Defense Preserves San Pasqual Victory

It would be inaccurate to say that San Pasqual High School’s defense paced the Eagles to a 27-21 victory over visiting Mt. Carmel Friday night.

After all, the offense scored three consecutive second-half touchdowns. And the offense, which scored 42 points in the opener, overcame four lost fumbles and two botched extra points.

But for three plays in the third quarter, the defense stood tall.

San Pasqual led, 21-7, and Mt. Carmel started from its 34-yard line with about 10 minutes left.

Until then, Mt. Carmel quarterback Jeff Hamm, in just his second career start, had completed 10 of 12. He also had run for 47 yards, mostly on scrambles.

Jack Corley, the San Pasqual defensive coordinator, decided to take a gamble. He told his defensive ends to take a wider attack angle.

“It’s kind of like Lawrence Taylor; your only goal is the quarterback,” Corley explained, then added, “but if they run past your tackle, you are in trouble.”

Not that these defenders in any way resembled Lawrence Taylor.

The middle guard, Nathan Garcia, is 5-feet 5-inches tall and weighs maybe 150 pounds.

An end, Steve Patch is 5-11 and 180.

But Patch, getting coverage help on a tailback from Garcia, broke through for three consecutive sacks worth 24 yards.

“It was the first time we had gone wide ends all game,” said Patch, a senior. “I was kind of surprised how easy I came in.”

The sacks were not quite a death blow. San Pasqual fumbled on its next possession, and Hamm (12-17-0, 145 yards) hit Josh Renfree for a 20-yard touchdown.

Mt. Carmel then held on downs near mid-field and moved to San Pasqual’s 49-yard line with 3 seconds left.

Did San Pasqual’s defense, which was a force in the school’s run to the 2-A section final last year, stand tall again?

Well, not quite.

Hamm hit Matt Rogers at the 6 with a pass, then Dan Andrews and Dave Goss tackled him.

Said Hamm of the sacks: “Our offensive line did a great job. I just had one mental breakdown.”

Patch and Bill Christopher, the Mt. Carmel coach, said fatigue could have hurt Mt. Carmel late.

“I also made some stupid calls about our second series in the second half--I think that took us out of our rhythm,” Christopher said.

San Pasqual (2-0) was without halfback Jimmy Clayton, who separated his right shoulder in practice Thursday. No matter. Tony Medina (61 yards), Mike Escarcega (77) and Andy Bacon (73) led a ground attack that produced more than 240 yards, including 200-plus in the second half.

Mt. Carmel (1-1) got 114 yards in 14 carries from fullback John Tejcek.