HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Saints Use Turnovers to Turn Back La Jolla

Add St. Augustine to the list of teams that felt slighted in preseason ratings but now believes it deserves more recognition.

The Saints trounced 1991 section finalist La Jolla, 30-6, at La Jolla’s Edwards Stadium Saturday. But don’t be surprised if the Saints (2-0) trip en route to the podium to accept their Underrated Team of the Week award.

As much as they overpowered the Vikings (0-2), the Saints at times looked awkward with 6-foot-6 quarterback Aaron Buckner running the wishbone. They also committed five turnovers--four in the second half--in a game that featured nine. La Jolla’s miscues, however, proved more costly.

Buckner finished with four net yards on seven carries, but he scored on runs of two and five yards. St. Augustine, which used 10 ball carriers, had 201 rushing yards on 43 carries. Buckner also completed seven of 12 passes for 65 yards.

“Sometimes we lack effort, shoot ourselves in the foot,” Buckner said, “but we’re going to get better as the year goes along. This was a test for us. We proved that we are good, and I think we earned the respect that we deserve.”

Buckner was badgered a bit by Viking linebacker James Forbes, who had two sacks and a fumble recovery in the first half, but the Saints’ defense held La Jolla to 16 net yards on 16 plays. Buckner was content to hand off to Chris Sovay, who scored the first two touchdowns, both on four-yard runs.

St. Augustine got two points for a safety when La Jolla snapped the ball over its punter’s head and out of the end zone, and Buckner got into the act with his two-yard score to make it 23-0 at halftime.

“I like getting out there and running it,” said the 190-pound Buckner. “I like hitting; I look forward to it.”

The Saints didn’t pile up a lot of yards, in part, because they had good field position all day, including four drives that started in Viking territory. Damien Rubio (12 carries, 65 yards) was their leading rusher, followed by Sovay (12-60, two fumbles) and Spiridione Brunetto (4-44).

The Vikings were penalized nine times for 72 yards. An interception by Eric Miranda, a fumble recovery by Jonathon Santos and a sack by Darrel Russell each led to St. Augustine touchdowns. The only bright spot for La Jolla was Pilar Flores’ 31-yard scoring pass to Robb Fipp in the third quarter on a play that failed because of over-throws three other times.

Flores, who replaced Haik Kevorkian at quarterback, completed three of six passes for 69 yards but was pulled after throwing an interception.

“I don’t feel too good about it,” Flores said of La Jolla’s 0-2 start. “I don’t really know what’s going on. We’re not playing football.”