Football Preview: Sage Hill vs. Southlands Christian

Sage Hill (2-3) vs. Southlands Christian (1-3)

When/where: Friday 7 p.m. at Sage Hill

Key Lightning: Sr. QB-CB CJ McCord (974 yards, 11 TDs passing); Sr. WR-FS Zach Burns (26 receptions, 311 yards, six TDs; 33 tackles); Sr. RB-SS Beau Roth (207 yards, two TDs rushing); Jr.OLB-RB Alfonso Corona (42 tackles).

Key Eagles: Sr. QB-CB Alex Baldomino; So. RB-MLB Sampson Tufui; Jr. WR-CB Scott Brashear.

Breakdown: The Lightning are attempting to avoid their first two-game losing streak of the season in their final nonleague tuneup before opening Academy League play on Oct. 10 against St. Margaret’s ... McCord, a three-year starter, has thrown for 2,665 yards and 26 TDs in his varsity career, completing 239 of 442 attempts with only eight interceptions ... McCord has as many interceptions at cornerback (a team-best two) as he has thrown in 154 attempts this season ... Both teams are averaging roughly three TDs per game, but Walnut-based Southlands Christian is allowing 33.5 points per contest, nearly four points more than Sage is surrendering on average ... Baldomino is a run-pass threat who also stands out in the secondary and returns kicks ... Tufui is a physical presence on both sides of the ball ... The Eagles have just one win in their last 18 games, dating back to 2012, with the lone triumph coming in this year’s opener against Animo South Los Angeles High ... Southlands Christian lost to Fairmont Prep, 39-23, on Sept. 20, while Sage posted a 42-20 win over Fairmont Prep on Sept. 5 ... The Eagles also lost to Academy League representative Crean Lutheran, 49-21, on Sept. 5 ... This is the first meeting between the two programs.

— Barry Faulkner