Rams Win First Round
November 10, 2025
Saturday 11/8
Game #9
CIF-SS Playoffs Division 2 First Round
United Christian vs. Cate
UCA (4-6) 0 12 0 6 18
Cate (3-7) 9 28 27 0 64
On Saturday, the Cate Rams hosted the United Christian Eagles in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs. By virtue of their strength of schedule metric, the Rams are seeded #5 for the post-season. Cate would get the ball rolling early with a ground attack featuring senior running back Barron Crayton and sophomore quarterback Sam Lambiotte. Combined the two would chew up 60 yards on the opening drive before Lambiotte found the endzone on a 1 yard keeper to give the Rams the first score of the day. From that point Cate would not look back. A short time later, the defense struck gold when Shogo Hayashi would sack the Eagle quarterback in the end zone for a safety. Hayashi would go on to lead the Rams in tackles for the day, racking up 7 including 3 tackles for lass.
In the second quarter the Rams would find their stride from the opening whistle. Lambiotte connected with Noah Casbarro for an 18 yard touchdown pass to start the second frame. Casbarro would follow that up with an interception just two plays later. On the ensuing drive, Lambiotte would score again taking a QB keeper in from the 1 yard line to score. After the Eagles would drive down the field for their first score of the day, the Rams would welcome back Alek Kroehl from injury. The junior quarterback returned with some fanfare, ripping off a 40 yard touchdown run of his own on his very first play of the day.
The Rams would continue the offensive onslaught with rushing touchdowns by Tres Davidson, Kunqui Wang, Marcelo Emal-Lagrand and Kroehl again. Freshman Michael Mumbo would score his first varsity touchdown on an end around in the 3rd quarter to put the Rams in complete control. Senior kicker Quincy Thorne would add 8 extra points, net 10 touchbacks on 10 kickoffs, and tally a perfect corner punt leaving the Eagles on the 2 yard line to control the special teams of the Rams.Senior Oliver Charvel would come up with a late interception to finish the day with an exclamation point on the Rams 64-18 win.
With the win the Rams advance to face #4 seeded Santa Clarita Christian next Saturday at 7pm.
Reflecting on the win Ben Soto remarked, “This was a great step in a positive direction as we start the playoffs. We were able to get some confidence and get our young guys some valuable experience today. We know the road only gets tougher from here, but it is great to get the win and some momentum moving forward.”