El Capitan-San Marcos: No Surprise Here : Each Team Employs Ball-Control Offense, Hard-Hitting Defense

Ken Broach, San Marcos High School football coach, knows just what to expect from the El Capitan offense tonight.

“They are a team just like us,” Broach said. “They like to hold on to the ball and keep the defense off the field. . . . I think the difference will be turnovers.”

San Marcos (5-4-2) meets El Capitan (6-4) in the second round of the San Diego Section 2-A playoffs tonight at 7:30 at El Capitan.

Although he knows that El Capitan employs a ball-control offense, Broach has no plan to try to force fumbles by altering his defense. He does not want to interrupt a defensive scheme that has limited opponents to 12.1 points a game.

Both are hard-hitting teams, though El Capitan should have an edge with a much larger offensive line.

If San Marcos has an edge, it could be its 4-3 defense. El Capitan, which runs a 5-2 defense, is used to seeing an odd defensive front in the Grossmont League, Coach Joe Rockhold said.

Broach is counting on defensive tackle John Nichol (5 feet 11 inches, 185 pounds) to force the big plays. Nichol will be faced with a solid running attack from El Capitan’s Bryan Palmer, the county’s ninth leading rusher with 961 yards and 12 touchdowns, and power runner Andy Jones.

El Capitan’s defense also has allowed an average of 12.1 points a game. El Capitan will face San Marcos’ play-action offense directed by quarterback Rick Ebert, who threw for three touchdowns in San Marcos’ 21-0 victory over Christian last week. El Capitan had a bye last week.