By Steve Marcotte and
David Willauer- Contributing Writer

Oceanside CA— The Pirates defense comes up big in the final minutes to preserve Oceanside’s 27-15 win over the visiting Otay Ranch Mustangs in round one of the CIF San Diego Section, Division playoffs Friday night.
Oceanside got off to a rough start fumbling away the ball on their first possesion of the game but the defense held the Mustangs to a field goal attempt which was no good.
Otay Ranch did get on the board first when RB Noah Isley took the ball around the left side for a 16 yard touchdown, PAT good, 7-0 with 3:12 left in the opening quarter.
The Pirates would tie it up after QB Kyrin Beachem’s 42 yard scramble set up a 7 yard Kavika Tua (10 carries for 44 yards) touchdown run.
A fumbled long snap by Mustang punter, Joseph Firebaugh set the Pirates up on the Otay Ranch 16 yard line. Kavika Tua would score his second touchdown of the night on a 4 yard run up the middle. PAT good 7-14 Oceanside with 10:38 to go in the half.
The Mustangs would get two more points on a safety when the Pirates offense was called for holding in the end zone and the first half ended with the score 9-14.
The Pirates would pad their lead when Trejan Apodaca intercepted Jonte “Puka” Stewart’s pass and returned it 35 yards for the touchdown. The point after attempt was blocked and the Pirates led 9-20.

Oceanside would hold that lead until a late fourth quarter rally by Otay Ranch put a positive outcome for the Pirates in doubt. Jonte Stewart, on a scramble in the backfield, stepped up in the pocket and fired a 35 yard scoring strike to Kenneth Robinson. The two-point conversion failed and the Mustangs trailed 15-20 with 2:44 left in the game.
Otay Ranch kept the rally alive by recovering the onside kick at the Oceanside 49 yard line. On fourth down and 21 yards to go for a first, the Mustangs would get 27 when Stewart hit Dylan Baca inside the Pirate seven yard line.
The Mustangs were poised to take the lead for the first time since early in the first quarter and 1:12 left in the game. That’s when the Pirates defense came up big or to be precise, Jaquez Goodson.
Stewart(14 completions of 34 attempts for 166 yards and 18 carries for 83 yards on the ground) sat back in the pocket then fired a shot to the left front of the end zone but Goodson stepped in front of the receiver for the interception returning the ball 99 yards and the score and securing the win. Final score 15-27.
Jaquez Goodsen: “Coach Rodriguez told me to play man coverage on defense. I came in motion and saw the receiver do an out route. The receiver turned his hips and my responsibility is to follow in front of him. I got to the ball and ran it back 99 yards for the touchdown. I thought that we played our best all season.”
With the win, the 6-5 Oceanside Pirates will travel to Eastlake High School(9-1, 4-0) in a quarter final game next Friday. Kickoff at 7 PM in Chula Vista, CA. Otay Ranch finished their season at 6-5.
Other scores in playoff action:
El Camino fell to Steele Canyon 17-49
Mission Hills went on the road and defeated Rancho Bernardo 20-13. The Grizzlies will face Division I top seed La Costa Canyon on Friday.
Vista defeated Bishop’s 42-28. The Panthers will face third seed Valley Center next Friday in the Division II quarterfinal.
Santa Fe Christian defeated RBV 27-49. Santa Fe Christian will take on Monte Vista in a Division III quarterfinal.
Army-Navy fell to Mountain Empire 7-28 in a Division V first round game.