Southern Section Football Playoffs : Lavin’s School-Record 315 Yards Lead Chaminade Past Santa Paula

Tim Lavin scored four touchdowns and rushed for a school-record 315 yards in 36 carries as Chaminade pounded out a 49-6 win over Santa Paula in the first round of the Desert-Mountain Conference playoffs Friday night at Pierce College.

Chaminade (9-2), which has won nine consecutive games, had 385 yards rushing. Lavin, who boosted his season rushing totals to 1,336 yards and 18 touchdowns, gave credit to his offensive line.

“They are the best line in the Valley,” he said. “The way they are blocking, nobody is going to stop us. We are going all the way.”

Lavin, who had rushed for 162 yards at the half, scored on runs of three and 15 yards in the first quarter. With 48 seconds left in the half, he caught a screen pass from quarterback Greg Baumgartner and broke five tackles on a 22-yard run to give Chaminade a 21-6 halftime lead.

Lavin scored from three yards out for his final touchdown midway through the third quarter, putting Chaminade ahead, 28-6. Baumgartner threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Don Costa on the Eagles’ next possession.

A fight early in the fourth quarter cleared both benches and play was stopped for 20 minutes. Five players were ejected. The incident seemed to spark Chaminade, which scored on its next two possessions.

Chaminade successfully put the wrap on Santa Paula quarterback Will McInerney, Ventura County’s leading passer.

McInerney completed 17 of 33 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown but was sacked five times--three by Chris Cole for minus-16 yards. McInerney has 1,958 yards and 23 touchdowns this season.

Santa Paula’s only score came in the second quarter, when McInerney hit Rick Carpenter with an 18-yard touchdown pass in the right corner of the end zone. Santa Paula had only 43 yards rushing in 20 carries and was outgained in total yards, 455-244.