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2008 Prep Football
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Week 12 in Review (CIF Rd 1)
Week 13 in Review (CIF Rd 2)
Week 14 in Review (CIF Rd 3)
Week 15 in Review (CIF Finals)

Red-Black attack
South County playersS star in annual SDSU spring scrimmage

Posted May 7, 2009
Will new SDSU football coach Brady Hoke be the savior the Aztec faithful have been desperately searching for over the past decade? Will SDSU rebound from an admittedly disappointing three-year run under former coach Chuck Long to become a perennial bowl contender? Two thousand curious fans got a chance to see Hoke’s Aztecs upclose in action at last Saturday’s annual Red-Black intra-squad scrimmage game at the Sports Deck on campus. The answer they got was cautiously optimistic.

The outcome of the contest was a 20-17 victory by the Black team and some renewed enthusiasm on the field, especially on the part of the team’s sizable San Diego County playing contingent.

SDSU finished 2-10 last season.

One thing that was evident under Long’s reign was the general lack of playing time by SDSU’s load of homegrown talent. Yes, a few county products got starting duties but the emphasis was on few, perhaps too few for many fans’ liking. When many area players did see action, it was late in games, too late in most cases to make any significant contribution.

If participation in last weekend’s Red-Black contest was any indicator, however, that could change this coming fall when the Aztecs kick off the 2009 college football season.

South County players in particular played a prominent role in the match-up that officially marked the end to the team’s spring football drills. Castle Park High School alumnus DeMarco Sampson, apparently fully recovered from physical ailments — and a stay in Long’s “doghouse” —that kept him from making a significant contribution to the team for the past two years, caught two touchdown passes. Former Southwestern College quarterback Drew Westling threw a pair of TD passes while Bonita Vista High School graduate Bryan Shields kicked a 43-yard field goal and tacked on two extra-point conversions.

Westling, who served a back-up role last season after transferring from SWC, squared off against sophomore starter Lindley, a former San Diego Section Offensive Player of the Year who threw for 2,653 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.

Westling, in calling signals for the Red team, completed 14 of his 26 attempts for 260 yards and two scores, while Lindley went 18-for-37 for 235 yards and one TD.

Sampson led all receivers with seven catches for 186 yards and his pair of touchdowns.
The Red team started off with a 7-0 lead as Westling fired a 54-yard TD pass to Sampson to cap its first drive of the game. However, the Black team evened the score when junior defensive end B.J. Williams (Aurora, Colo.) snared a tipped Westling pass and scored on an ensuing 43-yard interception return.

Williams’ interception return was the lone defensive touchdown of the day.

The Black team took a 17-7 lead when junior Vincent Brown (Rancho Cucamonga) caught a 27-yard TD pass from Lindley.

SDSU’s collection of South County players then made a statement by helping the Red team recover from its 10-point deficit to tie the score at 17-all in the fourth quarter. Shields capped a 12-play, 40-yard drive with his field goal to trim the Black team’s lead to 17-10. After getting the ball back, Westling led the Red team on a 91-yard scoring drive capped by a 19-yard TD pass to Sampson.

The Black team captured the win on a 49-yard field goal by Lane Yoshida (Pinole) with just 17 seconds remaining in the game. The game-winning drive came after a Red team punt, with the Black team starting from its own 28-yard line and driving down field in seven plays.

Westling’s fourth-down pass was intercepted by Andrew Preston (Centennial, Colo.) on the game’s final play to negate any dramatic comeback by the Red squad.

Westling was intercepted twice in the contest.

Hoke, who led Ball State to a 12-0 record before coming to Montezuma Mesa, called the Aztecs’ spring drills “a starting point” — at least as far as the offensive, defensive and kicking game is concerned, he said.

Hoke said there was “some really good competition at the end.”

“We didn’t play perfect — there were too many dumb penalties,” Hoke said. “We’ve got to do a better job of that. I thought the kids competed hard. They really understand about competing and winning and the consequences of not winning.”

Hoke added that he has decided to wipe the slate “clean” in regard to the team’s personnel and will make his own decisions about any perceived problem cases in the past.

The new Aztec sideline boss had good things to say about Sampson, whose potential has generally gone untapped so far at SDSU.

Sampson said at the beginning of spring drills that the coaching staff told the receiving corps that “whoever made the most plays” would be in position for a starting position this fall.

“That was the goal for all of the wide receivers,” said Sampson, who dropped several pounds from last fall to increase his speed and quickness on the field. “We wanted to do our best, learn the plays as fast as possible and make plays. They gave us a chance to show what we can, so all we can do is step up to the plate. We did what we have been waiting to do for a long time.”
Sampson called training camp under Hoke and his new staff “more intense” than that under Long.

“They (Long and his staff) didn’t demand as much as this staff demands,” Sampson said.
Lindley called the intra-squad contest “a great game.”

“Both sides of the ball did great,” Lindley said. “The defense, I thought they came out really strong. I think, as a team, we have grown. It has been a very productive spring. I think we need to go into the summer and work hard, get bigger, faster, and stronger and come out ready in the fall. Guys have learned from their mistakes over the last few weeks and it’s exciting to see it play out like this and have a great scrimmage.”

Lindley added he believes the Aztecs are beginning to bond under the new coaching staff.

“All of the things we are doing are forming really tight bonds,” Lindley said. “I have found that with the team building a lot of the seniors, like Luke (Laolagi) and Jerry (Milling), are doing a great job on keeping the team together.”

Hoke said it is his hope that the Aztecs are “becoming a tougher team,” specifically “a mentally tougher team.”

“It doesn’t matter what position you play, you’ve got to be a tough guy to play the game of football,” Hoke said. “That’s where our program will start and that’s how it’s always going to start. I think we’ve got to be more of a disciplined team. We had some false starts today offensively and that’s a lack of discipline. When you have that, you can’t win championships. We’ve got to make sure we clear those up. We’ve got to do a good job on the defensive side of it — understanding situations and knowing where the stakes are and the sticks are, how to play receivers and things of that nature.”

Laolagi, a linebacker from Reseda, said he is anxious to get to the first game of the season. “It’s pretty sweet right now — we put in four hard weeks and it feels like the summer off-season is going to go by pretty smooth,” he said. “I can’t wait to put on pads and get ready for UCLA.”

Red-Black notepad
•Yoshida finished the game with two field goals. His 45-yarder in the second quarter lifted the Black team to a 10-7 halftime lead.
•Brown finished with eight receptions for 126 yards, tops on the Black team.

•Defensively, the Black team had four interceptions — one each by B.J. Williams, Preston, Darryn Lewis (Elk Grove) and Ross Williams (Rancho Santa Margarita). Senior linebacker Jerry Milling (Palmdale) led all tacklers with seven hits, including three for a loss, for the Red team. B.J. Williams, meanwhile, recorded six tackles and two sacks to go with his interception return for a touchdown.

•Brandon Sullivan (Poway) rushed 10 times for 20 yards to lead the Black team while James Simon (University City) had one rush for one yard. Ramon Judkins (Los Angeles) had three catches for 36 yards for the Black team.

•Atiyyah Henderson (Rockledge, Fla.) rushed 14 times for 30 yards to lead the Red team, which also received nine rushing yards on three carries from Robert Gregorio (Rolling Hills).

•Mekell Wesley (Chandler, Ariz.) made two catches for 39 yards while Alston Umuolo (Phoenix, Ariz.) had four catches for 31 yards for the Red team.

•Kelsey Sokoloski (Greenwood Village, Colo.) saw reserve action for both teams, completing a total of four passes in 15 attempts for 47 yards with two interceptions.

•Tackles leaders also included Davion Mauldin (Compton) with six for the Red team and Preston with six for the Black team.
•Former Aztec coaching legend Don Coryell was present for the Red-Black game and named an honorary captain. Hoke said Coryell's presence helped inspire all at the scrimmage.

•SDSU players will report to campus in early August to open fall camp in preparation for the 2009 season, which starts with a high profile road contest at UCLA on Sept. 5.

SDSU's Hoke announces first recruiting class:
Aztecs sign 20 prep standouts
One of the first duties of newly-signed SDSU head football coach Brady Hoke was to announce the names of 20 student-athletes who had signed national letters of intent to play football next season for the Aztecs. He made that announcement on Feb. 4.

The 20 signees all came from the high school ranks, with 19 residing in California. The signing class is comprised of 10 defensive players and 10 offensive players.

“I think the character of the kids in this class and their passion to play might make this a really good class in time,” Hoke said. “The student-athletes we are bringing in understand the value of a degree as well as the teamwork and accountability that are needed.”

There is a definite theme of athleticism in the 2009 class on both sides of the ball. Of the 10 defensive players in the class, four play cornerback and four others play safety. On offense, the Aztecs added four wide receivers and three running backs.

“We thought we had some immediate needs in the skill areas that we were able to address,” Hoke said. “On defense, we wanted to address the secondary and, on offense, we were looking to add personnel at the wide receiver and running back positions.”

Five of the 20 signees hail from San Diego County: La Costa Canyon linebacker Jacob Driver, Mira Mesa wide receiver Brandon Chambers, Kearny wide receiver Marven Jones and Oceanside wide receiver Osmond Nicholas and El Camino quarterback Colton Morrison.

The Aztecs added eight players in the defensive secondary. The four new cornerbacks include Aarein Booker (San Bernardino), Preston King (Rancho Santa Margarita), Gabe Lemon (Orange) and Colin Lockett (Diamond Bar).

At safety, the Aztecs added Marcus Andrews (Los Angeles), Nat Berhe (Colton), Eric Pinkins (Sacramento) and Khalid Stevens (Pacific Palisades).

“We really needed to concentrate on the secondary,” Hoke said. “We were looking for corners who could play man coverage and safeties who can defend the run and play downhill. I believe we signed players who will help us to be able to accomplish that.”

Rounding out the defensive signees are linebackers — Driver and Nick Tenhaeff (Atascadero).

On offense, the Aztecs located four prep wide receivers with good size, including players standing 6-4 and 6-3. Leon McFadden (Bellflower) joins Chambers, Jones and Nicholas from San Diego County as the four receivers who signed with SDSU.

“We have senior wide receivers who will be graduating (next year), so we tried to address some of those needs with some local wide receivers who are very good football players,” Hoke said.

SDSU signed three running backs — the most since 2003. Ronnie Hillman (La Habra), Walter Kazee (San Bernardino) and Anthony Miller (Dallas, Texas) all signed intent letters.

The Aztecs added two quarterbacks in Jake Bernards (Valencia) and Morrison. The other offensive slot was filled by tight end Gavin Escobar (Rancho Santa Margarita).

Hoke, who was announced as San Diego State’s 17th head football coach on Dec. 16, said that he and his staff felt welcomed in the recruiting circles on their first trip out representing the Red and Black.

“The coaches on this staff will do a tremendous job of extending themselves and reaching out to high school and junior college coaches,” Hoke said. “I think people have a high regard for San Diego State University, both academically and athletically.”

One area that Hoke’s staff did not tap into due to the late start was the junior colleges ranks, which is an area the staff will look to fill specific needs in the future.

“In recruiting, when you miss the early signing day with junior college athletes, it is hard (to catch up),” Hoke said. “You want the junior college kids to come in and go through the winter program and go through spring ball. When you sign junior college players, you expect them to play. They will be a part of our program in the future, but this year with the late start (recruiting), we didn’t think it was the right formula for us.”

Despite the fact that the class is entirely made up of high school signees, Hoke said the incoming players will have every opportunity to earn immediate playing time.

“The best players are going to play,” Hoke said. “There is no entitlement to anyone. The guys who work the hardest and come in prepared will play.”

State Championship Bowl
Eastlake’s Crosthwaite, Dons claim state football title
Posted Dec. 25, 2008
For the second consecutive season, a San Diego Section team has captured the State Bowl Championship Division II title. Last season, the Oceanside Pirates became the first team from the region to win a state championship; this year, the Cathedral Catholic Dons duplicated the feat.

Cathedral Catholic capped a 14-0 season with a 37-34 come-from-behind victory over Stockton St. Mary’s last Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson. The game was one of five state championship bowl games held at the venue over a two-day span.

Last year, three bowl games were played. Oceanside defeated Novato 28-14.

Eastlake resident Alex Crosthwaite, a junior offensive lineman, helped guide the Dons to the history-making state championship.

Silver Pigskin Award-winner Tyler Gaffney showcased a breakout game to catapult the section’s Division III champions by rushing for 329 yards and scoring five touchdowns — both state bowl records. Gaffney set single-season section records this season for most yards gained (2,866) and most touchdowns (56).

Gaffney scored on runs of 36, one, 18, one and. 51 yards. He also caught two passes for 232 yards and completed a 30-yard halfback pass to quarterback Parker Hipp (nine-of-11 passing, 191 yards). Brad Harrington caught three passes for 58 yards while Alex Pascale (57 yards) and Chance Early (48 yards) turned in big one-catch plays. The Dons got three points on the leg of kicker Roman Ferreira, who booted a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Cathedral Catholic erased a 34-30 Rams’ lead on Gaffney’s final touchdown of the game — a 51-yard scoring burst.

St. Mary’s quarterback Cody Vaz countered with 336 passing yards and four touchdowns to make the game a back-and-forth scoring extravaganza. The teams combined for 1,051 yards and 44 first downs.

2008 San Diego Kiwanis Most Inspirational Team
(MVP honored at 2008 Holiday Bowl)
Charles Thompson (Christian)
Joey Rash (El Camino)
Lyle Ducker (Fallbrook)
Travis Wolfe (Foothills Christian)
Wayman Yeldell (Francis Parker)
Kevin Wright (Grossmont)
Casey Nicholas (Hilltop)
Chris Lopez (Imperial)
Matt B. Williams (La Costa Canyon)
Christian Pederson (La Jolla)
Oliver Taylor (Madison)
Francisco Justo (Mission Bay)
Liki Porotesano (Morse)
Reginald Noble (Mt. Carmel)
Will Buttler (Oceanside)
Jonathan Aguiar (Olympian)
Andrew Early (Orange Glen)
Giovanni Campbell (Otay Ranch)
Alan Aguilar (St. Augustine)
Andrew Nenow (San Pasqual)
Josh Morrison (San Ysidro)
Matt Charlbois (Santana)
Chris McColl (Steele Canyon)
Joseph Zaniboni (Torrey Pines)
Eric Matthews (Tri-City Christian)
Quentin Dils (University City)
David Fisher (Vista)

Most Inspirational Player: Francisco Justo (Mission Bay)

Super Preps: Post-Season Awards
East County 2008 Year-in-Review

Posted Jan. 26, 2009
The NFL American Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers will take on the National Conference champion Arizona Cardinals this Sunday in Tampa, Fla., in Super Bowl XLIII. It is the climactic ending to another pro football season and the biggest sporting event in the United States, ranking perhaps behind only the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games for world-wide prestige.

It is thus time to duly recognize the stars of the amateur game on the home front -- those who play under the lights on Friday nights.

The San Diego Section finished with a second consecutive State Bowl Championship winner when the Cathedral Catholic Dons -- Division III section champions -- defeated St. Mary’s of Stockton, 37-34, to capture the Division II state title Dec. 20 at the Home Depot in Carson.

The Dons finished the season 14-0. Cathedral Catholic topped the Valhalla Norsemen, 49-13, in the section title game on Dec. 12.

The Norsemen posted a school-record 11-2 showing, setting school records for wins. Valhalla compiled a six-game winning streak heading into the Division III championship game against the Dons, finishing with playoff wins against Serra (35-7) and Grossmont South League rival Steele Canyon (28-0).

Two Grossmont South League teams advanced to section title games. The league champion Helix Highlanders finished 10-2-1 after dropping a heart-breaking 23-19 decision to the top-seeded Oceanside Pirates in the Division II championship game.

A total of 10 East County teams qualified for post-season play. Joining Helix and Valhalla from the Grossmont South League were Steele Canyon and Monte Vista. Three Grossmont North League teams qualified for the playoffs: league champion El Capitan, runner-up Grossmont and third place West Hills. Foothills Christian, the Southern League champion, and Christian, the runner-up in the Coastal League champion, as well as Mountain Empire all qualified for the Division V playoffs.

El Capitan (8-4) advanced as far as the Division III quarterfinals; Christian (10-2) lost in the Division V semifinals. Valhalla defeated Steele Canyon in the Division III semifinals.

Foothills Christian (10-2) won its first-ever playoff game, defeating Holtville, 34-20, the opening round of the Division V playoffs before meeting Christian in the quarterfinals.

Foothills Christian added an impressive second championship to the school’s first-ever football league title by finishing first in the section for All-Academic team honors with a cumulative 3.27 grade-point average.

Players of the Year
Valhalla junior quarterback Pete Thomas earned honors as the Grossmont South League Offensive Player of the Year after finishing the season with 3,159 passing yards, 28 touchdown passes and six rushing touchdowns. He also caught one pass for a touchdowns.

Thomas completed 68.3 percent of his passes and led the Norsemen in scoring with 109 points. He also served as the team’s place-kicker and finished the season with 46 point-after-touchdown conversions and seven field goals.

Helix senior nose guard Anthony Larceval, who has made a verbal committment to attend San Jose State University on a football scholarship this fall, was named the Grossmont South League Defensive Player of the Year.

Larceval ranked among the team leaders in tackles per game and sacks.

Granite Hills junior Tyler Strickland, who kicked 22 of 23 extra-point attempts and split the uprights on a 38-yard field goal, landed honors as the Grossmonth South League Kicker of the Year.

El Capitan senior quarterback Tanner Rust earned honors as the Grossmont North League Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 2,549 yards, 27 touchdowns and scoring two rushing touchdowns. Rust also handed the team’s place-kicking duties, finishing with 29 PAT conversions and nine field goals.

El Capitan senior linebacker Dominic Prouty was named the Grossmont North League Defensive Player of the Year. Prouty is listed as one of California’s Class of 2010 top college recruits.

West Hills senior Levi Jacob was named the Grossmont North League Kicker of the Year. Jacob kicked 20 of 22 PAT attempts and made seven field goals, including a longest boot of 46 yards, to finish with 41 kicking pionts.

Foothills Christian quarterback Garret Campbell earned honors as the Southern League Offensive Player of the Year after rushing and passing for more than 1,000 yards in the same season. Campbell completed 49.7 percent of his passes for 1,581 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 1,144 yards with 13 TDs. Including seven kick/punt returns for scores, he finished the season with 20 touchdowns. He also kicked 42 PATs and six field goals. He returned a kick-off 100 yards for a touchdowns in the a Sept. 19 non-league game against La Jolla Country Day.

All-league
First Team All-Grossmont South League offensive picks, besides Thomas and Strickland, included Mt. Miguel senior Derall Hunter, Steele Canyon junior Alex Perlin, Helix seniors Travon Van, Levine Toilolo and O.J. Auimatagi, Valhalla senior Derek White, Mt. Miguel junior David Carrillo, Steele Canyon seniors Ben Kaufmann and Zakary Butts, Valhalla junior Taylor Phipps.

First Team All-Grossmont South League defensive selections, in addition to Larceval, included, Helix seniors Trelan Taylor, Eddie Faamaile and Anthony Anderson, Granite Hills junior Brian Carroll, Monte Vista seniors Jerrad Scott and Tracy Shields, Valhalla seniors Keenan Hirsh and Tanner Hitt, Steele Canyon senior Josiah Smith and Valhalla junior Shane Pennix.

Hunter rushed for 1,507 yards and scored 18 touchdowns while Perlin rushed for 1,660 yards and 13 touchdowns. Van gained 1,237 yards and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. White caught 55 passes for 693 yards.

First Team All-Grossmont North League offensive picks, besides Rust and Jacob, included, West Hills seniors Christian Fonseca and Michael Lobaugh, El Cajon Valley senior Peter Alkass, Grossmont juniors Brett Etherton and Clayton Rainey, El Capitan seniors Phillip Cook, Jon Molzen and Mark Perez and Santana senior Kris Kimmel.

First Team All-Grossmont North league defensive selections, in addition to Prouty, included Grossmont senior Valentino Hodgson, El Cajon Valley senior Gavino Pinal, El Capitan senior Jr. royles, El Capitan junior Anthony Lima, Santana seniors Matt Charlebois, Josh Van De Vrupt and Kimmel, Grossmont senior Donovan Stauder, El Cajon Valley junior Alex Hann and West Hills seniors Matt Evans and Lobaugh.

Fonseca rushed for 1,229 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. Etherton caught 60 passes for 862 yards and six touchdowns whiole Cook caught 47 passes for 837 yards and 13 touchdowns. Molzen had 44 catches for 807 yards and 10 touchdowns while Kimmel had 45 catches for 611 yards and nine touchdowns.

Pinal led the Grossmont Conference with eight interceptions while Kimmel had six picks and Scott and Tayklor each had five interceptions.

Christian totaled five All-Coastal League First Team selections: senior running back Charles Thompson, junior lineman Matt Knight, senior linebacker Matthew Fields junior linebacker Steven Pitts and senior defensive back Caleb Farrel.

Thompson led all East County running backs with 1,893 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns. Fields racked up 121 tackles on the season with three sacks.

Foothills Christian corralled six All-Southern League First Team selections: junior quarterback Garret Campbell, senior wide receiver Gage Provencher, senior running back Mattison Rundlett, junior linebacker Caleb Gardner, junior linebacker Robert Kakos and senior lineman Travis Wolfe.

Rundlett rushed for 803 yards and 13 touchdowns while Provencher made 33 catches for 608 yards and scored six touchdowns.

Gardner and Kakos ranked first and second in the Southern League with 97 and 92 tackles, respectively, while Wolfe ranked fifth with 67 tackles.

All-CIF
Six East County players earned First Team All-San Diego Section honors, led by Valhalla junior quarterback Pete Thomas (offense) and Helix senior lineman Anthony Larceval (defense). Helix senior tight end Levine Toilolo was a first team offensive pick while first team defensive selections included Helix senior defensive end Anthony Anderson, Monte Vista senior defensive back Tracy Shields and Helix senior defensive back Trelan Taylor.

Nine East County players earned Second Team All-San Diego Section recognition. Second team offensive picks included Helix senior running back Travon Van, Christian senior running back Charles Thompson, Steele Canyon senior lineman Ben Kauffman, Valhalla senior lineman Taylor Phipps and El Capitan's Rust. Second team defensive selections included Steele Canyon senior defensive lineman Josiah Smith, Valhalla senior linebacker Tanner Hitt, Helix senior linebacker Eddie Faamaile and El Cajon Valley senior defensive back Gavino Pinal.

Cathedral Catholic senior running back Tyler Gaffney, who finished the season with 56 touchdowns for the state champion Dons, earned honors as the San Diego Section Offensive Player of the Year while La Costa Canyon senior linebacker Jacob Driver was named the section's Defensive Player of the Year. Gaffney, who has announced he will attend Stanford University in the fall, also was named the state's Player of the Year -- Mr. Football -- by CalHiSports.com. He set a bowl record with 329 yards on 33 carries, scoring five touchdowns. He set a section recorcd with 2,866 rushing yards

All-State
Helix senior tight end Levine Toilolo (third team) and Santana senior punter Josh Van De Vrupt (medium schools) were both named to one of several all-state teams released by CalHiSports.com. Toilolo caught 27 passes for 395 yards and scored seven touchdowns while Van DeVrupt led East County with a 43.0 punting average, including one punt for 68 yards, whiling kicking 23 of 26 extra-point attempts and made two of three field goals, including a 45-yarder.

Toilolo (first team offense), Christian running back Charles Thompson (first team offense), Helix defensive lineman Anthony Larceval (first team defense), Christian offensive lineman Matt Knight (second team offense) and Christian linebacker Matthew Fields (second team defense) were all tabbed as members of the MaxPreps all-state team.

Metro Conference Report
All-San Diego Section Football Team: Stars in their eyes

Posted Jan. 29, 2009
The NFL American Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers will take on the National Conference champion Arizona Cardinals this Sunday in Tampa, Fla., in Super Bowl XLIII. It is the climactic ending to another pro football season and the biggest sporting event in the United States, likely ranking behind only the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games for worldwide prestige.

It is thus time to duly recognize the stars of the amateur game on the home front — those who play under the lights on Friday nights.

All-San Diego Section
Four Metro Conference players earned the ultimate compliment during the 2008 high school football season by being named to the All-San Diego Section team. They include Eastlake senior lineman Owen Breeden (first team offense), Chula Vista senior defensive end/running back Taimi Tutogi (first team defense), Eastlake junior linebacker/running back Tony Jefferson (first team defense) and Eastlake senior linebacker Patrick Jarin (second team defense).

Jefferson and Tutogi shared Mesa League Offensive Player of the Year honors but played on both sides of the ball. Jefferson, who has already received scholarship offers from a hefty portion of the top 25 colleges in the nation, scored 24 touchdowns in 12 games, including 21 rushing touchdowns, two punt returns for scores (including one for 65 yards) and an interception return. On defense, Jefferson averaged nearly 10 tackles per game. Tutogi scored 16 touchdowns in 11 games as a running back but was just as lethal at his defensive end position, making 11 tackles in the Mesa League championship game against Eastlake.

Jarin earned honors as the Mesa League Defensive Player of the Year by averaging nearly 10 tackles per game. He helped lead a defensive effort that limited opponents to two touchdowns or less in eight of 12 games. He had 14 tackles twice in games this season and has expressed interest in playing for Army next season.

Breeden (6-3, 270 pounds) is one of the best linemen to play at Eastlake in several years, according to Titan line coach Rone Torres, and will be making upcoming recruiting trips to Butler, Sacramento State and Humboldt. Breeden served as offensive captain this season and both literally and figuratively led the team on the field from his center position.


Best of South County
A total of six South County teams qualified for post-season play. The Eastlake Titans advanced to the division semifinals for the third consecutive season, losing by three points to both teams that made it to the championship game. The Titans opened the season with a 26-23 loss to eventual Division II champion Oceanside and dropped a 27-24 heartbreaker to eventual Division II runner-up Helix in the playoff semifinals.

Joining Eastlake in the playoffs were Chula Vista and Otay Ranch, both in Division I, Bonita Vista in Division II, Castle Park in Division III and Mater Dei in Division IV.
The top five teams from the Mesa League qualified for post-season play while only the South Bay League champion — Castle Park — was admitted.

Of the six South Bay playoff entrants, only one won to advance to the next round.

That’s a statement that out-of-area teams point to every season in terms of prestige.

There may be a few gems in the South County but, collectively, the Metro Conference obviously continues to lag behind the northern and eastern half of the section.
Only teams from the City Conference, as a whole, may be weaker.

Hall of Champions All-San Diego Section Team
(Selected under the auspices of the San Diego Hall of Champions)

First Team Offense
Brian Schwenke (Oceanside) 12; Everett Benyard (Cathedral Catholic) 12; Chad Carlin (Escondido) 12
Owen Breeden (Eastlake) 12; Mitch Meyer (Poway) 12; Levine Toilolo (Helix) 12; Tyler Gaffney (Cathedral Catholic) 12; Ricky Seale (Escondido) 11; Robbie Rouse (Madison) 12; Jordan Wynn (Oceanside) 12; Tyler Bernard (Valley Center) 12; Peter Thomas (Valhalla) 11; James Johnson (Valley Center) 12; DeMario Coleman (Oceanside) 10; Kenny Stills (La Costa Canyon) 11; Bobby Zalud (La Costa Canyon) 12

First Team Defense
Anthony Larceval (Helix) 12; Joel Sisler (Escondido) 12; Taimi Tutogi (Chula Vista) 12; Mustafa Jalil (Cathedral Catholic) 10; Anthony Anderson (Helix) 12; Jacob Driver (La Costa Canyon) 12; Justin Vaeena (Oceanside) 12; Jake Fely (Oceanside) 11; Tracy Shields (Monte Vista) 12; Tony Casillas (Madison) 12; Tony Jefferson (Eastlake) 11; Brett Thomas (Poway) 12; Trelan Taylor (Helix) 12;
Connor Garrett (La Costa Canyon) 12; Jerry Whitaker (Oceanside) 11

Second Team Offense
Stephen Sousa (Westview) 12; Blake Malkemus (Coronado) 12; Nick Ricciardulli (Poway) 12; Travon Van (Helix) 12; Charles Thompson (Christian) 12; Tim Zier (Escondido) 11; Tate Forcier (Scripps Ranch) 12; Deon Randall (Francis Parker) 11; Ronnie Yell (Lincoln) 12; Tanner Rust (El Capitan) 12;
Ben Kauffman (Steele Canyon) 12; Jason Breaux (Madison) 12; James Fink (Point Loma) 12; Taylor Phipps (Valhalla) 12; Brett Germain (Ramona) 12; Bobby Wenzig (Westview) 12

Second Team Defense
Josiah Smith (Steele Canyon) 12; Eilert Meyers (Vista) 12; Thomas Molesi (Oceanside) 11; Bashiri Washington (Oceanside) 12; Evan Langston (Escondido) 12; Tanner Hitt (Valhalla) 12; Eddie Faamaile (Helix) 12; Ofisa Kosa (Vista) 11; Patrick Jarin (Eastlake) 12; Mike Jensen (Bishop's) 12; Jordan Garcia (Carlsbad) 12; Gavino Pinal (El Cajon Valley) 12; Mike Head (Ramona) 12; Zach McMaster (Mission Hills) 12; Keith Englehart (Coronado) 12

Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Gaffney (Cathedral Catholic)
Defensive Player of the Year: Jacob Driver (La Costa Canyon)
Coach of the Year: Sean Doyle (Cathedral Catholic)

2008 San Diego Section
Football Parade of Champions

Metro Conference
Mesa League
Offensive Players of the Year: Taimi Tutogi (Chula Vista), Tony Jefferson (Eastlake)
Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick Jarin (Eastlake)
Kicker of the Year: Jason Myers (Mater Dei)
Championship team: Eastlake Titans

South Bay League
Offensive Player of the Year: Adam Tolbert (Castle Park)
Defensive Player of the Year: Ivan Enriquez (Castle Park)
Kicker of the Year: Jose Coronel (Sweetwater)
Championship team: Castle Park Trojans

Southern Conference
Southern League
Offensive Player of the Year: Garret Campbell (Foothills Christian)
Defensive Player of the Year: Clinton Parker (Calvin Christian)
Kicker of the Year: Clinton Parker (Calvin Christian)
Championship team: Foothills Christian Knights

Citrus League (8-Man)
Offensive Player of the Year: Cody Smith (West Shores)
Defensive Player of the Year: David Porter (Maranatha Christian)
Kicker of the Year: N/A
Championship team: Maranatha Christian Eagles?

Grossmont Conference
Grossmont South League
Offensive Player of the Year: Peter Thomas (Valhalla)
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Larceval (Helix)
Kicker of the Year: Tyler Strickland (Granite Hills)
Championship team: Helix Highlanders

Grossmont North League
Offensive Player of the Year: Tanner Rust (El Capitan)
Defensive Player of the Year: Dominic Prouty (El Capitan)
Kicker of the Year: Levi Jacob (West Hills)
Championship team: El Capitan Vaqueros

Coastal Conference
Coastal League
Offensive Player of the Year: Deon Randall (Francis Parker)
Defensive Player of the Year: Mike Jensen (Bishop's)
Kicker of the Year: Matt Wile (Francis Parker)
Championship team: Francis Parker Lancers

Pacific League
Offensive Player of the Year: Tommy Brown (Army-Navy)
Defensive Player of the Year: Montell Allen (La Jolla Country Day)
Kicker of the Year: Zach Wolfenzon (La Jolla Country Day)
Championship team: Army-Navy Academy Warriors

City Conference
Central League
Offensive Player of the Year: Robbie Rouse (Madison)
Defensive Player of the Year: Tony Casillas (Madison)
Kicker of the Year: Christian Huerta (Coronado)
Championship team: Madison Warhawks

Eastern League
Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Gaffney (Cathedral Catholic)
Defensive Player of the Year: Ryan Downing (Cathedral Catholic)
Kicker of the Year: Roman Ferreira (Cathedral Catholic)
Championship team: Cathedral Catholic Dons

Western League
Offensive Player of the Year: Arthur Stewart (Serra)
Defensive Player of the Year: Mike Todter (Point Loma)
Kicker of the Year: Lee Abelkop (La Jolla)
Championship team: Serra Conquistadors

North County Conference
Avocado League
Offensive Player of the Year: Ricky Seale (Escondido)
Defensive Player of the Year: Jacob Driver (La Costa Canyon)
Kicker of the Year: Bobby Zalud (La Costa Canyon)
Championship team: La Costa Canyon Mavericks

Palomar League
Offensive Player of the Year: Nick Ricciardulli (Poway)
Defensive Player of the Year: Jordan Garcia (Carlsbad)
Kicker of the Year: Casey McPerry (El Camino)
Championship team: Poway Titans

Valley League
Offensive Player of the Year: Jordan Wynn (Oceanside)
Defensive Player of the Year: Justin Vaeena (Oceanside)
Kicker of the Year: Bobby Wenzig (Westview)
Championship team: Oceanside Pirates

Southeastern Conference
Imperial Valley League
Offensive Player of the Year: Jonathan Adams (Central Union)
Defensive Player of the Year: Ricky Smith (Central Union)
Championship team: Central Union Spartans
Note: only one designated Player of the Year is recognized on the San Diego Hall of Champions/Breitbard Association

All-South Bay League
2008 Football Team

First Team Offense
Chris Metoyer (Sweetwater) 12; Jesus Sesma (Castle Park) 12; Dimitris Vlahakis (Montgomery) 12; Faaaliga Siatuu (Montgomery) 12; Adam Tolbert (Castle Park) 12; Johnny Miranda (Montgomery) 11; Jason Salmeron (Sweetwater) 12; Gustavo Gonzalez (Southwest) 12; Josh Morrison (San Ysidro) 12.; Cesar Chavez (Sweetwater) 12; Richard Cooper (Castle Park) 12; Jose Coronel (Sweetwater) 12

First Team Defense
Markus Pierce-Brewster (Sweetwater) 12; Jonathan Aguilar (Olympian) 11; Luis Necoechea (Montgomery) 11; Elphbert Laforteza (San Ysidro) 12; Leo Garcia (Castle Park) 12; Hollis Hulin (Olympian) 11; Ivan Enriquez (Castle Park) 12; David Fuerte (Sweetwater) 11; Albert Alcozar (Mar Vista) 12.; Rapi Sotoa (Sweetwater) 11; Alex Orrantia (Castle Park) 12

Second Team Offense
Angelo Pollato (Mar Vista) 12; Jose Silahua (Mar Vista) 12; Ruben Sanchez (Montgomery) 12; Eric Paranada (Olympian) 11; Ryan Van Nostrand (Olympian) 11; Tremaine Mitchell (San Ysidro) 11; Diego Rodriguez (Montgomery) 10; Dre Gibson (Olympian) 10; Chris Mathis (Montgomery) 11; Kevin Gray (Mar Vista) 12; Marvin Bobadilla (Montgomery) 12

Second Team Defense
Ryan Felarca (Montgomery) 12; Justin Leui (Mar Vista) 12; Miguel Hodges (Castle Park) 12; Jacob Samuel (Olympian) 10; James Houseman (Mar Vista) 11; Bernardo Valdez (Castle Park) 12.; Joseph Carbullido (Montgomery) 12; Rosendo Luna (Southwest) 12; Dominique Fuqua (Castle Park) 12; Gilbert Gibson (Castle Park) 12; Rudy Garcia (Sweetwater) 12

Players of the Year
Offensive Player of the Year: Adam Tolbert (Castle Park)

Defensive Player of the Year: Ivan Enriquez (Castle Park)

Kicker of the Year: Jose Coronel (Sweetwater)

Championship team: Castle Park Trojans (6-0)

San Diego Section Year-inReview
Fledgling Southern League making strides on the gridiron

Posted Jan 29, 2009
The small-enrollment Southern League concluded a record-setting second season of existence in 2008 with a new champion and three San Diego Section playoff qualifiers.

The league continued to grow as an 11-man circuit, adding five schools this past season to hike membership to eight schools from its inaugural four teams in 2007.

The Southern League’s first champion — the Julian Eagles — finished third best in the beefed-up league this season behind the league champion Foothills Christian Knights and runner-up Calvin Christian Crusaders.
Julian, Midway Baptist, Foothills Christian and Sun Valley were original league members. Newcomers this season included Calvin Christian, Chula Vista Calvary Christian Academy, San Pasqual Academy, Borrego Springs and Vista Calvary Christian Academy. Many of the schools were making the transition from eight-man to 11-man football.

Success was mixed.

Three teams in the expanded league finished with winning records: Foothills Christian (10-2), Calvin Christian (9-2) and Julian (7-4). All three teams qualified for the San Diego Section Division V playoffs — a big improvement from just one the previous season.

Foothills Christian, which finished 7-0 in league play, won its first-ever playoff game, defeating Holtville, 34-20, in the opening round of the Division V playoffs before meeting Christian, the runner-up in the Coastal League standings, in the quarterfinals.

Calvin Christian, which lost 16-14 in the Southern League championship game to the Knights, were eliminated, 76-3, by top-seeded Francis Parker in the opening round of the division playoffs while Julian fell, 49-0, to sixth-seeded Bishop’s, also in the first round.

Foothills Christian saw its season end with a 77-24 loss to second-seeded Christian.

Midway Baptist finished 3-4 in league play, 3-6 overall, with victories against Chula Vista Calvary Christian Academy (14-6), Vista Calvary Christian Academy (38-18) and Borrego Springs (30-14).

The Patriots were competitive in league losses to Julian (42-20) and San Pasqual Academy (39-12) but dropped lopsided contests to Foothills Christian (42-6) and Calvin Christian (40-0).

Chula Vista Calvary Christian Academy (1-6 in league, 1-8 overall) had to wait until its final game of the season to post its lone win of the season — 42-27 against Vista Calvary Christian Academy. The Royal Knights lost 35-13 to Calvin Christian and 33-20 to Borrego Springs in addition to the eight-point loss to Midway Baptist.

In its first-ever 11-man game, Chula Vista CCA lost 22-20 at Calipatria in the season opener for both teams.

Midway Baptist and Chula Vista CCA combined to land seven players on either the All-Southern League first or second teams.

Midway Baptist senior running back Rudy Taniguchi and Chula Vista CCA senior quarterback Josh Perez-Chenge both were selected to the All-Southern League First Team Offense while Midway Baptist senior defensive back Roland Hansen earned recognition on the All-Southern League First Team Defense.

Second team all-league selections for Midway Baptist included junior quarterback Joe Altig (offense) and sophomore wide receiver Jesse Johnson (defense).

Second team all-league selections for Chula Vista CCA included senior place-kicker Josh Howard (offense) and freshman running back Robert Coons (defense).

The Royal Knights captured their season finale in blockbuster fashion as Perez-Chenge scored three touchdowns, Coons scored two touchdowns and Howard scored one touchdown.

Perez-Chenge scored on three runs — 55, three and eight yards — while Coons scored on short runs of two and three yards. Howard scored on a three-yard run as well. Chula Vista CCA also added a safety in the game.
The Royal Knights led 27-13 at halftime.

Foothills Christian quarterback Garret Campbell earned honors as the Southern League Offensive Player of the Year after rushing and passing for more than 1,000 yards in the same season. Campbell completed 49.7 percent of his passes for 1,581 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 1,144 yards with 13 TDs. Including seven kick/punt returns for scores, he finished the season with 20 touchdowns. He also kicked 42 PATs and six field goals. He returned a kick-off 100 yards for a touchdown in a Sept. 19 non-league game against La Jolla Country Day.

Calvin Christian senior linebacker/receiver Clinton Parker earned honors as the Southern League’s Defensive Player of the Year and Kicker of the Year. Parker kicked four field goals, including a longest effort of 42 yards, and booted 35 extra points. On offense, Parker scored seven touchdowns, averaging more than 18 yards per catch.

Foothills Christian corralled six All-Southern League First Team selections: junior quarterback Garret Campbell, senior wide receiver Gage Provencher, senior running back Mattison Rundlett, junior linebacker Caleb Gardner, junior linebacker Robert Kakos and senior lineman Travis Wolfe.

Rundlett rushed for 803 yards and 13 scores while Provencher made 33 catches for 608 yards and scored six touchdowns.

Gardner and Kakos ranked first and second in the Southern League with 97 and 92 tackles, respectively, while Wolfe ranked fifth with 67 tackles.

Foothills Christian added an impressive second championship to the school’s first-ever football league title by finishing first in the section for All-Academic team honors with a cumulative 3.27 grade-point average.

Week 15 in Review
San Diego Section Finals
Helix, Valhalla fall short in title games

Posted Dec. 15, 2008
Tears turned to cheers and vice versa for members of the Oceanside and Helix high school football teams as the final dramatic seconds of last Friday’s San Diego Section Division II championship game played out at Qualcomm Stadium. For the Highlanders, it proved to be the latter — cheers to tears — as Oceanside’s Rene Siluano intercepted a surprise “pop pass” from Helix quarterback Ty Culver in the end zone with 42 seconds remaining in the game to preserve a 23-19 Pirates victory.

The division title was the fifth consecutive for Oceanside — a section record. Three of those five CIF championships have come against Helix.

The third-seeded Highlanders (10-2-1) all but appeared ready to end top-seeded Oceanside’s dominance of the division after earning a first-and-goal series at the Pirates’ one-yard line with 1:03 to play. Oceanside (12-0-1) repelled Helix’s first attempt at the end zone, throwing standout runner Travon Van for a one-yard loss.

That left the Scotties with three plays to punch the ball in from the two-yard line with plenty of time left in the game. The Helix coaching staff, however, gambled by calling an unorthodox play on second down. Culver took the snap and jumped up like a basketball player, though in this instance, throwing the ball downward instead of upward. The pass was intended for 6-foot-8 tight end Levine Toilolo. But the pass fell short of its intended target and Siluano — who was canvassing the end zone for a pass — moved up to catch the ball.

A massive celebration ensued on the Pirates’ sideline as Oceanside snatched a win from what appeared to be almost certain defeat.

The heart-pounding finish to this year's Division II championship game has to rank as one of the most exciting in section history.

“This was it,” section commissioner Dennis Ackerman said. “This game ranks up with the best of them.”

While Oceanside, the defending Division II state champions, might have appeared to have “escaped” with the win, it’s also true that good teams always seem to find a way to win. And there’s no denying the Pirates are an awfully good team. But the Highlanders proved they were right up there. In fact, the Scotties led, 19-16, at halftime.

Helix set up its goal-line scoring opportunity on the arm of Culver and the acrobatic pass-catching ability of Trelan Taylor, who set the Highlanders' potential game-winning drive in motion with an interception on defense at the Scotties' 36-yard line with 3:02 to play.

Culver connected with Taylor on a 41-yard bomb to place the ball at the Oceanside 19-yard line. On a crucial third-down conversion play, the duo connected for 15 additional yards.

Van, who rushed for 90 yards in the game, got the call on first-and-goal.

Two missed extra points earlier in the game left Helix with a four-point deficit rather than trailing by two points, and thus forced the Scotties to go for a touchdown rather than to simply run the ball at the Pirates' line and, if not successful, to go for a game-winning field goal.

In retrospect, it might be unfair to question the "pop pass." If the surprise play had worked and the Highlanders won, it would have been termed a brilliant piece of strategy.

Toilolo said the team had practiced the play but never used it in a game situation but didn't question the call to use it.

The defenses on both teams played takeaway football. Oceanside quarterback Jordan Wynn was intercepted three times while Culver was picked twice. Each team could easily have scored another touchdown in the game.

Jo-Jo Phillips intercepted a Wynn aerial in the end zone and returned the ball 70 yards to the Oceanside 33-yard line to keep the Highlanders in position to possibly win the game.

Conversely, the Scotties were denied precious points when Oceanside’s King Holder ended a drive at the Pirates' nine-yard line with a third-quarter pick.

The game opened on an ominous note for the Grossmont South League champions. Oceanside recovered an onside kick to start the game and went up 7-0 with just 57 seconds elapsed in the contest when Wynn hit Demario Coleman on a 26-yard scoring pass. Helix responded with a 57-ard scoring drive capped by a five-yard touchdown run by Culver. But the extra-point attempt was wide, leaving the defending state champions with a tenuous 7-6 lead.

The scoring drive was set up by an interception.

The teams traded touchdowns to open the second quarter. Holder capped a 64-yard drive on a one-yard scoring run to put Oceanside up 13-6 after a botched snap on the PAT conversion attempt.

The Scotties then tied the score at 13-all when Culver scored on a three-yard run. Again, the Helix defense set up the scoring drive when Paul Blakeney recovered a fumble.

The Pirates promptly drove down the field once again but this time the Helix defense forced a 41-yard goal attempt from Jose Velasquez. Oceanside led 16-13 with 32 seconds left in the first half.

The Highlanders completed scoring in the first half in dramatic fashion as Taylor returned the ensuing kick-off to the Oceanside 25-yard line with 23 seconds left. An incomplete pass stopped the clock with 17 seconds to play. On the next play, Van promptly wove through the Pirate defense to score on a 25-yard run with nine seconds remaining before intermission. But extra point once again sailed wide, leaving Helix with a three-point lead.

Oceanside received the ball in the second half and scored on their first drive, with Jake Fely capping the 77-yard field march on a one-yard TD run with 6:55 to go in the third quarter.

The Pirates finished the game with 19 first downs to Helix’s nine. The Highlanders held a narrow 106-104 edge in rushing yards but Wynn (16-for-33, 300 yards) won the battle through the air against Culver (nine-for 16, 147 yards) by doubling up in passing yardage.

Sean Linton caught two passes for 79 yards while Taylor’s two fourth-quarter catches went for 56 yards. A 22-yard Culver-to-Linton pass helped set up the Scotties' second TD of the game.

Culver finished as one of Helix's all-time most successful quarterbacks with 1,948 passing yards in one season while throwing 22 scoring passes and rushing for 640 yards and eight touchdowns.

Siluano rushed 14 times for 77 yards to lead the Pirates while Coleman caught two passes for 81 yards, Holder had five catches for 48 yards and Osmond Nicholas made three catches for 26 yards.

Wynn finished the season with 3,293 passing yards and 32 touchdown passes. Coleman led the Pirates with 15 touchdowns on the season, including 12 TD catches.

Despite all the game's excitement, Oceanside was denied the chance to defend its state title when Division III section champion Cathedral Catholic (13-0) was selected to represent the Southern California in this Saturday’s Division II State Bowl game at The Home Depot Center in Carson.

For Helix, the football season resumes next August, though the memories will linger for some time of what might have been.

Orange nation
The visitors' side of Qualcomm stadium was transformed into a sea or Orange as the third-seeded Valhalla Norsemen blazed new territory with their first-ever CIF finals appearance. While the Norsemen (11-2) had multiple chances to make a mark early in the gridiron proceedings, it was the top-ranked Cathedral Catholic Dons (13-0) who executed to near precision throughout the game to claim a 49-13 victory.

By virtue of their perfect season, Cathedral Catholic earned the nod to play in this weekend's State Bowl.

The Norsemen attempted to employ a ball possession offense and for the most part it worked through the opening half of play despite trailing 21-6. Valhalla took its opening possession down to the Cathedral Catholic three-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. Junior quarterback Pete Thomas, who also handles place-kicking duties, fell just short on a 55-yard field goal attempt to end the Norsemen's second possession as the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie.

Valhalla continued to hold the run of play as Wesley Parker intercepted a Parker Hipp pass and returned the ball to the Cathedral Catholic 11-yard line. Thomas passed to James Leighton two plays later for an 11-yard touchdown to put the Norsemen ahead 6-0 after the extra-point attempt was blocked.

The Dons, ranked first in the state, responded with three touchdowns to lead 21-6 but it appeared Valhalla was ready to make a game of it once again by driving to the Cathedral Catholic one-yard line in the dying seconds of the first half. But the Norsemen promptly fumbled the ball while the seconds ticked down.

With better execution and a better bounce of the ball, the Norsemen easily could have had two more touchdowns in the first half to play the Dons’ to a stalemate.

The second half, however, was another story as Cathedral Catholic racked up a lethal 28-7 scoring margin to win going away.

Leighton scored on a two-yard run in the third quarter after the Dons had built a 35-6 lead.

Bad-timing and penalties haunted Valhalla in the second half. One example: Traivonne Brown had a fine 97-yard kick-off return for a touchdown negated on a penalty.

While obviously disappointed, members of the runner-up Valhalla team held their heads up after the game.

"Not too many people might have believed at the start of the season that we could get to the Q but all of us in the locker room believed that we could get to the Q," Thomas said. "We practiced hard and we believed in ourselves. We're the first Valhalla team to get to the Q."

Thomas finished the game with 254 passing yards by completing 24 of 32 attempts. Matthew Swanger led Valhalla's receiving corps with seven catches for 92 yards while Leighton had six grabs for 67 yards Thomas passed for 3,161 yards and 28 touchdowns (against just five interceptions) on the season, while rushing for seven additional scores and kicking seven field goals.

Derek White led the Grossmont South League runners-up with 693 receiving yards while Leighton (630 receiving yards) led the team with eight TD catches. Swanger (679 receiving yards) had seven TD catches.

The Norsemen finished with just 12 rushing yards as a team against the tough Cathedral Catholic defense. Thomas rushed 12 times for negative 31 yards while Brown led the team with 39 yards on nine carries.

The Dons racked up 212 rushing yards and 235 passing yards for 447 total yards in offense. The Norsemen totaled 267 offensive yards.

Tyler Gaffney, the section's all-time single season touchdown leader, keyed Cathedral Catholic with 156 rushing yards on 18 carries and caught two passes for 98 yards. He scored two rushing touchdowns (runs of 20 and 31 yards) and two receiving touchdowns (catches of 56 and 42 yards).

Parker Hipp completed nine of 16 passing attempts for 207 yards.

Gaffney enters the State Bowl game against Stockton St. Mary's with 51 touchdowns on the season. He has rushed for 2,537 yards and scored 44 rushing touchdowns.

South County’s CIF football champions
Area players help Dons, Francis Parker Win divisional titles

Posted Dec. 18, 2008
While a South County team did not land a berth in this year’s San Diego Section divisional football finals, several South County players — namely, Cathedral Catholic junior offensive lineman Alex Crosthwaite and Francis Parker’s Kenny Brookins, Delante Dunklin, Dominic Gerace, Brian Levett and Enrique Espinosa — all earned CIF title with their respective teams.

Crosthwaite, who lives in Eastlake but commutes to his school’s Carmel Valley campus, will be joining the Dons in Saturday’s Division II State Bowl championship game against Stockton St. Mary’s (12-2) at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

“We’re one big family,” said Crosthwaite, who has won two consecutive San Diego Section Division III championships as a member of Cathedral Catholic’s football team. “Our secret to success this year has been great practices. We practice together. There is no separation between the defense and offense. There are no cliques.”

At six feet, five inches and 295 pounds, Crosthwaite stands as one of the Dons’ most imposing players. Only senior lineman Everett Benyard (6-6, 320) is physically larger. Much credit has to go to the team’s offensive line in opening holes for standout runner Tyler Gaffney, who set a new section record this season with 47 touchdowns in the regular season. Gaffney scored four touchdowns in the top-seeded Dons’ 49-13 championship game victory against the third-seeded Valhalla Norsemen last Friday at Qualcomm Stadium to give him 51 TDs entering the State Bowl championship game.

Gaffney, who is the leading candidate to be named this year’s San Diego Section Offensive Player of the Year, said all the individual accomplishments pale in comparison to the team’s 13-0 record — the first undefeated season in school history.

The Dons are currently ranked No. 1 in the state.

Crosthwaite said he is already looking forward to his senior year with the team, though one game remains on the 2008 schedule. Cathedral Catholic may lose senior standouts such as Gaffney, running back Jose Balistreri, receiver Brad Harrington and quarterback Parker Hipp to graduation, but is in line to return the bulk of its outstanding defensive unit.

“With the people and the experience we have coming back, we should be successful again next year,” he said.

The Dons are currently working on a 20-game section winning streak.

Lancers claim Division V title, roll to 12th consecutive win
The Lancers dropped their opening game of the 2008 season by three points to high-powered Westview, 27-24, and then went on a 12-game winning streak to close out the pigskin campaign — one crowned by last Saturday’s 51-22 Division V championship game victory against The Bishop’s School at Southwestern College.

“A lot of it was concentration,” said Brookins, a sophomore linebacker/running back. “We believe in our game plan. If we execute our plays, all of us succeed. Football is a team sport. Every player on the field has a job to do and you are successful if everyone does their job.”

Brookins is among three former Eastlake Panthers youth football players on the Francis Parker roster. He joins Levett, a freshman linebacker, and Espinosa, a sophomore safety, in a reunion of sorts with the Lancers.

Dunklin is a linebacker/quarterback while Gerace is a cornerback/receiver.

Brookins, Dunklin and Levett all had the chance to carry the ball this season. Dunklin averaged 7.0 yards per carry while Brookins averaged 6.6 yards per carry and Levett averaged 6.1 yards per carry. Brookins averaged 4.7 tackles per game while Dunklin averaged 4.4 tackles per game and Levett averaged 4.1 tackles per game.

Francis Parker averaged 51 points on offense and allowed an average of 16 points on defense in forging its 12-game winning streak. The Lancers dethroned previous Coastal League champion Christian, 45-21, in the regular season finale for both teams to capture this year’s league title.

Brookins said the team’s championship mentality started at the onset of the season.

“That loss in that first game made us mad,” he said. “It is what motivated us to win all the rest of our games this season.”

Westview finished 9-3 on the season, defeating Hoover, 38-0, in the opening round of the Division II playoffs before ending their season with a 41-21 loss to fourth-seeded Scripps Ranch in the quarterfinals.

Francis Parker entered this year’s championship game ranked 14th in the final San Diego Sportswriters/Sportscasters weekly poll. There are 95 teams in the section.
The Lancers were in consideration for a State Bowl championship berth in the Small Schools Division but that went to San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret’s (14-0) instead based on strength of schedule, according to Ken Gunn, the state bowl games director.

Junior quarterback Deon Randall lit up the scoreboard at DeVore Stadium by throwing for four touchdowns and rushing for three more. Randall, who finished the season with more than 1,000 yards both rushing and passing the ball, racked up 163 rushing yards on 16 carries and threw for 132 yards. He set up two touchdowns with punt returns of 43 and 32 yards.

Two of Randall’s TD passes went to Myles Muagututia (five catches, 62 yards) while DeMaree Harris (15 yards) and Roland Jackson (30 yards) also caught scoring passes.

The Lancers responded from an early 6-0 deficit by racking up 30 unanswered points. Francis Parker withstood a pair of touchdowns in the final 3:26 of the second quarter to prevail with a 21-0 scoring bulge in the second half.

The Knights paraded a complement of seven South County players — wide receiver Hector Eribez, offensive lineman Erick Owens, quarterback Joey Moreno, offensive/defensive lineman Rey Felix, running back Jacob Kelly, wide receiver Nathan Hickman and wide receiver/defensive back Micah Seau — onto the field. All made significant contributions to the team in not only the championship game but also throughout the season.

Kelly scored two touchdowns and also made a key two-point conversion run and Moreno threw a touchdown pass to Eribez to help Bishop’s trim the Lancers’ halftime lead to 30-22.

Moreno directed the Knights to a touchdown on their first possession of the game, as Kelly capped the 80-yard scoring drive that took 7:00 off the clock with a 13-yard touchdown run. Kelly later scored on a 23-yard run to take a bite into a 30-7 Francis Parker lead.

Bishop’s then recovered an onside kick at their own 49-yard line and Moreno capped the scoring drive with a 17-yard pass to Eribez. Kelly then scored on the two-point conversion run to make it an eight-point game.

But the second half belonged to Francis Parker, which extended its lead to 37-22 with the only touchdown of the third quarter and iced the game on a cold and blustery night with two more scores in the final quarter.

Lancers coach John Morrison credited his defense’s second-half stand as the turning point in the game. “They were starting to come on offensively and our defense changed the momentum in the game,” he said.

A catch by Hickman for sizable yardage helped set up the Knights’ opening touchdown drive. Seau, the nephew of former Chargers’ standout Junior Seau, also made key plays throughout the game.

Kelly averaged 7.1 yards per carry during the season while Seau averaged 5.4 yards per carry. Moreno had racked up 1,691 passing yards and 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions entering the championship game. He had completed 61.8 percent of his passes in the 13 games leading up to last Saturday’s title tilt.
Eribez and Hickman also got in the scoring column over the course of the season. Seau averaged 8.1 tackles on defense (second most on the team) while Felix averaged 3.9 tackles per game, Hickman 3.5 tackles per game and Owens 2.8 tackles per game.

Senior running back/defensive back Mike P. Jensen was the team’s gridiron warrior. He led Bishop’s with 9.5 tackles per game and scored 14 touchdowns in 13 games.

Knights head coach Mike David was returning to familiar territory after leading Bishop’s to a 13-0 record last year and five finals appearances and three division titles with Marian Catholic. He noted the Knights may have been one of the few teams in section history to go winless in league play (0-4) and make it to the division championship game.

“We had a lot of young players on our team this season,” he said. “We had a freshman quarterback and eight underclassmen starters. We got better as the season went on and into the playoffs.”

College Football:
Poinsettia Bowl tabs WAC opponent in back-up plan

Posted Ocr. 30, 2008
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl officials recently announced they have signed a contingency agreement with the Western Athletic Conference that impacts the 2008 and 2009 bowl games.

The contract stipulates that if the bowl’s agreement with the Pacific-10 Conference doesn’t yield a bowl eligible team with six or more wins, then the Poinsettia Bowl will get a team from the Western Athletic Conference.

The bowl’s primary agreement with the Pac-10 calls for the San Diego post-season game to receive the seventh place team. The WAC agreement is activated only if that seventh place Pac-10 team fails to reach the required six wins.

Currently, UCLA occupies seventh place in the Pac-10 standings with a 2-3 conference record, 3-5 overall.

The Pac-10 or WAC participant will face a team from the Mountain West Conference. The bowl receives the second selection from the MWC; the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl picks first.

"The WAC looks forward to returning to San Diego and hopefully playing in the Poinsettia Bowl this December,” WAC Commissioner Karl Benson said. “There is so much history and tradition with the 'red coats' dating back to the ’80s and ’90s. I know our teams and fans are very excited with this possibility."

The WAC participated in 18 of the first 20 Pacific Life Holiday Bowls. The Holiday and Poinsettia Bowls are produced by the same organizers, the “red coats.”

“We are really excited about this partnership,” 2008 Poinsettia Bowl President Larry Baber said. “This contingency plan assures us a great matchup and creates a natural and necessary regional tie.”

The fourth annual San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl kicks off at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at Qualcomm Stadium. The game is televised on ESPN. For ticket information, visit www.PoinsettiaBowl.net or call (619) 285-5061.