Vista Passes Way Past Mira Mesa

Mira Mesa came out for the second half of its San Diego Section 3-A semifinal football game against Vista and fought through the paper sign the cheerleaders were holding up.

Vista’s defense, however, was much tougher.

The top-seeded Panthers advanced to the championship with a 21-14 victory over Mira Mesa (9-4) Saturday at Mesa College and held the nation’s all-time leading passer, Chad Davis, to 17 yards in the final game of his career. He finished with 9,236.

“A lot of people didn’t believe in us, but we fought to the end,” said Davis, who completed two of eight passes. “Vista deserves all the credit.

“They did exactly what we worked on all week.”

The Panthers (13-0) will be making their first appearance in the finals since 1986 and are trying to win for the first time since 1985. In the interim, they had a winless season in 1988, won three times in 1989 and six games last year. They play Point Loma on Saturday.

“I didn’t know when we’d get there (back to the championship), but I felt we would get there,” Vista Coach Dick Haines said.

Uncharacteristically, Vista passed its way into the championship. Eric Jencks completed 10 of 17 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns, two to Aaron Rounsifer. Vista’s last five touchdowns have come via the pass. Chato Jackson gained only 54 yards on 18 carries.

Jencks called it the biggest performance of his life.

“Without this game, we were going nowhere,” he said.

Mira Mesa Coach Brad Griffith wasn’t surprised Vista passed.

“We figured they would throw a little more this week,” he said. “We thought we could stop the run most of the time and we have a little trouble against the pass.

Those troubles started with 3:29 left in the first quarter. It looked as if Vista’s second drive of the game was again going to be four downs and out, but on a third-and-15 at the Mira Mesa 46, Jencks drilled a pass over the middle to Jose Perez, who made a move that left Tim Fay laying on the ground and ran the final 25 yards to score. Pon Manithip added the first of three extra points.

Vista took a 14-0 lead on its next possession (seven plays, 72 yards). Jencks completed two passes to Rounsifer, of 29 and 25 yards.

But Mira Mesa climbed into contention with the running game. The Marauders rushed nine straight times, going 49 yards, to pull to 14-7. Davis scored on an option keeper from six yards and Darryle Owen kicked the extra point with 2:27 left in the first half.

Vista’s Jerry Butkiewicz fumbled the kickoff, and Mira Mesa marched nine plays from the Panther 39 to score on Davis’ one-yard run.

In the third quarter, Davis punted from his own end zone and Rounsifer’s 15-yard return put the ball at the Mira Mesa 35. After four rushing plays gained 14 yards, Jencks hit Rounsifer for the 21-yard score with 1:45 left. Rounsifer caught eight passes for 103 yards.

Vista’s defense held Mira Mesa to 157 yards, 140 rushing. Davis was hounded all night by defensive lineman Jimmy Ramos and linebacker Shawn Bostwick.