When you play man-to-man defense in the secondary, its imperative to get pressure on the quarterback, make him rush his throws, keep him off balance.
We started kind of slow, but got it together, gave our guy time to throw and we got it done, Del Norte High School coach Nick Barnett said after his Nighthawks came back to upset Oceanside 42-35 in Fridays CIF San Diego Section Division 1 first-round playoff game.
Our receivers are really tough to cover. So all we needed was time to throw.
Del Norte (7-4) trailed 21-0 before roaring back.
Quarterback Diesel Taylor completed 19 of 31 passes for 297 yards and for TDs. The 6-foot-5 senior stood tall and threw for 220 yards in the second half. The Nighthawks had completions of 46, 45, 43, 39, 33 and 21 yards.
Anthony Taylor had seven catches for 111 yards and three TDs. Braxton Jones caught six passes for 122 yards and a score.
Ryan Remigio was held to 10 rushing yards in the first half, but finished with 10 carries for 65 yards, including Del Nortes last two touchdowns. The deciding score, a 23-yarder, came on a perfectly executed draw play with 18 seconds to play.
Oceanside (7-4) led 35-21 after scoring with 8:49 to play.
Oceansides David Daniels had a 97-yard TD run on a fly sweep and caught six passes for 72 yards. See Poumele Jr. rushed for 29 yards and caught five passes for 64 yards.
Joseph Vinup threw for 250 yards and two TDs, but he was harassed by the Del Norte defense late in the game. Kaden Barnetts sack stopped an Oceanside drive and forced a punt.
This is a resilient bunch, said Nick Barnett. We didnt get down on ourselves when we trailed 21-0.
Oceanside is a really good football team with some really talented players, but we fought them to the last play.
This game was a real adventure.
Rancho Bernardos Matthew Zacharias punches in a touchdown during Fridays win over Brawley. (Ernest O. Ramos)
First round
Division 1
Rancho Bernardo 28, Brawley 27: Silas Christiansen took a pitch from Jayden Bess on a kickoff and sprinted 87 yards for a TD as Rancho Bernardo (9-2) won. It was Christiansens fifth kick return for a score on 13 tries this season. The five TDs are a single-season record, eclipsing Harry Williams (four) of Chula Vista in 2004. Freshman QB Gaige Weddle passed to Bess for a 17-yard score and plunged into the end zone from a yard out. Weddle also had an interception while playing defense. Matthew Zacharias had a 4-yard TD run for RB. Brawley (9-2) got to 28-27 on Damian Clemente’s 15-yard reception with three minutes to play. The Wildcats went for two on the conversion but the pass was incomplete. The Wildcats had one more chance, but RBs Dylan Ingio intercepted a pass at the RB 1 with 12 seconds to play.
Torrey Pines 26, Scripps Ranch 15: Ryder Young ran for 115 yards and two scores as Torrey Pines (5-6) advanced. Blake Miller had a pair of TD throws, both going to Zac Barger. Joey Levenberg had 13 tackles, Richard Phillips had three tackles, two pass defenses and an interception. Cole Loizo also had an interception. For Scripps Ranch (9-2), Kasen Mendez caught 10 passes for 113 yards and a TD.
Mount Miguel 62, Santa Fe Christian 34: A.J. Stowers tossed four TDs and threw for more than 300 yards as Mount Miguel (9-2) scored all nine times it had the ball. AJ Logan had two receptions and threw for a 70-yard score to Ezelle Buchanan. Brandon Arrington, KJ Shields, Kali Young and Jeremiah Holiday scored for Mount Miguel. SFC finishes 9-2.
Division 2
La Jolla 27, Madison 15: Hudson Smith completed 15 of 23 passes for 262 yards and four TDs for La Jolla (7-4). Aiden McGill had 108 yards rushing. Carson Diehl and Hank Hansen each had 88 yards receiving and a TD. Madison finishes 4-7.
Point Loma 28, Valley Center 7. Romeo Carter intercepted two passes and caught six passes for 128 yards and two TDs for Point Loma (6-5). Ryder Watson completed 19 of 30 for 251 yards and two TDs. Matteo Correia had an interception. Valley Center finishes 7-4.
Christian 28, Imperial 26: Kaleb Runkle completed 23 of 32 passes for 290 yards and three TDs for Christian (9-2). Kai Rosier caught 12 passes for 214 yards and a TD. Brady Eads caught six passes for 45 yards and two TDs, plus had a game-clinching interception. Imperial finishes 9-2.
Bishops 49, Mt. Carmel 20: Cash Herrera threw for two scores and ran for two for Bishops (7-3). Ruben Gutierrez had a pair of rushing TDs. Ezra Grant made all seven PATs and the defense recovered two fumbles. Mt. Carmel finishes 6-5.
Division 3
St. Augustine 16, La Jolla Country Day 0: After allowing an average of 30.8 points per game during a winless regular season, St. Augustine (1-10) pitched a shutout. The Saints attempted just six passes. The trio of Charlie Berkley, Pai Polamalu and Caelyb Aguirre rushed for a combined 209 yards. Jack Levin completed 20 of 29 passes for 157 yards for LJCD (5-6).
Escondido 57, Steele Canyon 53: Zeke McIntyre completed 23 of 31 passes for 469 yard and six TDs as Escondido (7-4) won the shootout. He also rushed for a pair of scores. Josh Gonzalez had 15 receptions for 313 yards and five TDs and caught a pair of 2-point conversions. Nico Jara had two interceptions, one of which he returned for a TD, for Steele Canyon (4-7).
Eastlake 21, Army-Navy 7: William Schmitz rushed for 159 yards to lead Eastlake (5-6). Tyler Balko was 7 of 15 passing for 64 yards and a pair of TDs — both to Hamza Hatahet. Kingston Schaaf scored the other Titans TD on a short run. Bernardo Cardenas recovered a fumble and Isaiah Rodriguez had an interception for the Titans. Kingston Schaaf and Jovani Ceja had seven solo tackles each. Army-Navy finishes 8-3.
Patrick Henry 42, Otay Ranch 14
Division 4
Montgomery 33, Calexico 6: Freshman Isaiah Mena-Malijan passed for three TDs and rushed for one to lead Montgomery (8-3) to its sixth straight victory. Mena-Malijan was 15 of 25 for 218 yards. Jayden Cannon caught five passes for 82 yards and a pair of scores. Andie DeAnda had the other receiving TD while Zantez Thomas led the Aztecs rushers with 69 yards and a TD. Montgomery’s defense held Calexico (6-5) to 116 yards and eight first downs.
Mira Mesa 41, Sweetwater 21: Amari Sanders returned an interception 48 yards for a TD and caught four passes for 81 yards and a score for Mira Mesa (1-10). Max San Agustin rushed 18 times for 104 yards and caught one pass for 25 yards and a TD. Jovan Gorum caught three passes for 70 yards and two TDs. Zaryan Crews passed for 221 yards and one TD for Sweetwater (5-6) while rushing for 40 yards and a pair of scores. Sean Carlos caught five passes for 112 yards.
Westview 23, Vincent Memorial 12: Mason Walsh passed to Aiden Chen and Kyler Brown for TDs and rushed for a pair of scores to lead Westview (4-7). Greorge Frias, Matthew Guimond and Walsh had interceptions to foil Vincent (6-5). Troy McMurrey kicked a field goal to ice the game.
Chula Vista 55, Classical 16 Academy: La’Darrione Perkins scored four rushing TDs to lead Chula Vista (5-6). Izaac Baca passed for 103 yards and a TD, and Gabiel Ruiz caught three passes for 51 yards and a score. Benjamin Rivera had nine tackles, including two sacks. Elijah Richardson added eight tackles and a sack as the Spartans had five sacks. Classical finishes 6-5.
Division 5
West Hills 33, Mar Vista 15: Joey Hamilton rushed for 100 yards and three TDs and threw for 108 yards to lead West Hills (6-5). Junior Leon ran for 78 yards and a TD and Ryder Alexander gained 34 yards on six carries and another score. Marshon Mitchell and Isaiah Brown each intecepted a pass. Peter Thomas rushed for a TD and passed for another for Mar Vista (4-7).
Santana 33, Kearny 18: Wyatt Williams rushed for 184 yards on 26 carries and the defense intercepted six passes to lead Santana (7-4). Ethan Miller tossed a pair of TD passes. Noah Qualin and Tatam Morehouse each had a pair of interceptions, with Qualin returning his for a TD. Denton Goar and Omar Saliah each had eight tackles for the Sultans. For Kearny (7-4), Brodie Stump completed 21 of 47 passes for 215 yards and two TDs and rushed for 21 yards and a score. Stump finishes his high school career with 771 completions (second all-time in the San Diego Section), 9,462 yards (second all-time) and 106 TD passes (third all-time). Zaiden Gravely caught 10 passes for 139 yards and a TD.
Monte Vista 34, Fallbrook 33: Alex Villanueva, the section’s leading rusher, gained 242 yards as Monte Vista (6-5) won. Derrick Taylor was only 2 of 7 passing but both went to Rahshawn Florence for TDs of 63 and 54 yards. The 242 yards gives Villanueva 2,104 on the season. Evan Thomas finished his football career at Fallbrook (0-11) by completing 14 of 20 pases for 196 yards and three TDs. He also ran for 75 yards and two TDs. Ryder Wood had 11 catches for 114 yards and two TDs. Freshman Teague Lucy had two catches for 71 yards and a score.
Coronado 32, Francis Parker 17: Landon Sutherland returned an interception for a TD and scored a rushing TD for Coronado (6-5). RJ Sanchez passed for two scores. Mike Bannon scored twice. Jake Nelson intercepted a pass. Parker finishes 4-7.
Quarterfinals
Division 5-AA
Maranatha Christian 45, Victory Christian 6: Jake Locker completed 15 of 21 passes for 182 yards and five TDs for Maranatha (8-3). Hundson Heinrichs had three of the TD receptions. Ryan Niguidula rushed five times and a TD. Aaron Tasin had eight tackles, and Nathan Niguidula had seven. Vincent Memorial finishes 3-7.
Coastal Academy 35, OFarrell Charter 27: Coastal Academy scored twice in the fourth quarter to avoid the upset and improve to 9-2. Saina Tafiele rushed for 81 yards and two TDs for OFarrell (2-9). Frank Johnson blocked a punt for a TD and Tyjon Nathan had a 57-yard interception return for a TD.
8-man
Calvin Christian 56, Ocean View Christian 0: Bowen Albertson rushed for three TDs, one a 70-yarder, for Calvin Christian (6-3). Cole Souders threw a pair of TDs. Aiden Keisel and Aiden Oh had rushing TDs. Ocean View finishes 5-4.
Horizon Prep 50, Borrego Springs 42
Steve Brand and Don Norcross contributed to this report
CIF San Diego Section football playoffs
All games Friday at 7 p.m.
Open Division
Semifinals
(4) Mission Hills vs. (1) Lincoln at Southwestern College
(3) Cathedral Catholic at (2) La Costa Canyon
Championship: Nov. 23 at Snapdragon Stadium, 7 p.m.
Division 1
Quarterfinals
(9) Del Norte at (1) San Marcos
(5) Monte Vista at (4) El Caino
(6) Torrey Pines at (3) Granite Hills
(7) Rancho Bernardo at (2) Carlsbad
Semifinals: Nov. 22 at higher seeds, 7 p.m.
Championship: Nov. 30 at Southwestern College, 7:30 p.m.
Division 2
Quarterfinals
(9) Imperial at (1) University City
(5) Point Loma at (4) Poway
(6) La Jolla at (3) Helix
(7) Bishops at (2) Mater Dei Catholic
Semifinals: Nov. 22 at higher seeds, 7 p.m.
Championship: Nov. 29 at Southwestern College, 7:30 p.m.
Division 3
Quarterfinals
(8) Patrick Henry at (1) Central Union
(5) Eastlake at (4) San Pasqual
(6) Escondido at (3) San Diego
(7) St. Augustine at (2) Holtville
Semifinals: Nov. 22 at higher seeds, 7 p.m.
Championship: Nov. 30 at Southwestern College, 3 p.m.
Division 4
Quarterfinals
(8) Montgomery at (1) Ramona
(5) Westview at (4) Mission Bay
(6) Mira Mesa at (3) Grossmont
(7) Chula Vista at (2) El Capitan
Semifinals: Nov. 22 at higher seeds, 7 p.m.
Championship: Nov. 29 at Southwestern College, 3 p.m.
Division 5
Quarterfinals
(8) Coronado at (1) Vista
(12) Monte Vista at (4) Hoover
(6) West Hills at (3) Crawford
(7) Santana at (2) Bonita Vista
Semifinals: Nov. 22 at higher seeds, 7 p.m.
Championship: Nov. 30 at Southwestern College, 1 p.m.
Division 5-AA
Semifinals
(4) Maranatha Christian at (1) Calipatria
(3) Coastal Academy at (2) Tri-City Christian
Championship: Nov. 21 at Palomar College, 7 p.m.
8-man
Semifinals
(4) Horizon Prep vs. (1) St. Josephs Academy
(3) Calvin Christian vs. (2) Foothills Christian
Championship: Nov. 22 at Palomar College, 7 p.m.