The
Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.) Falcons probably won’t set any scoring records this season. But it probably doesn’t concern them, considering the strength of their defense.
The Falcons have opened the season with three consecutive shutouts, including a 28-0 romp over Olympian, which had won 11 games in a row. Senior linebacker Kevin Cuff logged 11 tackles and a sack in the Falcons’ latest defensive stand. For good measure, Cuff also contributed a pair of short scoring runs.
Another stalwart in Torrey Pines’ defensive scheme is senior corner Mitch Yocum. Against Olympian he recorded eight tackles, knocked down two passes and picked off another.
Torrey Pines’ shutout collection also includes wins over Menifee’s PalomaValley 35-0, and Cathedral Catholic 10-0.
Other top items from the San Diego Section:
2. Pruitt interception lifts Helix over 3-time champion CathedralA team scoring one offensive touchdown against a three-time defending section champion shouldn’t expect to win often. On the other hand, a team rolling up nearly 400 yards against anyone shouldn’t expect to lose often.
Such was the fortune of
Helix (La Mesa) on Friday night (Sept. 17) as the Highlanders dominated the stat sheet but barely escaped with a 14-7 victory over
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego).
Helix needed every one of Darien Hancock’s 232 rushing yards (on 26 carries), if only to run the clock and establish field position. It needed every bit of Brandon Lewis’ 133 passing yards, though it could have been much more without a pair of long dropped passes.
The Highlanders really needed Jimmy Pruitt’s 37-yard interception return for a touchdown, essentially the difference in the game.
“Four hundred yards and one TD; that’s hard to do, isn’t it?” asked Helix coach Troy Starr, a former assistant for Urban Meyer at Florida. “But I tell you, when you get a team constantly answering adversity, that’s the sign of a good team.”
Ranked No. 2 in the San Diego Section, Helix improved to 3-0 by avenging a 48-7 rout by Cathedral last year in the first meeting between two of the section’s most storied programs. Cathedral, which has dominated Division III in winning three straight championships, dropped to 0-3.
3. Bernard big dog at Valley CenterValley Center's Travis Bernard stormed for 244 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries in the Jaguars’ 49-0 rout of La Jolla. Bernard’s binge didn’t stop there as the 5-9, 185-pound senior also returned punts 85 and 46 yards for touchdowns. Valley Center (3-0), No. 1 in the SoCal Division III state bowl rankings, next plays Los Alamitos, ranked No. 5 in the Division I state bowl rankings.
4. No stopping El Capitan’s WigginsIt must have seemed like every place the Pointers looked they saw
El Capitan's (Lakeside) Tyrone Wiggins. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Wiggins, who is probably known more for his baseball skills, was a multiple threat as previously winless El Capitan stunned previously undefeated Point Loma 31-21. Wiggins stepped in at quarterback to throw a 5-yard touchdown pass and a 35-yard TD pass on a hook-and-ladder play. He later caught a 75-yard touchdown pass and returned an interception 55 yards for a score.
5. Eastlake’s Fletcher is double threat against El CaminoEastlake (Chula Vista, Calif.) senior
Chris Fletcher amassed 311 all-purpose yards as the Titans clubbed El Camino (Vista) 34-6. Fletcher rushed 21 times for 185 yards and three touchdowns, including a 67-yard scoring gallop. He was also on the receiving end of three passes for 126 yards, including a 75-yard scoring strike from Jordan Hines.
Other Top Performances— Matt Rochelle, a senior quarterback at
Mt. Carmel (San Diego), rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries in a 31-21 victory over San Pasqual.
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Rancho Bernardo's (San Diego) Molly Grabill set a course record by winning the Division I senior race at the Mt. Carmel/Movin Shoes Invite, finishing in 14 minutes, 36 seconds on Morley Field's 2.75-mile course.
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Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach) junior
Connor Moore rushed for 206 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries as the Eagles flew by Coronado 42-17.
— Running back
Derrick Dunn of
Mount Miguel (Spring Valley) rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries in the Matadors 38-21 win over Santee West Hills.
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Steele Canyon (Spring Valley) registered a school scoring record in a 56-7 rout of Serra. Kicker
Daniel Uribe also set a Cougars’ mark by converting all eight of his PAT kicks. Reserve receiver
Cody Wells and back-up quarterback
Tj Carlyon also joined the record parade with an 84-yard TD pass.
Coming attractionsNo. 6 Steele Canyon (3-0) will take on No. 4
Eastlake-Chula Vista (3-0) in a key CIF-SDS encounter Friday in Chula Vista.
Dickens DealingsStatistics rarely tell the story in the outcome of any contest.
Examples of this are aplenty.
One the latest idiosyncrasies that fail to weigh the value of a talented player are the passing works of El Cajon Christian High’s 6-foot-6, 175-pound junior quarterback Shane Dillon.
In his first three games, Dillon has uncorked 109 passes. Proof that he isn’t just back there chucking the ball is the fact that he has logged 53 completions for 711 yards.
“We don’t just throw fades, shallow crosses and stuff like that,” Christian offensive coordinator David Beezer said. “We probe and look for the home run ball.”
Dillon has connected for only two scoring passes. By the same token, he has suffered only four interceptions.
“We run a high percentage passing game,” Beezer said. “We don’t have a burner. We have guys who run tech routes.”
Christian has only 16 varsity players with hopes of adding two more this week. Thus, most players go both ways, which obviously takes its toll on those who include running passing routes as part of their contribution.
“We’re willing to take a 6-yard first down pass,” Beezer said. “We have a strong running game and don’t mind starting out with a second-and-4.”
Bottom line is the Patriots have won two of their first three games.
Bill Dickens covers the San Diego Section of California for MaxPreps.com. Dickens has been a daily newspaper journalist in the area for more than 30 years.
