Conversion Pass Fails, Kearny Loses to La Jolla, 21-20

Kearny High decided on a victory gamble Friday afternoon, but the decision wound up costing the Komets a 21-20 City Western League loss to La Jolla.

The Komets (0-2, 3-4) were trailing La Jolla, 21-14, with 1:16 remaining when quarterback Scott Welish hit Darrell Hicks on a 20-yard touchdown pass. Kearny Coach Tom Barnett decided to go for a two-point conversion, but Welish’s pass to Rob Skinner bounced in front of the receiver in the end zone.

Kearny’s 0-2 start in league play is one of the biggest disappointments in the county. Kearny was the county’s top-ranked 2-A Conference pre-season team and opened the campaign on a promising note, winning its first two games by a combined score of 47-0. The Komets have since lost four of five games.

La Jolla (1-1, 1-4-1) took a 14-0 first-quarter lead on a nine-yard pass from Rex Edwards to Tom Ruben and a five-yard run by Leonard Richardson. The Vikings increased their lead to 21-0 in the second quarter after Eric Pryor intercepted a pass by Welish at the La Jolla 20-yard line and ran it back to midfield. Pryor then lateraled to Mark Aitoro, who carried it the final 50 yards for a touchdown. Welish rushed 11 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns, and completed 13 of 29 passes for 164 yards.

CITY CENTRAL LEAGUE Lincoln 41, San Diego 9--When No. 4-ranked Lincoln opened its Central League season against Hoover last week, it dressed just 19 players. But yesterday, the Hornets had 34 players on hand when it played host to San Diego.

“It makes my job much easier,” said Lincoln Coach Skip Coons, who had lost nearly half his team to academic ineligibility. “They’re rusty and they’ve got some things to iron out.This makes us a tougher team. I have a hard time figuring which backs to use now. We went from having two running backs to seven.”

One of those backs, Kevin Key, had just 25 yards on six carries. However, Key scored three touchdowns, one a one-yard run and two runs of two yards. Marcus Hopkins and Damon Cantler added touchdown runs of seven and five yards respectively. The Hornets (2-0, 4-2), who rushed for 307 yards, were led by Hopkins’ 114 yards on 11 carries. Lincoln quarterback Malcolm Glover completed 7 of 11 passes for 164 yards.

Lincoln also scored when Patrick Newman blocked a punt and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown. The Cavers’ points came on a safety and Pedro Guerrero’s nine-yard run. San Diego is 0-2, 2-5.

Crawford 28, Christan 0--Crawford’s defense was the difference, limiting previously unbeaten Christian to five first downs and just 88 yards total offense, and forcing three turnovers.

Crawford (2-0, 4-1-1) scored the only touchdown it needed in the first quarter when Kevin Williams scored from one-yard out.

The Colts put the game out of reach with two touchdowns in the second quarter. Myron Williams scored on a two-yard run to make it 14-0, and quarterback Tommy Frejarang hit Paul Franklin with a 27-yard TD pass to make it 21-0 at halftime.

Troy Purdie, who scored Crawford’s final touchdown on a 39-yard run in the fourth quarter, rushed for 83 yards on 10 carries. Frejarang gained 82 yards on 8 carries.

Christian fell to 1-1 and 6-1.

Hoover 14, St. Augustine 0--In a game at Hoover High, the Cardinals (1-1, 4-2-1) had one touchdown called back because of a penalty and had its receivers drop two touchdown passes, but still generated enough offense to shut out the Saints (0-2, 1-6). The Cardinals scored all their points in the first quarter, on a 13-yard pass from Michael Walker to Chris Johnson, and Tony Williams’ two-yard run. St. Augustine never got the ball inside Hoover’s 15-yard line.

CITY EASTERN LEAGUE Morse 20, Mira Mesa 13--George Jackson ran for two touchdowns and Anthony Prather added another as Morse (2-0) took sole possession of first place in a game at Morse High.

Jackson gave Morse, now 4-3 for the season, a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when he scored on a 3-yard run to cap an 80-yard drive.

Mira Mesa (1-1, 4-3) tied the game just before the first half ended, but Morse went ahead again in the third quarter when Prather broke loose for a 35-yard TD run to make it 14-7.

Mira Mesa scored with five minutes left in the game to close the gap to 14-13, but failed to tie the score when the PAT try went awry.

Jackson scored the clincher on an 8-yard run with 55 seconds remaining.

Morse is the only unbeaten team in the league after just two weeks of play.

Point Loma 31, Patrick Henry 0--John Stanley rushed 8 times for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns in leading Point Loma (1-1, 4-2-1) to its easy win at Point Loma High. Stanley’s 75-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave the Pointers a 17-0 halftime lead.

Quarterback Walt Edwards of Point Loma completed 10 of 13 passes for 146 yards and 1 touchdown. Darin Rickman returned a fourth-quarter fumble 25 yards for a touchdown.

Point Loma’s defense held quarterback Keith Courtney of Patrick Henry (0-1-1, 2-4-1) to 55 yards passing. The Pointers outgained Patrick Henry, 307 to 160 yards.

AVOCADO LEAGUE San Marcos 14, Ramona 13--Ramona had chances to pull out a victory, but was stopped by the San Marcos defense. Ramona’s Chris Coates scored on a three-yard run with 5:22 to play, making the score 14-13. The Bulldogs went for a two-point conversion, but missed. Ramona had possession again with 2:08 left, but an interception by San Marcos linebacker Dan Masanaia thwarted that scoring bid.

Jim Jennings had touchdowns runs of three and 12 yards. Jennings rushed for 102 yards on 17 carries. The Knights’ Jim Terral was the leading rusher, with 115 yards on 16 attempts. San Marcos is (3-1, 3-4). Dan MacInnes had an 18-yard TD run for Ramona (0-3, 1-6).

NONLEAGUE Sweetwater 31, Southwest 7--It was the first home varisty football game ever played on the Southwest campus, and the No. 2-ranked Red Devils (7-0) ruined the festivities with their 32nd straight win. After Sweetwater running back Terry Rodgers opened the scoring in the first quarter, Southwest’s Sergio Moreno tied the game with a three-yard run. Sweetwater then put 10 points on the board in the last 2:18 of the first half. Rodgers scored again, this time from five yards out on a fourth-and-one situation, and Dominic Nauta kicked a 31-yard field goal.

Martell Black (four yards) and Rodgers (six yards) added TD runs for the Red Devils in the second half. Rodgers had 163 yards on 24 carries, while Black gained 109 yards on 18 rushes. Sweetwater had 467 yards total offense, compared to 136 for Southwest (3-2-2).

How the Top 10 Fared

1. Helix (6-1) lost to Granite Hills (7-0), 31-25. 2. Sweetwater (7-0) beat Southwest (3-2-2), 31-7. 3. Vista (6-0) played Mount Carmel (2-3) Friday. 4. Lincoln (4-2) beat San Diego (2-5), 41-9. 5. Granite Hills (7-0) beat Helix (6-1), 31-25. 6. Fallbrook (6-1) lost to Torrey Pines (3-4), 10-0. 7. Orange Glen (6-1) beat San Dieguito (1-4-1), 22-9. 8. Bonita Vista (5-2) lost to Chula Vista (6-1), 17-9. 9. Chula Vista (6-1) beat Bonita Vista (5-2), 17-9. 10. San Pasqual (6-1) beat Poway (3-4), 29-22.