Winless as freshmen, Stone Ridge seniors shed tears of joy

Stone Ridge Christian seniors Luke Lange and Bailey Dahlhoff embraced with tears streaming down their face.

The two Knights were euphoric.

Three years ago, they were freshmen on a Stone Ridge team that went 0-10. On Saturday, they were celebrating a Sac-Joaquin Section championship after a 19-14 win over Jim Elliot Christian of Lodi in the Division VII title game at the Grape Bowl.

It was a special moment for each.

“It all started when we were freshmen,” Lange said. “We had great coaches back then, but we got new coaches last year. They were more available, and there were more of them. From there, we just worked.

“Our coaches always told us, ‘Get a little better each day. If everyone can do that, it’ll be enough.’”

Lange’s day was interrupted. The quarterback injured his knee on the first play. Lange, who missed last season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament, played through the first quarter but was replaced by junior Jason Bolyard with 7:14 left in the second quarter.

Lange’s role instantly changed. Also a starter at middle linebacker, he coached up linebacker Sybrand Vander Dussen before the start of the second half.

“When you’re on the sideline, you can be just as much a part of the game,” Lange said.

Lange re-entered the game with a borrowed knee brace to throw a pass on third and long late in the third quarter, and he engineered the final drive that allowed the Knights to run out the clock.

“I looked at coach and said, ‘I got it,’” Lange said. “I was able to run a few plays and we got a first down. I got to kneel on it. That meant a lot to be in there for that.”

The offense didn’t skip a beat after Lange went down. Bolyard led Stone Ridge on scoring drives just before halftime and to start the third quarter.

It was Lange’s knee injury last year that forced the Knights to go to the double-wing offense.

“Yeah, this offense needs someone to take the snap, but we don’t drop back and pass much,” Knights coach Art DeJager said.

Lange, Dahlhoff, Julian Ramos, Danny Vincelette, Jesse Johnston and Seth Stockton are the only seniors on the team.

“Those guys are on cloud nine right now,” DeJager said. “They’re in football heaven.”

Even though those seniors played key roles, Stone Ridge should be in good position to make another run at a section title next year.

Freshman Shane Casillas made big plays Saturday, including two interceptions. He also rushed for 69 yards on five carries and could pick up where Dahlhoff left off as the featured runner.

“He’s just a gifted kid,” De Jager said. “He didn’t play much in the first half of the season, but he showed he deserved to be on the field more and more. After an offseason in the weight room, he could be something special next season.”

Players like Lange and Dahlhoff have laid the foundation for future Stone Ridge seniors to possibly have moments like they enjoyed Saturday.

“I heard my knee pop a few times when I was out there, but I’ve torn my ACL before; I knew it wasn’t that,” Lange said. “It’s my senior year. I wanted to be out there. I’m never going to get an opportunity like this again.”

This story was originally published November 30, 2014 at 6:40 PM with the headline "Winless as freshmen, Stone Ridge seniors shed tears of joy."