3-A FIRST-ROUND PLAYOFFS : Orange Glen Gets Best of Southwest

For the second time in three years, Orange Glen High School knocked Southwest High School out of the San Diego Section 3-A playoffs.

Orange Glen defeated Southwest, 21-12, Friday night before 1,500 at Montgomery High School with a balanced offensive attack and an opportunistic defense.

Patriot running back Noel Toloumu carried 18 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Omar Navarro completed 10 of 19 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown.

The Orange Glen defense recorded three sacks and two interceptions and stopped Southwest’s talented backs, Junior Ochoa (20 carries, 65 yards) and Riley Washington (17, 91). Raider quarterback Andy Quinn completed 13 of 23 passes for 171 yards, but most of the yardage came after Orange Glen had built a 21-6 lead with 7 minutes 15 seconds left.

With the victory, Orange Glen (7-4) advanced to the second round Friday night against Helix, a 42-0 winner over Patrick Henry. Southwest finished 8-3.

Two years ago, Orange Glen shut out Southwest, 28-0, behind all-county quarterback Cree Morris en route to the 3-A championship.

The Patriots don’t appear to be as dominant a team, but don’t tell that to linebacker Andy Buh.

Asked to describe his view of the game, Buh said, “Dominant. When we play Orange Glen football, we’re the best.”

And what is Orange Glen football?

“Dominating,” Buh said.

Buh did his part. He was all over the field, making crushing tackles, knocking down passes and generally being an all-around pain in Southwest’s side.

Southwest opened the scoring in the second quarter, taking a 6-0 lead on Washington’s four-yard touchdown run. But Orange Glen pulled to 7-6, about a minute later. The Patriots drove 56 yards in five plays with Toloumu carrying three yards for the score.

After a scoreless third quarter, Orange Glen put together back-to-back drives to take a 21-6 lead. Toloumu capped an 11-play, 79-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run around right end. Then, after Jason Carroll intercepted a Quinn pass on Southwest’s first play of the ensuing possession, the Patriots scored three plays later on a 41-yard pass from Navarro to Randy Boozer.

Southwest scored with 2:56 left--Jerry Racette (seven catches, 109 yards) hauled in a 14-yard pass from Quinn--but Southwest was stopped on the two-point conversion try.