HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : 3-A Playoffs : Morse Looks for Good Old Days : San Dieguito Stands in Way in Tonight’s Quarterfinal

If there’s one thing Coach John Shacklett learned from Morse High School’s season-ending football loss to Mira Mesa, it was to leave well enough alone.

Shacklett made several lineup changes for the game, and the Tigers lost, 17-14.

“All I did was create some problems for us,” Shacklett said. “I wanted to keep (top running back Jessie) Campbell out of the game, and I moved some of the offensive line around. In doing that, maybe I gave them the wrong idea.”

Shacklett has had 2 weeks to try and turn things around again. After a first-round bye, Morse plays San Dieguito in the 3-A Division quarterfinals at 7:30 tonight at Southwestern College.

Third-ranked Morse lost only one other game, 14-7, to Orange County power Mission Viejo.

The explosive Tigers have scored 63 and 71 points in games this year, with Campbell rushing for 1,044 yards and 15 touchdowns. Morse also has one of the top defenses, led by preseason All-American Ty Morrison, an outside linebacker who plays up on the line.

One of the keys for Morse will be replacing Laaula Tosi (6-6, 250) on the offensive line. Tosi suffered a blow to the head that bruised his spinal column in a game against Point Loma. Shacklett has settled on defensive lineman Salua Pouata (5-10, 270), who will play both ways, as Tosi’s replacement.

Seventh-ranked San Dieguito will try to keep control of the ball and clock to minimize Morse’s big-play offense.

“They have so many offensive tools,” San Dieguito Coach Ed Burke said. “The more opportunities you give someone who has ability, that’s the more chances they have to hit gold.

“If they’re going to score, we’d rather they take 12 to 14 downs to do it. They have the scary ability to score in 7 seconds and in one down.”

San Dieguito, led by nose guard Tom Pellegrino, is not defenseless. The key for the Mustangs is to not have a defensive lapse as they did in a 48-24 loss to Poway midway in the season.

Offensively, San Dieguito likes to keep opposing defenses on their toes with a variety of trick plays.

“A defensive team has to be extremely disciplined (against San Dieguito),” Shacklett said. “It’s easy to get caught watching.”

In tonight’s other 3-A game:

Southwest (9-2) at Orange Glen (10-0), 7:30--Southwest is coming off its first playoff victory in school history, defeating Patrick Henry in the first round. Second-ranked Orange Glen has completed the school’s first undefeated regular season since 1967.

Southwest has a balanced attack with running back Hubert Phillips (1,165 yards, 10 touchdowns), the Metro Conference offensive player of the year, and receiver Will Tate (44 catches, 754 yards, 11 touchdowns).

Southwest also has the county’s stingiest scoring defense, allowing 7.6 points per game.

Orange Glen will counter with the county’s top passing attack and a solid defense. Quarterback Cree Morris completed 143 of 233 passes for a county-leading 2,512 yards and 23 touchdowns. Most of the completions were to Jake Nyberg (72 catches for 1,211 yards and 13 TDs).

Saturday

Point Loma (5-6) at Granite Hills (7-2-1), 7:30 p.m.--Granite Hills has been led by running back Brian Giles, but whether the Eagles advance any further might depend on their defense.

Giles was third in the county in rushing with 1,592 yards and 20 touchdowns and second in scoring with 136 points.

The biggest question for fifth-ranked Point Loma, the defending 3-A champions, is who will play quarterback. The Pointers lost regular starter Danny White with a bruised left shoulder during the regular season, and he did not play in a 22-20 first-round victory over Poway last week. He had practiced and was ready to play in an emergency.

Reserve quarterback Lee Wiebleski was 5 of 7 for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns, but most came on a 63-yard shovel pass for a touchdown.

Point Loma also has a solid running attack of its own with Ron Lawson (946 yards, 13 touchdowns). Point Loma entered the playoffs with a losing record because it had to forfeit two victories because of an ineligible player.

Helix (8-1-1) at Chula Vista (7-3)--Both ninth-ranked Helix and Chula Vista have had trouble scoring and have relied heavily on tough defenses.

Tory Winrow, an All-Grossmont 3-A Division quarterback, is playing the position for the first time this year, and running back Spike Mitchell missed three games with an ankle injury.

Chula Vista, the Metro Conference champion, will be led by junior quarterback Derek Chapman and running back John Krupp.