HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : USDHS Stays in the Proper Gear--First--After Rout of University City

Years ago, the University of San Diego High School had a 25-foot mechanical mascot it called the Don Machine.

These days, the Don Machine is running backs Chris Lewis and Chris Mattix, quarterback Mike Sexton and an offensive line that averages 236 pounds. It is linebacker Mark Maruccia, defensive lineman Steve Balelo and defensive back Chris Medeiros. It is an offense averaging 31.3 points per game, a defense yielding only 6.1 and a team that is undefeated and ranked fourth in San Diego County.

University City got a look at the new Don Machine Friday in a City Western League football game. The Centurions had originally planned to try to stop it, but . . .

USDHS won handily, 41-13, in front of 2,500 at University City to improve to 7-0, 1-0, heading into next week’s showdown with No. 5 La Jolla. University City fell to 3-3, 0-2.

“We’re not real fancy, but we don’t make a lot of mistakes,” USDHS Coach Ron Hamamoto said. “We’ve got an offensive line that blocks. We’ve got a running back (Lewis) that’s pretty fast. I think we found another running back (Mattix) that can power things up there a little more. I think we’re a little more dimensionalized--you know, we spread things out a little more--even though we’re real simple.”

In other words, “We’re like a machine,” said Maruccia, who led another solid defensive effort with four sacks.

USDHS had lost to University City the past three years by scores of 12-8, 23-20 and 17-15. This one was quite different.

Aside from its final possession, when it ran out the clock, USDHS scored touchdowns on five of its eight drives, including every time it had the ball in the final 26 minutes. The Dons added another touchdown when Randy St. Hill blocked a Centurion punt at the 10-yard line and Scott Pharis picked it up in the end zone.

Lewis, who entered with 850 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, had a season-high 231 yards and three touchdowns in 27 carries. Mattix added 53 yards and two touchdowns in seven carries. The Dons had 310 yards rushing--and zero passing. They attempted only two passes. One was incomplete, the other intercepted.

University City managed only a six-yard touchdown by Wayne Clemons, to cap a 25-yard second-quarter drive, and a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Dananzol Sheppard.

“We’re like a family,” Lewis said. “Last year, there was a lot of second-guessing of other people’s talents. We don’t second-guess anybody on this team any more. We’re together.”

In other words, “We’re going all the way,” Maruccia said.