WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - After trailing midway through the first quarter, host Berean Christian exploded for four second-quarter touchdowns and pulled away from Ferndale in the first round of the North Coast Section Division V playoffs, winning 58-26 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Touchdowns by Jacob Basler and Gio Magdaleno put Ferndale in front 14-7 with eight minutes remaining in the first quarter. Berean had scored quickly following a muffed kickoff by Ferndale, resulting in a 25-yard touchdown run for junior back Justice Jackson. The Eagles also quickly erased the first-quarter deficit as George Udo reached the end zone, and Jackson put Berean ahead for good with his score early in the second quarter.
Berean Christian (5-4) continued to pull away throughout the second quarter, as a 50-yard jaunt by Jackson set up a touchdown pass from Kevin Davidson to senior Jayden Jackson, giving the Eagles a 26-14 lead at that point. Udo added another touchdown before halftime, as did Payton Little.
"We're just always trying to get after it and win, and we know we can compete with the teams in our (playoff) division," Udo said. "We're always prepared to play whoever we need to."
The Eagles iced the game in the third quarter, as both Jackson brothers reached the end zone, along with Colby Newton. Kyler Becksted added a third quarter touchdown for Ferndale, and Hunter Barnes during the fourth quarter, but it was not enough for the Wildcats.
The final result was a reversal of last year's playoff opener, when Ferndale upset Berean Christian, 13-7. Berean now advances to face three seed Stellar Prep, who had a first-round bye. That game will be played at Berean Christian, Saturday at 1 pm.
"Playing Stellar at home, we know they have athletes just like we do," Udo added. "They know we're always going to fight and get after it every game, because that's what we do."
Berean Christian and Stellar Prep have met once, in 2015, a game in which the Eagles emerged with a 6-2 victory.
