks. In that department, Oscar Hernandez was the leader with two.

As for Damien, the victory made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 7-1. Given their advantage in MaxPreps' California football rankings (they are ranked 32nd, while Upland is ranked 162nd) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.

Damien's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Isaiah Arriaza, who threw for 216 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and also rushed for 48 yards and one score. Travon Garrison Jr was another key player, picking up 167 receiving yards and a pair of TDs.

Coming up, Upland will be playing at home against Ayala at 7:00 p.m. on the 24th. The Highlanders/Scots will be up against the Bulldogs' rather soft defense (which has allowed 39.13 points per game), so fans could be in store for a big offensive performance. As for Damien, they are taking a road trip to face off against Chino Hills at 7:00 p.m. on the 24th. The Huskies' defense has only allowed 14.2 points per game this season, so the Spartans' offense will have their work cut out for them.