Photos: It's all San Diego Section in Day 1 of the SoCal Honor Bowl

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — The Honor Group brought in a ringer from Washington this season — perennial national power Bellevue (Bellevue, Wash.) — to go along with Southern Section of California elites like Serra (Gardena, Centennial (Corona) and Mission Viejo.

They also brought in traditional Sacramento-area juggernaut Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.), a two-time State Bowl finalist.

But the local squads, host Oceanside and Helix (La Mesa), said "don't forget about us," and "we can play some elite ball too," as each San Diego Section school pulled off a pair of convincing victories Friday night.

With the military backdrop and synergy strong, Helix opened with a 34-10 win over Del Oro, while Oceanside controlled Mission Viejo throughout in a 24-7 victory.



"I can't speak (for Helix), but I know we're not intimidated by anyone," said Oceanside running back Josh Bernard, who was selected Oceanside MVP after rushing for 115 yards including a 55-yard touchdown. "We play some pretty good football down here."

These two programs have certainly proved it. Helix won the State Division II title in 2011, over the same Del Oro team 35-24. Oceanside has won two state bowl crowns, in 2007 in Division II and a Div. I championship in 2009.

Other San Diego Section State Bowl winners were Madison (2012, D3), The Bishop's School (2010, D4) and Cathedral Catholic (2008, D2).

Oceanside (2-0), with a big front, a ton of speed, superb defense and game-breakers like Bernard, receivers Johnny Arzola, Isaiah Paopao and Davione Taylor appear a good bet to make a state bowl and national rankings bid. They also have returning quarterback Matthew Romero and other top recruits like cornerback Jordan Miller, defensive end Juyoung "tommy" Woo and offensive lineman Christian Cronk and Cedric Bigge-Duren.

This one was essentially over by the middle of the second quarter as Romero threw TD passes of 16 yards to Paopao and 25 yards to Arzola, which sandwiched Bernard's big run. That made it 21-0.

Mission Viejo (0-2) actually got the better of it in the third quarter and team MVP Peyton Marshall closed the gap to 21-7 on a 5-yard TD run. The Diablos threatened on its next drive to potentially close to within a touchdown, but Oceanside held.



"We were a little sloppy in the second half," Bernard said. "But give Mission Viejo credit. This was a big win."

Helix coach Troy Starr, a former assistant for Urban Meyer at Flordia, isn't saying his squad a bowl contender just yet. And certainly not close – yet – to the 2011 team.

"That team didn't have any holes in it," he said. "We have a lot of work to do."

It helps to have a sophomore as talented as Zeke Noa, who accounted for two touchdowns. He returned a fumble seven yards for a score and an interception 62 yards for another as Helix streaked to leads of 27-0 and 34-3. Noa was selected Helix game MVP.

Nathan Stinson (34 yards) and Michael Austin (60 yards) added long touchdown runs as the Highlanders improved to 2-0. A young Del Oro squad fell to 0-2.

"Zeke is a freak," laughed Starr of Noa's nickname. "He showed why today."



Starr said getting wideout DaShawn Keirsey Jr. back from injury really helps opens things up. Helix opened the season with a 24-20 win over perennial state power St. Bonaventure.

Del Oro never quit fighting and got a 50-yard touchdown pass from Logan Hurst to Trey Udoffia. Hurst was the Del Oro MVP.

"That's a very young team," Starr said of Del Oro. "They'll be a much different team by the end of the year. (Del Oro coach Casey Taylor) and his staff do a heck of a job. There's nobody in Northern California that gets more out of their kids."

It wouldn't surprise most down here if Helix and Oceanside meet in a SDS final. That means only one even has a chance for a State Bowl bid.

"We're not remotely thinking of that at this point," Starr said. "It's just one week at a time."

Saturday's schedule



Noon — Orange Lutheran (Calif.) 1-0 vs. Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 0-1
4 p.m. — Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 0-1 vs. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) 0-1
8 p.m. — Bellevue (Wash) 0-0 vs. Serra (Gardena) 1-0