Empire League : Pacifica Shuts Out Katella

Pacifica High School continued to show improvement Thursday night by routing Katella, 37-0, in an Empire League game at Bolsa Grande High.

It was the second consecutive shutout for the defending league champion Mariners (2-0, 3-2). Last week, Pacifica beat Kennedy, 24-0.

The Mariners scored four touchdowns and had one field goal in the first half and limited the Knights to 57 total yards. On the first play, the Mariners’ Ray Willis ran 70 yards for a touchdown to give Pacifica a 6-0 lead.

On Pacifica’s next possession, Tim Rife scored on a one-yard run to make it 13-0.

Quarterback Brent Johnson and wide receiver Ken Greene took over in the second quarter and the duo teamed on touchdown passes of 24 and 59 yards. Derek Mahoney’s 41-yard field goal gave the Mariners a 30-0 halftime lead.

The only scoring in the second half came on Willis’ 9-yard run. Willis carried the ball 18 times for 149 yards. Johnson was 4 for 7 for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Knights’ only real scoring threat came in the fourth quarter when Katella (0-2, 2-3) drove to the Mariner nine-yard line. But quarterback Jeff Yourstone fumbled and Pacifica linebacker Todd Vanderhill recovered at the 15.

Pacifica outgained Katella, 349 yards to 137.