SAN DIEGO SECTION FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : 3-A : Fallbrook Stuns Vista; Booker Slowed

Where was Vista High School running back Tommy Booker?

He was, in fact, in the San Diego Section 3-A football championship game Saturday night, but it was certainly hard to tell.

Fallbrook High School, in its first appearance in a title game, took advantage of a confused Vista offense to defeat the Panthers, 28-14, for the 3-A title in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium before 14,638.

Fallbrook, which finished third behind Vista and San Dieguito in the Palomar League, completed its season with an 11-2-1 record. Vista, which had defeated Fallbrook the three previous times the two teams had met by a margin of 14 points or more, finished 12-1.

This was only the second time this season that Vista had been shutout in the first half. Early in the season, in a 14-10 victory over Mount Carmel, Vista was held scoreless for three periods.

Vista had plenty of opportunities to score but either fumbled or was driven back by penalties.

It wasn’t until midway through the fourth period that Booker resembled the same running back who carried the Panthers to the final.

Vista was clearly paralyzed by the inconsistent running of Booker, who was held to 31 yards in 10 carries in the first half. Booker, usually the primary rusher in the Vista backfield, did not carry the ball until Vista’s ninth offensive play.

Booker gained 161 yards in 18 carries, 62 of those yards came on a desperation play late in the fourth period when Vista quarterback Billy Faraimo rolled the ball to Booker on a broken option play. Faraimo had eight yards on the play before pitching out Booker.

Vista, which has moved through the playoffs by scoring early, didn’t score until 7:03 remained in the game, when Faraimo hit Booker on a four-yard pass to trim Fallbrook’s lead to 28-8. Booker scored on a run for the two-point conversion.

While Vista played its worst game of the season, Fallbrook and All-County quarterback Scott Barrick shined. Barrick was 23 of 31 for 335 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Fallbrook increased its lead to 28-0 when Barrick hit Gary Nelson in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass.

On the opening series of the second half, Fallbrook took a 21-0 lead when Ty Barksdale scored from the one. The 81-yard drive was highlighted by a 19-yard pass from Barrick to Darrow Nelson.

Near the end of the first period, Fallbrook began its first-half domination. Taking possession on its own 34-yard line, Fallbrook marched down field on a series of short passes before Barksdale plowed his way in from the two.

On its next possession, Fallbrook used three passes, all less than 10 yards, to set up its second score. Barrick hit Nelson near the Vista 40-yard line and Nelson broke two tackles as he raced down the right side line for the 51-yard touchdown play.

Vista threatened late in the first half, but Booker could not handle a poor pitch from Faraimo and Fallbrook linebacker Jay Flynn recovered on his own 25.

Vista scored its final touchdown of the season when Faraimo threw an 18-yard pass to Todd Reed, who was wide open in the end zone.

In the final drive, Booker rushed only once, for five yards.