THE BIG GAME / TORREY PINES-VISTA : Resurgent Falcons Get Shot at Title

Ed Burke has Torrey Pines winning again.

And the Falcons, enjoying their first winning season since 1984, goes to Vista to decide the Palomar League title.

Vista (9-0, 6-0) knocked off some San Diego Section powers early this season, rose to No. 1 in the Times poll and remained there. Torrey Pines (8-1, 6-0) lost its opener to USDHS, 7-6--it allowed the opening kickoff to be returned for a touchdown--rolled some easy teams while learning the principles of first-year Coach Ed Burke. The Falcons are tied for fifth (with USDHS) in the poll.

“I knew the talent level was present to have an exceptional year,” said Burke, who coached at Torrey Pines from 1980 to 1984 and San Dieguito from 1985 to 1989. “But in this league, it takes talent, luck and chemistry.

“There was no way we could be picked ahead of the other teams based on who everybody had coming back: That’s where luck and chemistry came into play.”

Torrey Pines has positioned itself to win its first league title on the strength of a ball-control offense and a gang-tackling defense that prevents the big play.

“The theory is that most high school teams have trouble scoring on long drives in terms of number of plays,” Burke said.

And that is what worries him most about the Panthers, who are a big play waiting to happen. They have Chato Jackson in their backfield and Aaron Rounsifer at the wideout. Jackson has gained 1,155 yards (6.2 per carry) and scored 19 times (third-most in the county). Rounsifer averages 20.6 yards per catch.

Torrey Pines doesn’t have any statistical leaders on offense, just a fullback, Josh Stern, who has gained 576 yards, and three others: Tom Luginbill (66 carries for 319 yards), Joel Brown (50 for 333) and Kevin Dalzell (60 for 316).

The Falcons’ statistical strength is on defense. They allow a section-low 55 points (6.1 average). That has allowed Torrey Pines to hold a 13.5 to 10.5 margin of victory edge over the Panthers among common opponents, even though Vista has averaged 21.2 points per game, three more than Torrey Pines (18.3).