Inheriting a lengthy winning streak is hardly an advantage for the incoming defenders. Just ask Cathedral Catholic, which saw an 18-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate in what developed into a 22-21 loss to San Diego Lincoln.
File photo by Steven Silva
Davon Dunn, Lincoln
The upset by the Hornets (4-1-1) snapped Cathedral Catholic’s 26-game winning streak.
Lincoln senior quarterback Jake Marrion delivered three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to give the Hornets the stunning upset. Marrion connected on 13-of-28 passes for 232 yards and the three scores to register the knockout. Marrion’s heroics are no fluke. He has clicked on 63-of-112 passes for 1,198 yards and 13 TDs in five games.
The Dons (5-1) appeared to have win No. 27 in their sights when quarterback Max Brewer scored on a 1-yard keeper to close the third quarter, putting Cathedral Catholic up 21-3. But the bottom fell out of Cathedral’s game after that. Lincoln wrapped a pair of Marrion touchdown passes around a recovered onside kick to take the lead with 2:31 remaining.
The loss was the first by Cathedral Catholic since falling to Otay Ranch in 2007.
Mission Bay lances Point Loma
No question quarterback Dillon Baxter – bound for USC – is the poster boy for the undefeated Mission Bay Buccaneers.
But Ray Herring was the standout in Mission Bay’s 49-27 conquest of Point Loma. The 6-foot, 170-pound senior reeled in four passes, including touchdowns of 51 and 59 yards. Herring also picked off his fifth and sixth interceptions and returned a fumble 91 yards for a TD.
Herring has 24 catches for 518 yards and six touchdowns (8 TDs overall). Baxter, who has tallied 22 touchdowns, has completed 53-of-103 passes for 781 yards and 11 TDs. He has 1,235 yards on 115 carries (10.7 yards per rush).
Santana can't find the end zone
Fortunately, records for such futility are not the primary focus for record books.
The Sultans of Santee have been blanked in three straight games and shut out for 13 consecutive quarters. Not something that makes veteran coach Dave Gross proud. A series of ailments have stymied the usually high-scoring Sultans’ attack.
Baseball: Falcons southpaws hitch a ride
Torrey Pines pitchers Joey DeNato and Cole Swanson, two of the top southpaws in the San Diego Section, have locked in their college futures via scholarship. DeNato will attend Indiana, while Swanson has cast his fate with San Diego State.
DeNato compiled an 18-3 record in his first three years for the Falcons, including 7-1 last season, when he had 79 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. The 6-4, 185-pound Swanson was 7-3 with two saves last season at Torrey Pines.
Rancho Buena Vista bonanza
Four Longhorns seniors have locked in scholarships.
"This says a lot about the kids and our program," said Rancho Buena Vista baseball coach Leo Fletes.
In addition to USD-bound shortstop Tony Wolters, the MVP in last summer's Aflac All-American Classic, pitcher Reed Reznicek has committed to Indiana, Anthony McIver is ticketed to Notre Dame and infielder Jimmy Allen has committed to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.
Other top performances
— The Escondido Cougars have thrown only 31 passes for 110 yards while rushing 302 times for 2,140 yards. Senior Ricky Seale leads the way with 1,133 yards and 17 TDs on 135 carries.
— El Cajon Christian’s Steven Pitts rushed for 154 yards and two TDs on 18 carries in addition to returning his third interception for 37 yards and a touchdown in a 28-7 win over Horizon Christian.
— Backup quarterback Tyler Joworski of El Cajon Granite Hills completed 14-of-19 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns against Steele Canyon.
— Camarillo quarterback Jeff Mathews has completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,384 yards and has one of the best TD/interception ratios –16 TDs and only three picks – in the Santa Barbara area.
— Chula Vista quarterback Victor Perez passed for 252 yards and four touchdowns against Mater Dei.
— Damien Williams rushed for 216 yards and three TDs on 10 carries as Mira Mesa scored 38 points in the second quarter en route to a 51-0 win over Patrick Henry.
Coming attractions
San Diego Lincoln (4-1-1) takes on St. Augustine (5-1) in a 6:30 start at San Mesa College. In the Grossmont South, perennial power Helix (5-1) visits upstart Steele Canyon (4-2) in a game that could decide that league championship.
Dickens dealings
For as long as I’ve been covering high school football – more than four decades – I’ve seen a truckload of punts. Back in the early days it was rare for a player to specialize in these fourth-down kicks.
Nowadays there are specialists, and I believe punters are benefitting from the synthetic playing fields that are being installed nationwide. Granted, I have no scientific proof to validate my opinion that punts are getting a truer roll once they land on these artificial surfaces, but the numbers covering distance are rising. Also, when a backup spin is required it seems easier for punters to execute on the plastic "grass."
Since the implant of these fake fields, the averages have risen dramatically. El Cajon Christian’s Joel Alesi is averaging an San Diego Section-best 45 yards on 20 punts, with a long of 67 yards. A dozen kickers in East San Diego County alone have enjoyed rollers travelling more than 50 yards. Trust me, that is unusual.
The late Joe Roth (1972, El Cajon Granite Hills) holds the punting record for career average (40.2 on 59 kicks) in the Grossmont Conference. Albeit not measured by his punting prowess, Roth must be regarded for doing it the old-fashioned way – on regular grass.
A nationally renowned quarterback, Roth led undefeated Grossmont College to the 1974 California Community College championship and guided the Cal Golden Bears to a share of the Pac-10 crown a year later. Roth, once considered a Heisman Trophy candidate, died of cancer following his senior year in February 1977.
Bill Dickens, a sportswriter in the San Diego area for 41 years, is a lifetime member of the Major League Baseball Writers Association. He has also been a beat reporter covering the San Diego Chargers, the San Diego Padres as well as covering San Diego State sports and high school athletics. Dickens can be reached at eastcountyscribe@aol.com.