SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Jerseys, Coach, Attitude . . . and First Place : Everything’s New With Oceanside’s Winning Ways

The new-look Oceanside High School football team--new home jerseys, a new coach and a new attitude--continued its winning ways Friday night.

The Pirates, for so many years an also-ran in the Avocado League, took over sole possession of first place with a 20-0 victory over San Marcos at Oceanside High.

Oceanside, ranked No. 7 in the county, improved its record to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in league. San Marcos fell to 3-3-1 and 3-1.

Afterward, one of Oceanside’s veteran players, wide receiver-linebacker Junior Seau, was excited about the new Pirates.

“Our new coach (Roy Scaffidi) has brought a new enjoyment to football,” said Seau, a senior who has been used to winning as a member of Oceanside’s successful basketball team. “We’re all having a lot more fun. In practice, we work hard, but things are also humorous.”

San Marcos didn’t find much humor in Seau’s effort Friday night.

Seau scored on a 6-yard pass reception and a 56-yard fumble return, both in the fourth quarter, as Oceanside expanded a 6-0 lead.

There was something else new about Oceanside Friday. The Pirates, who usually pass a lot, decided to try and move the ball on the ground against the pass-conscious Knights.

It was successful enough to help Oceanside control the first half.

“We just thought they’d be looking pass, so we tried to run,” Scaffidi said. “You know, our passing attack gets a lot of attention, but we have some kids who know how to run the ball.”

The most successful of Oceanside’s runners Friday was Shayne Wiggins, who ran for 82 yards and scored the Pirates’ second-quarter touchdown on a three-yard run.

Wiggins’ run culminated a 12-play, 58-yard drive that lasted a little more than seven minutes. Eleven of the plays were runs.

“I thought we were prepared to stop them,” San Marcos Coach Ken Broach said. “We played pretty well, but we couldn’t get anything going on offense.”

Oceanside’s defense saw to that. The Pirates limited the Knights to just two first downs in the first three quarters and held San Marcos’ 6-foot-5, 240-pound fullback Jim Jennings to just 20 yards on 7 carries.

In the fourth quarter, Seau took over and Oceanside pulled away. His first touchdown came on an alley-oop pass from quarterback Rocky Aukuso.

Seau, at 6-5, out-leaped San Marcos’ 5-7 cornerback Gary Larrabee in the end zone.

On San Marcos’ next possession, Vaughn Webb was stripped of the ball after a two-yard gain. Seau picked it up and raced into the end zone untouched to give Oceanside a 20-0 lead.