HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Orange Glen Turns to Run, Wins Easily

When you already have the county’s leading passer in Cree Morris and the county’s leading receiver in Jake Nyberg, it almost seems unfair to unleash a running attack.

But Orange Glen High, the top-seeded team in this year’s San Diego Section 3-A playoffs, let running back Dennis Esposito loose Friday night and didn’t bother to worry whether visiting Southwest approved.

Esposito rushed for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns as Orange Glen rolled to a 28-0 victory and secured a spot in next weekend’s semifinals against either Point Loma or Granite Hills, who play tonight.

That Orange Glen (11-0) advanced was no big surprise, but the way it went about it was--in the first half, at least.

On a rain-soaked field, Morris seemed to have trouble finding his legs and completed just 2 of his first 9 passes. Meanwhile, Nyberg, as sure-handed receiver as there is in the county, dropped a certain touchdown pass on a deep post route.

But Orange Glen’s offense didn’t stall. Esposito gained 107 yards before halftime and helped Orange Glen take a 14-0 lead.

Esposito scored the first touchdown on a 11-yard run early in the second quarter, and then Morris and Nyberg returned to form and hooked up on an 11-yard scoring play just before halftime.

Orange Glen’s unheralded defense made sure the lead would stand up, limiting Southwest (9-3) to just 9 yards of total offense in the second half.

Morris hooked up with Glen Reyes on a 42-yard scoring pass in the third quarter and Esposito ran 2 yards for a score in the fourth quarter to account for the final margin.