Oceanside CA— The Grizzlies of Mission Hills capitalized on Oceanside mistakes, scoring 21 first quarter points, and never looked back on their way to a 42-25 win, their first victory ever on the Pirates home turf.
On the second play of the game, the Grizzlies Aaron Cross made a leaping grab of a Max Shuffer pass and ran it back 25 yards for the pick 6 and an early 7-0 lead.
The Pirates drove to the Mission Hills 23 yard-line on their next possession where the drive stalled. A Jake Gerardi field goal attempt was wide right.
A blocked punt by the Grizzlies Noah Chiarelli led to Mission Hills next touchdown, a 45 yard sprint around the left side by James Esqueda and a 14-0 lead.
The Pirates went three and out on their next possession and Mission Hills didn’t waste any time getting another score. On the first play from scrimmage Mission Hills junior, Samuel Dixon ran up the middle and sprinted 59 yards for the score. The Mission Hills Grizzlies, who could only muster up 12 points at home against Carlsbad last week, were up 21-0 in the first quarter.
The Grizzlies went up 28-0 on a Jack Tuttle to Sammy Cooke 38-yard touchdown pass with 9:19 left in the second quarter.
A 46 yard Max Shuffer to Jake Gerardi pass set up Oceanside’s first touchdown of the game. Shuffer hit Jake Bernard streaking across the middle for the score but the PAT was wide right and it was 28-6 with 7:00 minutes left in the half.
Mission Hills used ball control on their next possession driving down to the Oceanside 21 in 15 plays. The Grizzlies were going for it on fourth and one when a motion penalty set them back 5 yards. The Pirates held and took over on downs with 1:36 left in the half. The Pirates, behind the arm of Max Shuffer, took full advantage the time remaining. Oceanside went 74 yards in 9 plays, including a 28 yard strike to Jake Gerardi on 4 and 12, capped with a touchdown reception by Julian Hicks as time expired. The two point conversion was no good and the Pirates went into intermission down 28-12.
In the second half, it looked like momentum might be swinging the Pirates way after forcing Mission Hills to punt. The Pirates took over on their own 25 and went the distance in 10 plays, five rushing, five passing. The drive ended when Shuffer hit Puka Kaleopa-Tuisee in the corner of the end zone to pull within 9 points with just over four minutes to go in the third quarter.
That was as close as the Pirates would get to catching the Grizzlies. Mission Hills used a time consuming, punishing run game to drive 80 yards in fifteen plays, thirteen of those plays were on the ground. The drive was capped with an 8 yard Tuttle to tight-end Ian Fryday touchdown pass, 35-19 with 8:19 left in the game.
Tuttle would add a rushing touchdown and Shuffer hit Kyrin Beachem for an 80 TD with two minutes left in the game to round out the scoring.
The Pirates have a bye next week before traveling to Carlsbad on October 7.
In other North County action:
El Camino scored 16 fourth quarter points to overcome a 21-10 3rd quarter deficit to defeat San Marcos 26-21. The Wildcats have a bye next week before traveling to La Costa Canyon to take on the Mavericks, October 7.
The Mavericks shut-out cross town rival Carlsbad 21-0.
Vista traveled to Ramona coming away with 28-20 win
Fallbrook fell to San Pasqual 10-24
La Jolla Country Day lit up the scoreboard defeating Army-Navy 61-0.
Ace Roach’s 3 touchdown passes paces Rancho Buena Vista High School in 42-38 win
By David A. Willauer-Contributing (Writer-Wilson Field at Rich Embry Field-Escondido High School-Escondido, CA)
The Longhorns of Rancho Buena Vista snapped a 2 game losing streak in a hard fought contest as Longhorn QB Ace Roach, 11 completions out of 22 attempts for 136 yards, threw 2 touchdown passes of 23 and 6 yards to Trent Borger (2 receptions for 29 yards) and 1 touchdown pass of 23 (1 reception for 23 yards). Anthony Bowman had 14 carries for 71 yards and scored 2 touchdown runs of 2 and 1 yards.
“Tonight’s game vs. Escondido was a good high scoring contest. The game started out in our favor at first but started to get nerve racking as some of our people got hurt. We were playing people out of position but we survived.” said Rancho Buena Vista Coach Joe Meyer.
“Escondido’s offense is real balanced. They put some points on the board but my running back, Anthony Bowman is a warrior and has helped our squad out on both sides of the football. We made him a linebacker on the 1 yard play called our Stampede which is our shortage offense the kids came over and we ran the play after an injury to our regular wing back was out but we had to put kids at wing back and we coached him in the time this is a 3 yard offensive play.” said Coach Meyer
“Our defense is very thin especially in our secondary. We have 4 of our regular defensive backs out.The four new backs, that are filling in, are all juniors one.” said Coach Meyer
“We play San Clemente at our place next. Their squad is big up front. Their quarterback is the best in the state and we are going to be thin after this game and after Monday we want to see now many kids are ready to play.”
The Cougars at 1-4 scored their plays on a Luis Flores 31 yard field goal, Kellen McCoy’s 16-33-360 yds and 3 interceptions. He threw a 9 yard pass to Miguel Rocha (1 reception for 65 Yards) 64 yarder to Quinton Gaudett, (3 receptions for 138 yards) along with a 45 yarder to Bryce Jackson (4 receptions for 91 yards)