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© East County Sports.com
SCRIPPS RANCH (12-5-09) — Helix coach TROY STARR has been giving helmets full of credit to his sophomore standouts for the Highlanders (9-4) success this season.

Perhaps due to the spark provided by those sophomores is why Helix will be going to Qualcomm Stadium for the sixth time in eight years on Friday (Dec. 11) to take on defending state-champion Oceanside (12-0) in the San Diego CIF Division II finals at 4:30 p.m.

Most of the key seniors played on the defensive side in Friday’s (Dec. 4) SDCIF Division II semifinal 17-6 victory at Scripps Ranch. Senior defensive back RYAN SALAVEA racked up a team-high 10 tackles and senior linebacker STEVE PERKINS (8 tackles) came up big all night for the Scotties.

The biggest defensive stop – outside of interceptions by JIMMY PRUITT (58-yard TD return), AUSTIN GONZALEZ (in the end zone with the Falcons threatening to gain the momentum) and RAYMONT NAILON (with 1:55 remaining) — was a quarterback sack on a 4th and 10 play. Instead of electing to kick a chip shot field goal with Helix maintaining an 11-point lead, the Falcons made a fatal decision.

When Scripps Ranch quarterback Jake Fish dropped back to pass on the fateful 4th down, he was avalanched by Nailon and SAM MEREDITH for a 13-yard loss with 3:13 remaining.

“That was a key play right there,” Starr said. “Yeah, I’d have to stay this is the best defensive game we’ve played all season.”

Helix’s defense had plenty of major stops on this night. None was more impacting than Gonzalez’s interception that short-circuited a Scripps Ranch drive and placed the Falcons (7-6) in position for a possible game-tying score at the Helix 4-yard line late in the 3rd quarter.

JIMMY PRUITT had the major theft of Helix’s three interceptions, as he rode his pick 58 yards to a second quarter touchdown, giving the Highlanders a 14-0 lead that held up until halftime.

Nailon’s interception drove the final nail into Scripps Ranch’s coffin as it ended the Falcons’ final possession of the contest with 1:55 remaining.

“We play with heart and determination,” Nailon said. “Our defense was huge. Big players make big plays in big games.”

Helix smothered Scripps Ranch running back Brennan Clay, limiting the Oklahoma University-bound running back to 73 yards on 23 carries. As a team, the Falcons netted just 56 yards on 31 carries. Fish passed for 158 yards, but much of that came on strikes of 58 and 20 yards. The three Helix interceptions diluted Fish’s tries.

“Stopping the run is something we haven’t been able to do well this season,” Starr said. “I know Clay has a hip-flexor, so he wasn’t at his best. But our guys were all over him.”

Sophomore DARRION HANCOCK led the Helix offense with 101 yards on 19 carries. His 4-yard run capped a 13-play 80-yard scoring drive in the 1st quarter. Pruitt’s pick and score in the 2nd doubled the score as the Highlanders led 14-0 at halftime.

Sophomore BRANDON LEWIS completed 9 of 19 passes for 104 yards for the Highlanders.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (12-5-09) — Coach MATT OLIVER and his Christian High football staff found Friday’s (Dec. 4) stunning San Diego CIF Division V semifinal 28-27 loss to Coastal League rival The Bishop’s School hard to swallow.

On paper, it’s easy to pinpoint the difference. The Patriots (7-5) failed to convert their fourth PAT conversion kick with 3:05 remaining, leaving the Knights one point ahead in the game played at Granite Hills' Valley Stadium.

“It was the Perfect Storm for a PAT kick,” said Christian offensive coordinator MIKE MITCHELL. “The snap was low, the wing guy didn’t block and for some reason (senior kicker MICHAEL GRUBER 35-for-39) was slow kicking the ball.”

Thus, The Bishop's' A.J. Chedrick had time to break through and block the kick, keeping the Knights (8-4) in front.

“That’s the third year in a row that Bishop’s has ended our season,” Christian head coach MATT OLIVER fumed. “They made plays and we just didn’t stop them. Of course we really haven’t stopped anybody these last three games. What have we given up... 93 points? I know we have a better defense than we’ve shown lately. That’s what makes a loss like this hurt.”

What made it smart even more was Christian won the regular season meeting between these clubs the last two years. There was no league game in 2007 due to wildfires in the area.

Add to the list of Oliver’s woes was The Bishop’s first-year head coach is Patriots alum JOEL ALLEN, uncle of current Christian quarterback ERICK ALLEN.

QB Allen had one of his better games, clicking on 14 of 21 passes for 184 yards and a TD.

The main man in the Christian attack was versatile senior STEVEN PITTS, who scored all four touchdowns while rushing for 163 yards on 19 carries. His first score was part of a hook-and-ladder play that involved QB Allen and flanker WILL MARTIN. Pitts took the final pitch from Martin and bolted 70 yards to tie the game 7-7.

Pitts also scored on runs of 5 and 6 yards before reeling in a scoring strike from Allen for 34 yards that set the stage for the potential tying PAT boot.

“People asked me why I didn’t go for a two-point conversion,” Oliver said. “But the thought never crossed my mind. I figured we’d make the kick and send the game into overtime. I knew with our big running backs we could win it in OT.”

Christian never got the chance to test its skills in OT as the Knights managed to run out the clock.

“We just got whipped up front,” Oliver said. “And nobody knows more how hard it is to beat the same team twice in the same season than I do.”

Christian clipped The Bishop’s 21-7 in league play.

Christian High quarterback Erick Allen (left) with the pass; later in the game, the Patriots' Steven Pitts (right) hauls in a touchdown pass vs. The Bishop's. (Photos by Tori Mills)

© East County Sports.com
RANCHO PENASQUITOS (12-5-09) — Everyone knew the chief weapons for a pair of ground-oriented teams – Steele Canyon's ALEX PERLIN and Point Loma's Leslie Rogers – would handle the majority of the rushing duties. And both rushed to form for more than 100 yards in Friday's (Dec. 4) SDCIF Division III semifinals.

It would be up to the others in each respective backfield that would make the difference to earn a berth in the championship.

The exciting, nip-and-tuck battle came down to just two plays among those not normally found in the spotlight. And it was the difference for Point Loma to secure a dramatic 30-26 decision at Mt. Carmel High's Sundevil Stadium.

Morris Mathews, one of the Pointers known as the collective group of "Super Sophomores," scored from 12 yards up the middle on the third play of the fourth quarter for the go-ahead points.

Steele Canyon's chance to counter faltered moments later when ball-carrier JAKE WRAGG burst through a hole with nothing but daylight ahead of him. However, his quest stalled on a shoestring tackle from behind by the Pointers' Anthony Joyner at the Point Loma-33. The Cougars were unable to collect another first down over the final eight minutes after that stop.

For Mathews, who finished with a pair of touchdowns, it was a fitting performance in tribute to a fallen teammate.

"Our seniors deserved this so much, but I did it for Michael Taylor," Mathews noted of a classmate who died from a gunshot wound nearly a year ago to the day. "It felt like he was in the game with us."

Perlin (11 carries, 102 yards) and Rogers (20-126) both gained 64 yards in the first half, but Point Loma carried a 16-13 lead on a 38-yard Ruben Diaz field goal with 0:03 left. The kick was set up on a 23-yard punt return to midfield by Emilio Diaz.

A wild third quarter saw a series of lead changes.

Perlin followed the lead block by KYLE SAGER for an 11-yard score to cap a 68-yard drive for a 20-16 lead.

Point Loma (9-3) moved back in front when Keegan Fitzgerald tossed a 74-yard TD pass to Davis Callejon. However, the Cougars needed just two plays to recapture the advantage when BRAD BOEHMKE threw a perfect bomb into the hands of CODY SIMPSON for a 70-yard connection to again move in front. The PAT was blocked to keep the score at 26-23.

However, Point Loma ground out a 14-play, 85-yard drive for what proved to be the game-winning drive.

Despite the win, the Pointers, if historic trends continue, won't enjoy the victory for long.

Despite making its fourth championship game appearance in five seasons, Point Loma will be hard-pressed to defeat two-time defending champion Cathedral. The Dons advanced to the final following a 42-3 "Holy Bowl II" demolition of St. Augustine in the other semifinal.

Cathedral (11-1) has rolled to 32 wins in its last 33 outings, while Point Loma has been badly outscored, 107-23, in three recent visits to Qualcomm Stadium (2005-07), including a 41-3 pasting at the hands of the Dons in 2007.

Steele Canyon (8-4-1) held the edge over a majority of the first half thanks to its defense.

CHANCELLER JAMES intercepted a pass which went through the hands of a Point Loma receiver. On the next series, TAYLOR MISHLER made a fumble recovery, setting up Perlin's first TD, a 34-yard burst over right tackle for the only score of the first quarter.

Rogers answered with a 15-yard scoring rush, but the Cougars countered just 37 seconds later. With Point Loma looking at Perlin, the ball went to REECE DALE on the misdirection. Once he got past the line, no one in the secondary was near the ball-carrier, as Dale romped an uncontested 42 yards for a 13-7 lead.

Dale finished with 51 rushing yards, while Wragg collected 69 on 11 carries. On defense, Perlin, who finished second in East County rushing with 1,544 yards, posted both of Steele Canyon's sacks.

Point Loma saw Fitzgerald rumble for 92 yards and a game-tying score late in the second period, while Mathews added 62 yards.

“A loss like this is so hard to take,” Steele Canyon coach RON BOEHMKE said. “Point Loma’s offense was really clicking and we had a tough time stopping it.”

The Cougars have reached the semifinals three of the last four years.

“That’s what makes it so frustrating,” said Boehmke. “We keep coming close yet fall short.”

Boehmke replayed the game in his mind, pointing out how his team had two PATs blocked and gave up a late field goal in the first half.

“That’s 5 points right there,” he said.

You do the math.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (12-2-09) — And then there were three... As in three East County teams are one victory shy of reaching the San Diego CIF championships at Qualcomm Stadium on Friday (Dec. 11).

STEELE CANYON vs. POINT LOMA, at Mt. Carmel (site change) — The only time these teams have crossed paths was in the 2006 playoffs when the Pointers prevailed 28-21. If Steele Canyon is successful this Friday (Dec. 4), the Cougars will make their first appearance in the SDCIF Division III championships. If all goes accordingly to Hoyle, they’ll be facing off against Cathedral Catholic.

The problem there is the Dons have won 3 out of 4 from the Cougars – but first things first.

It’s no secret what Steele Canyon does best, and that’s run the football. Senior ALEX PERLIN (185 carries, 1,442 yards, 20 TDs) is the featured back for the Cougars (8-3-1). He has a quality sidekick in junior JAKE WRAGG (118, 721, 4 TDs). Nobody in East County had a better 1-2 punch.

The rapid development of junior quarterback BRAD BOEHMKE as a passer (90-for-172, 1306, 10 TDs) has made this the best offense in Steele Canyon history.

Point Loma (8-3), which eliminated Mount Miguel 42-35 in the quarterfinals, counts on 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior running back Leslie Rogers, who rushed for 171 yards and 3 touchdowns on 14 carries in that game.

The fact that the Cougars have more dimensions than the Pointers makes the pick go to... Steele Canyon 24-20.

HELIX at SCRIPPS RANCH — There is no doubt that this is one of the most unique Helix teams in the school’s 59-year history.

Breaking down films and going over scouting reports for opposing teams almost became a joke because Highlanders coach TROY STARR was something of a wizard. Starr started 15 different sophomores and one freshman over the course of the season, and yet managed to make it to the SDCIF Division II semifinals.

If you’re Scripps Ranch (7-5) you have to wonder what kind of lineup the visiting Highlanders (8-4) will throw at the Falcons on Friday night (Dec. 4). Fact is, they haven’t had the same starting lineup in consecutive games this year.

Look for sophomore quarterback BRANDON LEWIS to make his second straight start. He directed the Highlanders to a 24-20 win over No. 2 seed Valhalla last week. Lewis completed 10 of 15 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown and also scored a touchdown on the run.

This team has as much potential as it does youth. Sophomore CAMERON LEE and junior AUSTIN GONZALEZ are blue-chip receivers. Not to be overlooked is senior receiver SEAN LINTON.

In last week’s win over Valhalla DARRION HANCOCK came into his own, rushing for 125 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.

Oklahoma-bound Brennan Clay is one of the unsung running backs in the county, and Scripps Ranch’s most explosive player. He ran for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns on 41 carries against Orange Glen. Clay also was the key player in the Falcons’ 30-27 knockout of Lincoln in the quarterfinals, with a pair of touchdowns and nearly 200 yards rushing.

If the Highlanders can’t stop Clay, their season will end Friday night. These teams have met twice in the past, with Helix winning both times, including 32-6 in the 2000 SDCIF playoffs... Scripps Ranch 35-28.

THE BISHOP’S (7-4) vs. CHRISTIAN (7-4), at Valley Stadium — When these teams met in their Coastal League matchup, the Patriots pounded out a 21-7 victory. But as almost every coach will tell you, trying to beat a team two times in a season isn’t all that easy.

However, Christian has proven that it can do it as the Patriots beat Horizon twice, including 51-35 in last week’s SDCIF Division V quarterfinals.

In the regular season meeting against The Bishop’s, the Patriots didn’t do anything special. In fact they used a vanilla offense led by a relentless running game and a stout defense.

Will the Patriots be able to get away with the same approach in Friday’s (Dec. 4) SDCIF Division V rematch?

This is a little bit of a family affair considering Christian’s quarterback ERICK ALLEN is the nephew of The Bishop’s head coach JOEL ALLEN. Obviously, there’s a lot of banter in the family, but come game time the goal for both is to reach Qualcomm Stadium.

The Patriots, behind the running of STEVEN PITTS, TYRONE SAULS and MALCOLM MURPHY, have turned Christian’s one-time pass-happy attack into a smash-mouth game.

Christian can’t afford to look past anybody and probably won’t, againstThe Bishop’s. The winner of this bout will be a decisive underdog against superpower Francis Parker in the Division V finals at Qualcomm... Christian 27-14.