La Jolla Makes the Most of Escondido’s Breakdowns

As La Jolla Coach Dick Huddleston told his players after their 12-7 victory Friday over Escondido, the game was “frightful.”

For visiting Escondido (6-6), it was much worse. The Cougars’ loss in the second round of the San Diego Section 2-A football playoffs might well be remembered as the final explosion in a season of self-destruction.

Escondido sabotaged itself with penalties, busted plays, turnovers or a combination of the three on four drives. Each time the Cougars were marching, and each time it appeared the drive would produce points. But for Escondido, which turned the ball over twice on interceptions in the fourth quarter and helplessly watched as the Vikings (12-0) ran out the clock, this was nothing new.

“It’s been a problem all year, keeping drives from breaking down,” said Escondido running back Lance Lawton. “We thought we had that solved, but it came back to haunt us. We stopped ourselves tonight, basically.”

Lawton, a 6-foot, 210-pound senior, finished with 110 yards on 22 carries and was averaging 5.3 yards a carry in the second half. But the Cougars wasted his efforts. Escondido, leading, 7-6, opened the third quarter with Lawton breaking on 10- and 18-yard runs. But a six-yard loss coupled with a holding penalty forced the Cougars to punt.