HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Oceanside Gets Off to Fast Start and Finishes Off Valhalla, 17-0

Oceanside High School needed a last-minute defensive stand to reach its San Diego Section 2-A quarterfinal playoff game against Valhalla Friday night.

But against Valhalla, Oceanside’s offense was all the defense the Pirates needed.

Oceanside scored on 3 of its first 4 possessions and then let its defense take over in a 17-0 victory at Monte Vista High School.

Valhalla was playing in its first postseason game. Oceanside (9-3) advances to the semifinals to play the winner of tonight’s Rancho Buena Vista-University of San Diego High School game.

The Oceanside defense smothered Valhalla, holding the Norsemen (6-5) to 60 yards. Valhalla had more trouble handling the constant drizzle as it fumbled 5 times, losing 2 and turning the ball over again on an interception.

Valhalla, the Grossmont League 2-A champion, was held to one first down in the first half and did not get its second until 8:18 of the fourth quarter.

But it was Oceanside’s offense that got the game rolling. Sherman Crane proved to be an all-weather running back for the Pirates, scoring on a 21-yard run with 6:06 left in the first period to give Oceanside the lead.

Crane, at 6-foot 4-inches, proved to be the perfect back for the inclement weather. Valhalla’s smaller defenders had troubled stopping the powerful Crane as he plowed and powered his way to 86 yards in 14 carries.

The Pirates made the score, 14-0, when Gregory Frazier scored a touchdown from 1 yard out and Sibian Fuimaono added the extra point.

Oceanside finished the scoring with a 39-yard field goal by Cesar Garcia with 54 seconds remaining in the first half.