The562’s coverage of football in 2024-25 is sponsored by The Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase.
The 2024 Millikan Rams changed the narrative around their football program, rewriting record books by winning their first Moore League championship in decades.
Unfortunately for the Rams, they were unable to flip the script on their postseason fortunes, and it felt like déjà vu all over again with another playoff heartbreak–again in controversial fashion.
Deadlocked in a tie game and driving past midfield, the Rams lost possession in the final minutes on what should have been ruled an incomplete pass. Instead, the officials determined there was a fumble against the Rams that was recovered by Crean Lutheran with just over two minutes left in the game.
The visiting Saints took advantage of that opportunity, driving the short field to set up a game-winning field goal from Connor Stephens, propelling Crean Lutheran to a 20-17 win in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs.
“The film showed it was a forward pass,” said Millikan head coach Romeo Pellum of the controversial decision. “(The referees) said it was a backwards pass, and (Crean Lutheran) recovered the ball. That’s basically what it was. A huge play in the game.”
It was a real gut-punch to the Rams, who were riding high after a blocked field goal by Malik Stacy kept the game tied with 3:52 left to play. Star running back Anthony League was marching their offense down the field in search of the winning score, and if an incomplete pass had been called, Millikan would have faced 2nd & 10 at the Saints’ 45 with 2:07 left to play.
Prior to that pivotal moment in the fourth quarter, Crean Lutheran’s defense lived up to its reputation, holding League to 112 yards on 22 carries. The Rams’ offense averaged 9.5 yards per carry entering Friday night, but gained just 4.4 yards per rush against the Saints, totaling 155 yards on 35 attempts.
Millikan opened the scoring on the first drive of the game, going on a 13-play march deep into Saints territory before settling for a Sebastian Perez field goal.
Crean Lutheran was able to score 10 consecutive points in that opening half to take a 10-3 lead, with Eli Bray running in a TD for the visitors. The Saints benefitted from terrific field position throughout the night, and especially in the first half. Their average starting field position was at the Millikan 48 yard line, while the Rams’ average start was at their own 20.
League was able to punch in a short TD run in the final minute of the half, ending a strong 14-play, 80-yard scoring drive to make it 10-10 at intermission.
The Rams then struck first in the second half, on a beautiful screen pass to Xavier Jones. The senior running back knifed his way through the Saints’ defense for a 78-yard strike, giving the home team a 17-10 advantage.
League then made his mark defensively with an interception near midfield, setting up the Rams with great field position. However, a sack on the first play of that drive led to a costly 3-and-out and Crean Lutheran stayed within a score.
The Saints went on an 11-play march into the fourth quarter, and Dillon Booth ran in an 18-yard TD to tie things up at 17-all with 8:33 left.
Crean Lutheran then had a golden opportunity to snatch the lead back, as a diving interception from Ben Byszewski set them up at the Millikan 29. After six consecutive runs by Booth out of the Wildcat formation, the Saints set up for a go-ahead field goal. Enter Stacy, who raced around the right edge and got his hand on the kick, causing it to fall short in the end zone.
The Rams went 35 yards on four running plays to open the ensuing drive, but it was cut short on the missed lateral call.
Booth was a big part of the Crean Lutheran comeback, rushing 12 times for 67 yards and a score, all in the second half. The Saints will advance to the Division 3 quarterfinals where they’ll visit Loyola next Friday.
Despite an unceremonious end to the 2024 season, the Rams put together a season that will be revered on that campus for years to come. The sting of the loss was palpable in the immediate aftermath of the game, but Pellum was able to put the season in the appropriate context.
“Everyone will remember this team forever,” said Pellum. “Everyone on this team, they raised the standard of Millikan Football and the expectation. So a certain standard is expected now,
and this team did that. There’s a lot of things for them to be proud of.
“We won the battle, but we lost the war.”
