RBV Completes Run to Perfection : Longhorns Win 2-A Title by Rushing Past San Pasqual

Craig Bell, coach of a Rancho Buena Vista football team that completed an immaculate season Saturday with a 21-10 victory over San Pasqual in the section 2-A championship game, made his last speech of the season to the runners-up.

Scott Garcia, RBV’s record-breaking running back, stood quietly at his side.

“It’s a tremendous honor to beat you because you’re so tough,” Bell said as the San Pasqual players knelt in front of him at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium and stared blankly ahead. “Good luck in the future.”

Bell just might want to relay that message to the rest of the coaches in the county. Good luck in the future. There’s a new team in Vista, and perhaps it has the makings of a dynasty similar to the one that used to rule at Vista High School.

Coincidentally, Vista, which didn’t win a game, was as awful this season as RBV (13-0) was magnificent. Why the drastic change?

“It’s not the damn boundaries,” said Bell, referring to talk that RBV gets better athletes because of its location. “I don’t know what the problems are at Vista. The schools are pretty much divided equally.”

Equal, except maybe for Garcia, who scooted, hopped and twisted through wide gaps 29 times for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns Saturday.

Equal, except maybe for running back O.J. Hall, who took care of the ball when Garcia wasn’t and finished with 118 yards and a touchdown in 16 carries.

And equal, except maybe for a few big guys such as Al Aliipule, Junior Moi and Victor Santa Cruz, whose defensive play helped RBV shut out San Pasqual (9-5) in the second half.

Don’t think San Pasqual players didn’t know what they were up against entering the game. Anything less than perfection wouldn’t get it done.

“That’s a studly group over there,” San Pasqual Coach Mike Dolan said. “We fought them.”

Particularly in the first half. San Pasqual’s senior quarterback, Andy Loveland, who hadn’t lost a playoff game in 2 seasons before Saturday night (the Golden Eagles tied San Marcos, 14-14, in last year’s 2-A final), raced around right end for a 10-yard touchdown to cap a 6-play, 70-yard drive and give his team a 7-0 lead with 6:58 remaining in the first quarter.

Running back Jim Clayton, who finished with 130 yards in 12 carries, broke the big play on the drive, 43 yards through the RBV line.

RBV equalized a little more than 3 minutes later when Garcia ran left for a 25-yard touchdown. Seven plays, 58 yards.

San Pasqual kicker Tony Medina’s 37-yard field goal with just 29 seconds remaining in the half sent RBV into the locker room wondering if it might have to jump off the train one stop before perfection.

“We came in pretty tense,” Garcia admitted. “They were shutting us down. We were kind of wondering what to do about that.”

No problem. Bell had the answer. As he has told them all year, just get 4 yards a play. He figured if they relaxed and did what they do best--run and run and keep running--the rest would fall into place.

And so it did. After a fumble by Medina, RBV took the ball 53 yards in 8 consecutive runs on its first possession of the third quarter to take a 14-10 lead. Then, after holding San Pasqual twice, the Longhorns scored the clincher with 3:25 remaining, a 4-yard run by Hall.

RBV players counted the seconds off as the clock wound down toward their championship. Then, it was time to celebrate. Plenty of smiles. Plenty of shouts of “We’re No. 1.” And high fives to go around.

“I haven’t gotten over the shock yet,” said Garcia as he walked off the field. “We’re real happy, but I don’t know how to take it yet.”

Loveland, slowly pulling off his uniform for the final time in an appropriately solemn San Pasqual locker room, talked quietly. All season his team had heard it wasn’t good enough. Most weeks it proved it was. But Saturday, San Pasqual fell short of besting the best.

“We’re a tough ballclub,” he said, pointing at his teammates. “We did a lot of things right tonight.”

Just as RBV did all season.