CARSON, Calif. - The California Interscholastic Federation hosted the Small Schools Football Championship on Friday at the Home Depot Center only to have a basketball game break out – and that was just fine with the Modesto Christian Crusaders.
A school long known for its outstanding basketball program, Modesto Christian used a fast break offense to outlast the Francis Parker Lancers 44-40 for its first state football championship. The Crusaders (15-0) won a state basketball championship in 1996.
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The Crusaders’ quick-hit abilities were on display throughout the game but were most pronounced at the end of the first half. The Crusaders trailed 3-0 after one quarter but scored three times in the second period to take a 20-17 lead. Two of Modesto Christian’s scoring drives took less than 1 minute and 14 seconds including a 13 second drive that allowed the Crusaders to regain the lead heading into the break.
However while defense was scarce throughout the contest, it was the Modesto Christian defensive unit that came up big and preserved the victory. Leading 44-40 following a 2-yard touchdown run by Keaton Engle with 5:38 left in the fourth quarter, Modesto Christian had to prevent one last drive by the Lancers.
That was a tall order since Parker quarterback Deon Randall had been nearly unstoppable throughout the night. Besides rushing for 276 yards and three touchdowns on the night, he also passed for 110 to account for close to 400 yards of total offense.
Randall got the Lancers close in the final minute, ripping off runs of 29, 5, 6 and 16 yards to get Parker to the 10-yard line with a first down and goal to go.
Randall audibled and tried a slant pass on first down, but the throw came up short. A run by Randall gained six yards to the 4-yard line and a 2-yard run by Kenny Brookins gave Parker a fourth down and goal to go at the 2-yard line with 1:43 left in the game.
Instead of going with another running play, Parker coach John Morrison called a Randall pass in the flat to Dalante Dunklin.
“We ran into a blitz and Deon had a run, pass option,” said Morrison. “He read the defense and decided to pass. I’ll never question anything Deon Randall decides. He’s been an amazing player for us all these years and he was amazing tonight. It’s too bad we just came a couple yards short.”
Dunklin caught the ball thrown slightly behind him and headed upfield, but he was tripped up by Dustin Hayes, who held on to Dunklin’s shoe at the 5-yard line while reinforcements arrived to finish off the play.
Tyler Jamison sneaks up to give head coach Mike Parsons a Gatorade bath.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
“He (Randall) was circling wheel which earlier in the game was a slant,” said Hayes, who is in his first year as a cornerback for the Crusaders. “I jammed the wideout, they threw it to (Dunklin) and I just had to go get him. I was lucky enough to get my arms around him and my teammates came for support.”
Modesto Christian coach Mike Parsons said the defensive stand was indicative of the Crusaders’ play all season long.
“He (Randall) made a good read. (Dunklin) is a great athlete,” said Parsons. “But our guys made a heck of a play. They’ve been making them all year. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
The defensive stand allowed Modesto Christian’s Isaiah Burse to run out the clock, thanks in part to a 14-yard run that gave the Crusaders a first down and allowed Burse to take a knee three straight times to end the game.
“The south has absolutely no respect for the north, so that makes this all the sweeter,” said Burse. “Bringing home a title to Modesto is the greatest.”
The game was billed as a battle between two outstanding quarterbacks, Parker’s Randall and Modesto Christian’s Burse, and they didn’t disappoint. While Randall accounted for 386 yards of offense and five touchdowns, Burse rushed for 122 yards and a score and threw for 89 and three touchdowns.
“Man, he’s really good,” said Burse, referring to Randall. “I thought I was looking at myself out there. I didn’t get to talk to him after the game but if I did I’d tell him he’s a great player and that I’m sorry his team came up short.”
Burse, however, had a little more help on offense. When he wasn’t running or passing the ball, he was handing off to Engel or Kevin Roya, who combined for 308 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Engel ran for 157 yards on 11 carries with two touchdowns while Roya rushed 13 times for 151 yards. Roya also caught three passes for 47 yards and two scores.
The game started out as a defensive battle as the two teams failed to reach the end zone in the first quarter. The only scoring came on a 41-yard field goal by Parker kicker Matt Wile following an interception of a Burse pass by Dunklin.
Dunklin was a major source of irritation throughout the first half as he had two interceptions to thwart a pair of Crusader drives.
Kevin Roya (4) hauls in one of his two TD passes.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Meanwhile the Parker offense got going at the start of the second quarter with a 13-play, 61-yard drive that culminated in a 2-yard run by Randall. Wile’s extra point gave the Lancers a 10-0 lead with 7:23 left in the first half.
That’s when the fireworks began.
Modesto Christian countered with a seven-play, 80-yard march highlighted by a 38-yard run by Roya. Burse got the touchdown on a 10-yard run, receiving a crucial block from Engel to get into the end zone.
The Crusaders then forced a Lancer punt and went 81 yards on just four plays. This time Engle broke off a 65-yard run to put the ball at the Parker 16. Two plays later Burse threw 11 yards to Roya for the go-ahead score. Burse’s two-point conversion toss to Roya gave the Crusaders a 14-10 lead with 2:20 left in the half.
The Crusaders left too much time on the clock, however, and Parker went 65 yards in two minutes with Randall lofting a 4-yard pass to Brian Levett in the corner of the end zone. Wile’s extra point kick gave Parker a 17-14 lead with 12.5 seconds left.
This time Parker left too much time on the clock.
Modesto Christian went 80 yards in three plays to regain the lead heading into the break. Roya rambled 32 yards down the left sideline and alertly stepped out of bounds near midfield to stop the clock with 3.5 seconds left. Burse went back to throw a Hail Mary pass on the next play but decided to run the ball instead. He scampered through the Parker defense down to the 6-yard line as time expired.
However Parker was called for a facemask on the play, putting the ball three yards closer to the end zone and giving Modesto Christian one untimed down. Burse found 6-5 tight end Raymond Nelson in the left corner of the end zone for the touchdown to go up 20-17. 
Parker QB Devon Randall accounted for 386 total yards.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
The Crusaders continued to show the quick strike ability in the second half. When Parker went for it on fourth down at its own 32 to start the second half, Nelson stopped the play by tackling Randall for a 3-yard loss.
On Modesto Christian’s first play from the Parker 29, Burse dropped back and found Roya down the middle of the field for the touchdown. Burse’s two-point conversion toss to Nelson gave the Crusaders a 28-17 with 9:46 left in the third period.
Parker cut the lead to eight points with a 39-yard field goal by Wile with 5:39 left in the third and then got a fumble recovery by Dunklin at the Parker 34 to set up another scoring drive. This time Randall guided the Lancers on a 66-yard march that ended with his own 1-yard sneak up the middle. A two-point conversion run failed leaving the Crusaders with a 28-26 lead.
Modesto Christian quickly resumed a 10-point advantage with a two-play drive set up by Burse’s 53-yard kick return to the Parker 43. Two runs by Engel gained 9 and then 34 yards for the score. Burse found Nelson again for the two-point conversion and a 36-26 advantage.
Just when it seemed like Modesto Christian was ready to run away with the game, Parker regained the momentum. Roland Jackson’s 36-yard return along with a 10-yard holding penalty on Modesto Christian put the ball on the Crusader 18. Randall took advantage on the next play, finding Rochon Taylor open in the end zone for the touchdown. Wile’s boot closed the score to 36-33 with 1:45 left in the third period.
Modesto Christian appeared to be heading toward another score as it drove to the Parker 37 in just three plays following the kickoff. But two penalties backed up Modesto Christian setting up an eventual fourth down and 5 from the 43.
Burse attempted to pass on the play, but the Parker defensive line pushed through to force Burse backward. Lineman Adam Dean eventually sacked the Crusader signal caller for a 13-yard loss.
The big defensive play allowed Parker to take the lead. After a 30-yard run by Brookins, Randall ran four straight times for 9, 2, 11 and finally 2 yards for the touchdown. Wile’s kick gave Parker a 40-36 lead with 8:49 to go.
The lead didn’t last long.
Roya busted loose for a 40-yard gain on first down on Modesto Christian’s ensuing possession. A 22-yard run by Aaron Brown put the ball at the Parker 14. After a 10-yard pass from Burse to Nelson, Brown carried five yards to the Parker 2 before Engel went in for the final touchdown. 
Modesto Christian QB Isaiah Burce signals team title.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
The conversion forced Parker to drive 65 yards in order to win the game. The Lancers came up five yards short.
“We’re back to back Section champions,” said Morrison, whose team finished 11-3. “I have absolutely no complaints. I can’t be disappointed. I thought our guys left it all on the field.”
Notes: The Small Schools championship game is only in its second season, so as a result Modesto Christian and Parker combined to set numerous championship game records. They include: Most Rushing Yards – Deon Randall, Parker, 276; Best Rushing Average – Keaton Engel, Modesto Christian 14.3; Most Rushing Attempts – Randall, 36; Longest Rush – Engel, 65; Longest Rushing Touchdown – Engel, 34; Most Touchdown Passes – Isaiah Burse, Modesto Christian, 3; Most Receptions for a Touchdown – Kevin Roya, Modesto Christian, 2; Most Yards Total Offense – Randall, 386; Most Interceptions – Dalante Dunklin, Parker, 2; Most Team Rushing Yards – Modesto Christian, 486; Best Rushing Average – Modesto Christian 9.9; Most Rushing Attempts – Parker, 54; Most Rushing Attempts (Both) – Parker & Modesto Christian, 100; Most Touchdown Passes Team – Modesto Christian, 3; Most Touchdown Passes (Both) – Parker & Modesto Christian, 5; Most Yards Total Offense – Modesto Christian, 545; Most Yards Total Offense (Both) – Modesto Christian & Parker, 982.
Burse finished the season with 1,813 yards rushing on 190 carries with 26 rushing touchdowns. He completed 77 of 130 passes for 1,765 yards and 27 touchdowns. For his career, he finishes with 545 rushing attempts for 4,003 and 61 touchdowns. He completed 363 passes in 637 attempts for 6,890 yards and 87 touchdowns.
Randall finished the season with 193 carries for 1,983 yards and 26 touchdowns. He completed 100 of 159 passes for 1,481 yards and 16 touchdowns. For his career, Randall rushed 428 times for 4,131 yards and 84 touchdowns. He has completed 266 passes in 422 attempts for 4,101 yards and 49 touchdowns.
Modesto Christian 44, Francis Parker 40
MC 0 20 16 8 – 44
Parker 3 14 16 7 – 40
First Quarter
P – Wile 41 FG, 9:25
Second Quarter
P – Randall 2 run (Wile kick), 7:23
MC – Burse 9 run (kick failed), 4:57
MC – Roya 11 pass from Burse (Roya pass from Burse), 2:20
P – Levett 4 pass from Randall (Wile kick), 0:13
MC – Nelson 3 pass from Burse (kick failed), 0:00
Third Quarter
MC – Roya 29 pass from Burse (Nelson pass from Burse), 9:46
P – Wile 39 FG, 5:39
P – Randall 1 run (run failed), 3:04
MC - Engel 34 run (Nelson pass from Burse), 2:05
P – Taylor 18 pass from Randall (Wile kick), 1:45
Fourth Quarter
P – Randall 2 run (Wile kick), 8:49
MC – Engel 2 run (Burse run), 5:38
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Parker (54-327): Randall 36-276, Brookins 15-50, Taylor 3-1; Modesto Christian (46-456): Engel 11-157, Roya 13-151, Burse 16-122, Brown 3-30, Team 3-(-4).
Passing
Parker (8-17-0-110): Randall 8-16-0-110, Team 0-1-0-0. Modesto Christian (7-10-2-89): Burse 7-9-1-89; Hayes 1-0-1-0.
Receiving
Parker (8-110): Levett 2-43, Taylor 2-43, Dunklin 3-26, Jackson 1-(-2). Modesto Christian (7-89): Roya 3-47, Nelson 4-42.
