OCEANSIDE — Its not nearly as easy as Anthony Taylor made it sound.

I told my quarterback to just get me the ball, he said.

And Del Norte High School quarterback Diesel Taylor did exactly that, hitting Anthony Taylor seven times for 111 yards and three touchdowns as the No. 9-seeded Nighthawks roared back from three touchdowns behind to upset No. 8-seeded Oceanside 43-35 in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs.

The reward for Del Norte (7-4) is a quarterfinal game at No. 1-seeded San Marcos, a team the Nighthawks lost to 27-21 last week.

Oceanside was in man defense, said Anthony Taylor, who had touchdown catches of 3, 33 and 46 yards. I told Diesel to not be afraid to throw it to me. Weve had our ups and downs all season, but we were mentally prepared for this game.

Oceanside led 21-7 at the half on the strength of big plays. The Pirates first score came on a 35-yard pass from Joseph Vinup to a wide-open Ayden Goodwin, who had slipped behind the secondary.

On the next possession, a 29-yard pass from Vinup to See Poumele Jr. set up an 8-yard TD run by Neke Letuli.

A Del Norte punt pinned Oceanside at its 3, but on the first play David Daniels went 97 yards to a TD on a jet sweep, breaking free and racing down the right sideline.

The Pirates gave the Nighthawks a score just before the half. Oceanside was hit 25 yards in penalties on one play, then got off a two-yard punt, giving Del Norte the ball at the Oceanside 15.

Three plays latre, Diesel Taylor hit Anthony Taylor with a 3-yard scoring pass.

The teams traded scores to start the second half before Del Norte got a break with Matt Riley forcing an Oceanside fumble that was recovered by Kaden Barnett.

On the next play Diesel connected with Anthony for a 33-yard score. to make it 28-21.

Oceanside appeared to out the game away with a 12-play, 60-yard drive, scoring with 8:49 to go in the game on a 4-yard run by See Poumele Jr., but Diesel and Anthony hooked up on a 46-yard TD to get Del Norte back in the game at 35-28.

Oceanside elected to gamble and went for it on fourth-and-2 at the Del Norte 42, but a Vinup pass was incomplete.

A 45-yard pass from Diesel Taylor to Braxton Jones put the ball at the 13, where Ryan Remigio finished the drive with a TD with 4:13 to play.

Faced with a fourth-and 1 at the Del Norte 41 with 2:45 to play, Oceanside elected to punt.

Del Norte took over at its 39. Diesel Taylor threw for 18 yards and ran for seven on the drive.

Remigio rushed for 18 yards before going the final 23 and scoring on a draw play with 18 seconds to play.

At halftime, the team leaders asked the guys to get it done, Remigio said. If you were playing or not, get involved, cheer, get loud, do something to help us win. We didnt want this to be our last game.

Remigio finished the game with 10 carries for 65 yards. Diesel Taylor completed 19 of 31 for 297 yards and four TDs.

In addition to Anthony Taylor, Braxton Jones had six catches for 122 yards and TD.

Vinup completed 19 of 26 for 250 yards and two TDs for Oceanside, which finishes the season 7-4.

Del Norte 42, Oceanside 35

Del Norte 0 7 14 21 — 42

Oceanside 7 14 7 7 — 35

O — Goodwin 35 pass from Vinup (Fillippini kick)

O — Letuli 8 run (Fillippini kick)

O — Daniels 97 run (Fillippini kick)

DN — A. Taylor 3 pass from D. Taylor (Orosco kick)

DN — Jones 21 pass from D. Taylor (Orosco kick)

O — Nua 27 pass from Vinup (Fillippini kick)

DN — A. Taylor 33 pass from D. Taylor (Orosco kick)

O — Poumele 4 run (Fillippini kick)

DN — A. Taylor 46 pass from D. Taylor (Orosco kick)

DN — Remigio 13 run (Orosco kick)

DN — Remigio 23 run (Orosco kick)