Even in defeat, Escondido’s Ricky Seale has proven himself to be unstoppable. 
Ricky Seale, Escondido
File photo by Kirt Winter
The Cougars’ 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior established himself as the all-time leading rusher in CIF-San Diego Section history despite Escondido’s 44-24 loss to undefeated La Costa Canyon.
Seale ran for 210 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries in surpassing the old mark of 5,650 yards set by Cathedral Catholic's Demetrius Sumler (2002-05). Seale now has 5,811 career yards – 161 more than Sumler.
The section has produced NFL greats at the position such as Marcus Allen, Ricky Williams, Terrell Davis and Reggie Bush.
"I wanted a win more than anything," Seale told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "It's bittersweet. I'm happy that I got the record, though."
Seale, who has 1,594 yards rushing this season, smashed the record with a 28-yard touchdown run for the game's opening score.
Most of Seale's record-breaking charges came in the opening two quarters when he gained 175 yards. He was limited to 34 yards in the second half.
"We wanted to fill the gaps and make it tough on him," LCC defensive lineman Ian Seau told The North County Times.
Weston Manor rushed for 166 yards on 16 carries and three TDs, and Seth Hanson added 163 yards and one score on 14 carries in helping La Costa Canyon (8-0, 3-0) post its 17th straight victory.
Oceanside's streak continues
The Pirates scored on their first eight possessions and annihilated Orange Glen 57-0, stretching their winning streak to 11 games and unbeaten skein to 33 games dating back to 2007. Oceanside's five first-half scoring drives averaged slightly more than 90 seconds per tally on the clock. Before two minutes had elapsed in the third quarter, the Pirates had scored twice more to push the Patriots (4-5) off the plank 50-0. Orange Glen lost its fifth straight game after beginning the season with four wins.
Mission Bay's Baxter has a hand in seven TDs
USC-bound Dillon Baxter of Mission Bay put on another display of excellence in the Buccaneers' 54-14 clubbing of La Jolla. The 6-foot, 205-pound Baxter passed for four touchdowns, hitting an economical 8-of-10 passes for 195 yards. He also rushed for 170 yards and three scores on 11 carries before giving way to the backups with 34 seconds left in the third quarter.
Grossmont's rushing Waters swamps Santana
Junior running back Desean Waters rushed for a Grossmont High School-record 333 yards on 42 carries and tied the school mark with five touchdowns as the Foothillers celebrated homecoming with a 35-21 win over Santana. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Waters broke a 42-year old Grossmont record. His effort is third-highest in Grossmont Conference history.
Valley Center wins battle of unbeatens
Senior Stanton Upson returned a kickoff 98 yards, and David Last booted what proved to be the game-winning PAT as time expired in the third quarter of Valley Center's 17-16 win over Ramona. A fumble recovery and key fourth-down pass reception by Tom Jauregui with less than five minutes left secured the victory for Valley Center.
Other top performances
— Mt. Carmel senior Kenneth James rushed for 302 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-20 romp over San Marcos.
— Quarterback Maurice Payne of Spring Valley Monte Vista scored three TDs while compiling 330 yards total offense as the Monarchs edged Granite Hills 24-23.
— Traivonne Brown of Valhalla generated 171 yards and three TDs on 24 touches as the Norsemen clipped Helix 28-14.
— Mission Hills’ Hunter Moore clicked on 13-of-20 passes for 203 yards and three TDs, vaulting the Grizzlies past San Pasqual 34-3.
— El Capitan senior Matt Burkett scored four touchdowns in the Vaqueros’ 42-26 win over El Cajon Valley.
— Eastlake’s Chris Fletcher made the most of seven touches, picking up 163 yards and four touchdowns as the undefeated Titans (6-0-2) rocked Otay Ranch 42-7.
— Junior Zach Guizar scored four touchdowns leading El Centro Central past Palo Verde Valley 49-19.
— Elvis Collins of San Diego Hoover returned a fumble 46 yards for a touchdown in the Cardinals 27-10 win over University City.
Coming attractions
A rivalry that annually draws of the largest crowds in the CIF-San Diego Section pits St. Augustine (6-2, 2-1) at Cathedral Catholic (7-1, 2-1) in a game that will not only determine the Eastern League championship but will serve as bragging rights among the area's biggest two private schools. Elsewhere, top-ranked Oceanside (8-0, 4-0) visits Valley Center (8-0, 4-0) in a duel that will determine the Valley League title.
Dickens dealings
Most know the cliches that follow games resulting in a tie. As a rule, plenty of grumbling and complaining ensues. There is no statewide mandate forbidding extended play in the various sections. In the case of the CIF-San Diego Section, it is left up to the leagues. Teams can either settle for a tie at the end of regulation or decide the game by the California Tiebreaker format.
At present, the only tie games that are played out involve teams in the same CIF-SDS division. And the only reason for that is to determine which team will be regarded as the higher seed in the playoffs.
Four ties of note have occurred in the CIF-SDS – two of them have involved Eastlake: 35-35 versus Lincoln and 21-21 versus Moorpark. No overtime was needed since those teams are in either different divisions or a different section.
In the other two deadlocks, West Hills and El Cajon Valley were tied 24-all and Steele Canyon and Mount Miguel were locked up 21-all at the end of regulation. These will go down in history as the official final scores. Yet both of these games continued into overtime for postseason seeding purposes.
Since West Hills and El Cajon Valley are each in Division II, the game rolled through four overtimes. West Hills eventually claimed a 40-38 nod on the 29th "extra snap," about 45 minutes after the official game clock ran out.
In the Division III joust between Steele Canyon and Mount Miguel, the game was decided in the first overtime as the Matadors' Derall Hunter scored on his 46th carry of the night from 1 yard out.
So the question is, how important is it to break ties? Granted, it avoids some confusion when postseason playoff seeds are handed out. But as valuable as that is, keep in mind that overtime statistics don't count.
The California Tiebreaker is the same format used to break college ties. The ball is placed at the 25-yard line and each team gets a crack at putting the ball in the end zone or kicking a field goal. Each team gets four downs with two chances of extending possession of a first down. The number of revolutions continues until one team scores and the other doesn't.
At the high school level, the longest string of overtimes is seven, set by Perris versus Palm Springs in 1991. The Panthers beat Palm Springs 70-62 in a game that was tied 28-all at the end of regulation.
From where I sit, there should be no ties, regardless of league, division or whatever. This is a nation of winners.
