San Diego Section Football Championships : Stopping Explosive Lincoln Offense Key for Oceanside

Will the Oceanside Pirates be able to keep up with the speedy Lincoln Hornets? That’s the key question surrounding tonight’s 2-A championship game, which kicks off at 5 p.m. in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

At first glance, the answer would seem to be no. The Hornets scored more than 40 points per game this season and totaled more points than any other team in the history of San Diego Section football. They did it mostly with speed.

Lincoln is led by quarterback Keith Mitchell, running backs Kevin Key and Marcus Hopkins, and All-County wide receiver Patrick Rowe. All are game-breakers. The Hornets have won games this season by such scores as 71-0, 70-6, 62-16 and 51-0. In the 51-0 game (against Morse), Lincoln led only 6-0 at halftime.

Lincoln also carries an experience edge into tonight’s game. The Hornets won the 2-A championship game a year ago and many of their players have already played in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

To beat Lincoln, as Crawford proved last year and Hoover proved this year (a 21-20 win accounting for Lincoln’s only loss), a team must be willing to gamble on defense. Oceanside will have to put pressure on Mitchell and try to disrupt the scrambling Lincoln offense.

“I believe they can do that,” said San Dieguito Coach Ed Burke, whose team lost, 29-12, to Oceanside this season. “That’s the kind of defense they play. They send everybody.”

And some believe Oceanside has the players to execute against Lincoln. Linebacker Junior Seau, along with being an outstanding wide receiver on offense, has been a dominating defensive player in the Avocado League this season. Sai Niu, another Pirate linebacker, was voted as the league’s outstanding defensive player.

“I think our kids consider themselves a legitimate contender,” Oceanside Coach Roy Scaffidi said.

On offense, Oceanside can move the ball in many ways. Quarterback Rocky Aukuso and Seau are a dangerous passing combination. And running backs Shane Wiggins and Niu have also helped Oceanside move the ball.

“They will cause our defense some problems,” Lincoln Coach Vic Player said.

2-A CHAMPIONSHIP

Who: No. 6 Oceanside vs. No. 2 Lincoln.

Where: San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

When: 5 p.m.

Radio: KOWN (1450)

TV: Tuesday 9 p.m. (tape delay), public access: Channel 30, 37, 24 or 15, depending on cable company.

Records: Oceanside 10-2-0; Lincoln 11-1-0.

Last year: Oceanside didn’t qualify for the playoffs. Lincoln beat Crawford, 28-0, for the 2-A championship.

Players to watch: Oceanside--Junior Seau (6-5, 215), WR-LB; Morey Paul (6-2, 195), WR-CB; Sai Niu (6-0, 180), RB-LB; Rocky Aukuso (6-0, 190), QB. Lincoln--Patrick Rowe (6-2, 185), WR-CB; Marcus Hopkins (6-0, 175), RB; Kevin Key (5-11, 210), RB; Lawrence Misa (6-5, 277), OT-DT; Charlton Lynch (5-9, 165), LB.