DIVISION II
Late goalline stand lifts Helix in thriller
Scotties rally past Eastlake, 27-24,
to face familiar foe in Oceanside for crown

© East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (12-6-08) — There's a reason why Helix High will again meet Oceanside in the CIF San Diego championship final for the fifth time in eight years, all to the chagrin of the Eastlake Titans, who believed they moved into position for their first-ever trip to the finals.

Seeded second above the Highlanders in the Division II tournament, all Eastlake needed to do was punch the football in from inside the 1-yard line with two minutes remaining in Friday's (Dec. 5) semifinals at Stan Canaris Stadium.

However, experience and defense keyed the fourth-down stop, as Scotties defenders LEVINE TOILOLO, SAM MEREDITH and ISAIA OSOIMALO combined to prevent standout Eastlake running back Tony Jefferson from scoring and lift Helix to a dramatic 27-24 decision over the Titans.

"I think everybody just kept flying to the ball and pounding them and pounding them -- just wrap up and make plays," said the 6-foot-8 Toilolo. "We all welcome the opportunity to put the team on our back."

"I just knew I had to get into the backfield and make a play. Our whole defense was in there swarming."

Added Helix end ANTHONY ANDERSON: "We pulled through adversity. They got to our goal line, but they couldn't take it."

The combo tackle with 1:58 remaining capped a second-half shutout by Helix, which rallied from a 21-10 deficit to reach the championship game for the 14th time, setting up yet another expected classic with Oceanside .

"There's still a lot of work to do," Anderson noted. "But it's a great feeling knowing we're going to the 'Q.'"

Jefferson finished with 115 yards on 21 rushes, but just like the final result, was barely out-shined by Helix running back TRAVON VAN, who edged his childhood friend with 127 yards on 25 carries.

"The coaches said we had to play through adversity and stuck through it -- the defense stopped them, the offense put up points, and that's what we had to do," explained Van. "The defense showed heart and did their job."

Eastlake's offense stayed away from standout nose guard ANTHONY LARCEVAL all evening. However, the senior still came up with a key play with a fumble recovery which allowed Helix to tie the game in the third period.

"We played great defense against a great offense -- Tony Jefferson is a great runner - -but it was a team effort," said Larceval, who already has a line of college scholarship offers on his plate. " Eastlake came out hard, ready to play, then we made our adjustments and took it from there."

The Titans, holding a 24-17 coming out of the intermission, marched deep into Helix territory when Jefferson dropped a handoff in the red zone, with Larceval recovering the loose ball.

The Highlanders answered with an 82-yard drive, with Van gaining 76 of the yards, including 25 on a shovel pass from quarterback TY CULVER. Unlike Eastlake 's attempt to win the game, Helix was successful on a 4th-and-1 dive, with JO-JO PHILLIPS running out of a full house backfield to make it 24-all with 3:40 remaining in the third period.

"We couldn't let them score, and we put all our hearts and stamina into it," noted Phillips. "We just dug deep and came together. We played better than our best."

Helix' go-ahead drive came midway through the fourth period.

Again burning the Titans' over-aggressive pass rush -- which only registered one sack -- Culver again went to the shovel pass for 19 yards to Van, who finished with 163 all-purpose yards.

Three plays later, the Scotties received a free conversion courtesy of a pass interference penalty. Toilolo attempted to turn to catch the football on a deep pass along the Helix sideline near the goalline, but was hindered when the defender grabbed a handful of jersey (Unlike a local radio station report which described a phantom call).

"I was trying to turn and he was holding on to me -- I was just trying to make a play for our team," said Toilolo. "Being a senior, I just try to be a leader and make plays."

The infraction set-up the second field goal of the contest by sophomore kicker JAKE REED, who drilled the ball through for the go-ahead points with 5:01 left.

"I was a little nervous because I missed a few PATs last week (against Grossmont)," recalled Reed, who rebounded to boot field goals of 21 and 25 yards versus Eastlake . "But I hit my first three (PATs) today, so I was pretty confident and was able to focus, keep my head down and get a good hit on the football."

The final chance for Eastlake saw quarterback D'Angelo Barksdale toss a pair of perfect passes. The first went for 31 yards on an over-the-shoulder grab by Dante Haddock, then Randall Williams, who rushed for 71 yards and two first-half touchdowns, collected a 19-yarder to get to the Helix-7.

However, stops by Larceval and Anderson, the Scotties’ leading tackler with 10, set-up Eastlake 's failed fourth down attempt. The celebration was tempered by a penalty flag, but when the referee signaled the Titans for illegal motion (it was, obviously, declined), the celebration was on.

"The difference was our mindset. When halftime came around, we all thought one thing and that was last year (a semifinals loss to Mission Hills)," Anderson stated. "It wasn't going to happen again and we played big."

The first half was a game of ping-pong.

Reed opened the contest with his first field goal, but Jefferson scored on a 10-yard run off the left side, the hole opened by senior left tackle Ruben Cardenas.

Helix reclaimed the lead at 10-7 on a 39-yard pass from Culver (10-17-0, 189 yards) to Phillips. During the trek, Van raced 80 yards to the endzone, but it was reduced to a 25-yard gain due to an illegal block downfield.

However, on the opening play of the second quarter, Cardenas, Eastlake's top blocker, suffered a neck injury (stinger) resulting in the game to be halted for 31 minutes while paramedics were called; no ambulance was on-site -- for a playoff game?! Eastlake officials announced Cardenas was taken to an area hospital for precautionary purposes; the player was moving his extremities.

The motivated Titans then scored over consecutive possessions, with Williams finding the endzone on runs of 3 and 16 yards for a 21-10 advantage.

Culver, who rushed for 36 yards, answered when he faked a handoff up the middle and ran to the right side for a 9-yard touchdown with 1:31 left in the half.

However, Barksdale moved Eastlake some 54 yards in just over a minute, setting up a Kris Almario field goal of 25 yards with five seconds left in the half.

But the second half belonged to the Helix defense, allowing just 111 of Eastlake 's 318 total yards. Helix countered with 349 yards in total offense.

"We knew how good they were -- Jefferson is a big-time player -- so we had to settle down and play 'assignment football' because they were equally as fast or faster than us as a team," said Helix coach TROY STARR, who became the fourth Helix head coach to reach Qualcomm since 1998, joining JIM ARNAIZ, GORDON WOOD and DONNIE VAN HOOK. "But we have a lot of seniors who are character guys -- it's an invested group."

DIVISION III
Norsemen capture RSD neighborhood feud
Valhalla gains first-ever finals appearance

© East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (12-6-08) — It was a rare yet typical celebration for a team earning the right to play for the San Diego Section Division III championship in Qualcomm Stadium for the first time in its 33 years of varsity football.

Sure, the players were jumping around and congratulating each other following Friday’s (Dec. 5) relatively easy 28-0 semifinal victory over visiting Steele Canyon. And the fans howled about as loud as a Valhalla football crowd has been known to do so.

But you could tell that this postgame hoopla was anything but common around these parts. Perhaps in a day or two the impact of beating Steele Canyon handily for the second time in the same season, adding up to a trip to the big ballpark in Mission Valley, might sink in.

Emotion will probably reach fever pitch just by thought of an opportunity to play where the National Football League does on Sundays.

“It’s pretty awesome,” said quarterback PETE THOMAS about Valhalla earning its first non-paying entrance into Qualcomm Stadium. “I know there won’t 60,000 people there, but just walking through that tunnel onto the field. We’ve been working a year for this moment, and now it’s paying off.”

Imagine what might ensue if these Norsemen (11-1) — the winningest football in Valhalla annals — were to upset undefeated Cathedral (12-0) in a showdown that kicks off at 1 p.m.

Save those thoughts for now. First allow Valhalla to rewind and enjoy its latest conquest, a game in which the Norsemen gained a lopsided 433-99 advantage in total yardage.

Senior running back TRAIVONNE BROWN was a one-man scoring machine. And a balanced attacker at that, scoring a touchdown in each of the four quarters while compiling 275 all-purpose yards.

“This is all pretty exciting,” Brown said. “Our whole school is talking football. They’re behind us and we appreciate that.”

Two of Brown’s scoring bursts came from 1 yard out. He also reeled in a 56-yard pass from Thomas and closed out point making with a 49-yard dash after two Steele Canyon time outs with 1:01 remaining.

The breakdown for Brown was 151 yards and three TDs on 22 rushes, and five pass receptions for 107 yards and one score. JAMES LEIGHTON did not score but was a double threat as a runner (5 rushes, 32 yards) and a receiver (1-19).

“People have recognized our offense all year,” Valhalla coach STEVE SUTTON said. “But they focus all of their attention on trying to stop Pete. But we can run the ball, and that gives us pretty good balance. Brown is a better back than a lot of people might think.”

Sutton was equally as complimentary of his defense, which has allowed just 38 points in the past six games.

“Nobody ever talks about our defense,” Sutton said. “That’s OK, because we know what they can do.”

Senior linebacker TANNER HITT has been the point man of the Norsemen tackling unit, yanking down an average of 16 ballcarriers per game. But he did not register his usual complement of tackles since Valhalla ’s offense dominated time of possession 29:32-to-18:28.

“We just got after them like we always do,” said Valhalla junior tackle SHANE PENNIX. “Yeah, beating Steele Canyon is a little more special because they are our rival. But we approach every game the same no matter who it is.”

Steele Canyon (7-6) had only one genuine scoring opportunity. Although his opportunities were limited, Cougars’ rushing ace ALEX PERLIN broke off runs of 9, 38 and 3 yards, giving Steele Canyon a 2nd-and-goal at the Valhalla 5-yard line early in the fourth quarter.

An interception in the end zone by ALEX JOHNSON snuffed out the Steele Canyon scoring bid. The pass from quarterback BRAD BOEHMKE appeared on target to tight end CAMERON MOSS, but one of the Valhalla linemen tipped the ball and Johnson was in position to make the touchdown-denying interception.

The Norsemen also kept a choke hold on Steele Canyon ’s Perlin. Sans the 38-yard dash, Perlin netted 22 yards on nine carries. He finishes the season with 1,660 yards on 285 sorties.

“The main thing is they whipped us up both on offense and defense,” Steele Canyon coach RON BOEHMKE said.

“This is not how we wanted to end our season, but I thought we made a strong run at the end. Five of the teams we lost to reached the semifinals. We held our own and did a lot of good things. We should have a lot of good memories from it.”

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (12-6-08) — It turned out to be a game of big scoring plays in Friday’s (Dec. 5) San Diego Section Division V match-up between Coastal League rivals Christian and The Bishop’s, on a muddy El Cajon Valley High field. That is, every point-making effort was 30 yards or longer except one – Mike Jensen’s 12-yard touchdown run for The Bishop’s in overtime, which proved to be the winning tally.

Although the Knights had seized the lead, Christian wasn’t finished.

The Bishop’s came up big one last time, with a punishing sack of Christian quarterback ERICK ALLEN on the final play of overtime, saving a 30-23 triumph for the Knights.

Not only did the Knights (7-6) avenge a regular season 27-20 loss to the Patriots (10-2), they earned a trip to the Division V finals Saturday (Dec. 13) at Southwestern College.

“We just didn’t make any big stops,” said Christian coach MATT OLIVER. “Basically, we led the whole way, and then let it slip away. Give credit to Bishop’s. They had a solid game plan.”

It started with freshman quarterback Joey Moreno (8 of 18 passes for 239 yards). Moreno fired three touchdown passes, the last one a 55-yard bomb to Justin Peabody that tied the game 23-23 with 2:59 in regulation.

The overtime started with The Bishop’s taking its best shots from 25 yards out. Six plays later RB/LB Mike Jensen scored what proved to be the winning touchdown.

“Jensen was the best player on the field tonight,” Oliver said. “We couldn’t cover him, couldn’t block him.”

CHARLES THOMPSON, East County’s leading rusher, finished with 123 yards and two TDs on 14 carries.

Thompson gained 3 yards on his first OT carry, then MATTHEW FIELDS gained 1 yard before an incomplete pass set-up 4th-and-6 from the 21. As Allen backpedaled into the pocket, Bishop’s end Rey Felix came charging full bore up the middle, and Allen had little chance of getting out of the way.

The crushing sack set off Bishop’s wild celebration, and denied Christian a spot in the Division V finals for the first time. Christian was 1-2 in the first three title games in this division.

“Too many mistakes and penalties,” Oliver said. “And it just goes to show you how tough the Coastal League is. The Coastal League is one of the toughest small school leagues in the state. Any Coastal League team can win on any given night.”

Christian opened strong, gaining a 36-yard field goal by MICHAEL GRUBER and a 52-yard touchdown run by Fields on two of its first three possessions.

Bishop’s countered late in the second quarter. Joey Moreno hit Peabody on a perfectly executed 38-yard TD pass with 0:44 left to close to within 10-7. Bishop’s tied it up on its first possession of the second half with a 30-yard field goal by Justin Peabody. But Christian quickly re-assumed the lead on the next play, Thompson’s 67-yard TD scamper.

Early in the fourth quarter, The Bishop’s Moreno found Jensen on a 79-yard TD pass play, but the point-after kick attempt was blocked by Christian’s STEVEN PITTS, who finished with 10 tackles, including a sack. That made it 17-16 until Thompson took a pitch and darted around right end on his 36-yard TD run. Then, it was Bishop’s turn to block a PAT, this one by Jensen, so the score stood at 23-16.

This was the first overtime playoff game for both teams. Christian won the coin toss and elected to give The Bishop’s the ball first.

Micah Seau, the nephew of Junior Seau, rushed 3 yards on the first play. Then there was a motion penalty and an incompletion, setting up 3rd-and-12 at the 27. Moreno promptly connected with Jacob Kelly on a 9-yard pickup, setting up 4th-and-3 at the 18. Christian, which had committed seven penalties for 61 yards, was whistled for offside, giving the Knights a first down at the 13. One play later, Jensen raced around right end for the winning score.

Christian’s GARRETT HEIN had two interceptions, while TYRONE SAULS had a team-best 11 tackles. Seau had a dozen tackles for The Bishop’s.

“Overal,l I’d say we had a good season,” Oliver said. “It just ended a little sooner than we planned.”