HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : USDHS Blockers Open Way to Quarterfinals

They are often unnoticed, but their presence--or lack of it--is always felt. And in University of San Diego High’s 31-14 victory Saturday over St. Augustine at San Diego High, the offensive linemen made all the difference in the world.

The Dons advanced to the quarterfinals of the San Diego Section 2-A playoffs next week with the victory, giving them a 10-1 record. They play the No. 4 team in the playoffs, El Capitan (8-2-1), on Saturday.

“They’ve done a great job all year and that was really the difference in the game,” said Mike David, USDHS’s offensive coordinator.

Brad Rossin, Dan Minton, Ken Shook, Keith Miles and Steve Balelo opened up the holes for Chris Lewis, who carried the ball 28 times for 213 yards. He scored three times, on runs of 19, 1 and 55 yards.

The latter touchdown was the most telling, breaking open a 21-14 game.

It was part of USDHS’ 303 rushing yards. Quarterback Mike Sexton added to the net offense by completing three of nine passes for 47 yards. There were no interceptions.

“Sexton’s numbers are kind of deceiving,” David said, “because he had a couple of balls dropped.”

One of the balls that wasn’t dropped was Mike Hall’s 15-yard scoring reception in the second quarter that gave USDHS a 14-7 lead. Hall caught two passes for 28 yards.

Aaron Blair, who was perfect on four extra-point attempts, finished the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 21-yard field goal.

St. Augustine, which dropped to 6-4-1, scored on its first drive of the game, going 72 yards. Chris Sovey capped the drive with a one-yard run.

After three unanswered touchdowns, John Mozerka pulled St. Augustine within reach with a 30-yard touchdown reception from Aaron Buckner in the third quarter. Mozerka ran for the two-point conversion.

St. Augustine was held to 65 yards rushing. Buckner completed 14 of 31 for 139 yards. He threw one interception, that to Hall.

David praised the play of outside linebackers Brad Rossin and Derrick Heintz, and inside linebackers Mark Maruccia and Robb Floco limiting the St. Augustine offense. Hugh Hester also had a big game, David said, as the Don defense sacked Buckner three times.

Division 3-A

Point Loma 42, Montgomery 13--John Faulkner and Rantie Harper ran for two touchdowns as second-seeded Point Loma (10-1) advanced to a quarterfinal matchup with Helix on Saturday. Faulkner, who carried eight times for 170 yards, scored on runs of 60 and 22 yards. Harper, who had 82 yards on 13 carries, scored from four and two yards.

Point Loma, which led 21-7 at halftime, sacked Montgomery quarterback Gabriel Rascone five times. Linebacker Reginold Francisco intercepted a Rascone pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown.