HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Faime Clears the Way for Morse

Of all the times Morse High School’s Utotofo Faime carried the football Friday, perhaps none was as sweet as the last. And it wasn’t quarterback Teddy Lawrence who handed it to him.

The last handoff was delivered by Morse Coach John Shacklett, and Faime, the running back who led the No. 5 Tigers to a 21-17 Eastern League victory over No. 10 Mira Mesa, carried it--the game ball--all the way home.

Faime became the setup man for Morse’s offense in the second half after the teams were tied 7-7 at halftime. He had 29 yards on six carries in the first half but rushed 16 times for 95 yards in the second.

“I thought the game was going to be carried on (running back) Jessie Campbell’s back,” Faime said. “I guess it was different today.”

While Faime was carrying the load offensively, it was ultimately the Morse defense that kept Mira Mesa (5-3, 1-2) from an upset for the second year in a row.

Mira Mesa got inside the Morse five twice and came away with only three points. Most devastating was the second time, on Mira Mesa’s final drive.

After trading interceptions, Mira Mesa moved 92 yards in three minutes for a third and one from the Morse four. But Robby Edwards was tackled for a two-yard loss, and linebacker David Mallory nailed Mira Mesa quarterback J.J. Rowlett for a one-yard loss with 1:03 remaining. Rowlett subsequently fumbled, Chris Jones recovered, and Morse ran out the clock.

But it was the running of Faime that kept Morse (6-2, 3-0) in it.

Faime had more carries (seven) and yards (54) on Morse’s first drive of the second half--setting up an eight-yard touchdown run by Campbell--than he did in the first half. Lawrence then took a bad snap on the extra-point attempt and squeezed into the left corner of the end zone to give Morse a 15-14 lead.

“No, it wasn’t called,” Shacklett said. “I wish I could say it was. But that was a decision the kid makes.”

The Morse drive was in answer to a 59-yarder by Mira Mesa to start the second half that made it 14-7.

After Morse took the 15-14 lead, Mira Mesa drove to third down and two from the Tiger three. But Morse held, and Mira Mesa had to settle for an 18-yard field goal by Mike Bovee to make it 17-15.

Morse rallied on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence to sophomore Glen Steele. Three consecutive runs for 18 total yards by Faime set up the score, and Morse led, 21-17.