Defense Seals Poway Victory Over Fallbrook

They’re for real.

If the Poway Titans haven’t shocked the Palomar League yet with the way they’ve scored, they certainly shocked Fallbrook on Friday night with their defense and special-teams play, shutting out the fifth-ranked Warriors, 10-0.

If not the biggest victory in a decade for Poway (4-1, 2-0), it was the biggest in the two years John Self has been coach.

There were only two victories in his debut season, and the Titans were 3-1 entering this game with lopsided victories over three lightly regarded teams, Ramona, San Marcos and San Dieguito.

But the victory over Fallbrook (4-1, 1-1) was a coming-out.

Only three times did Fallbrook manage to get past midfield. And though Fallbrook wanted to establish the running game to set up quarterback John Dutton, it never happened. Fallbrook rushed 13 times for 16 yards. Dutton finished 19 of 33 for 190 yards, but the Titan defense never allowed itself to be beaten deep, and of the three times Dutton tried to stretch the field, one pass was incomplete and the other two were intercepted by Joe Enyeart--both times in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t know how you could think you could shut them out,” said Self, dripping from a Gatorade shower and--really--howling at the moon. “The mental aspect of this game was important to us. We have shirts that say, ’48 minutes of football for a lifetime of memories.’ ”

It was Poway’s first victory against Fallbrook in 11 years.

Poway, which entered the game having outscored opponents 123-6 the past three games, outgained Fallbrook, 230-206, and controlled the ball with 165 rushing yards. Jon Butler rushed 12 times for 80 yards to lead the Titans.

“Poway is for real,” Fallbrook Coach Tom Pack said. “Their kids out-executed us tonight and didn’t make many mistakes. They’re aggressive and they flew to the football. Obviously we weren’t as prepared as they were.

“We got outplayed.”

Poway controlled the first half in every aspect. The Titans rushed 81 yards to Fallbrook’s eight and held a 65-45 edge in passing.

The Titans’ special-teams unit set up the first score, a 29-yard field goal by Charley Kamen. A 22-yard punt return by Enyeart gave Poway the ball at Fallbrook’s 40. The Titans got an 18-yard run by A.J. Ponsiglione to move the ball to the 19. Jon Butler rushed twice to the 12 before Kamen, an all-league soccer player, cleared the goal posts with ease.

Fallbrook failed to convert its best opportunity of the first half. The Warriors moved from their 20 to the Poway 24, where their drive fizzled on fourth down, Dutton overthrowing Tony Lepierre.

Poway took over and used 18 plays to drive into the end zone. Quarterback Travis Nichols took it over from the one. Nichols completed four of seven passes for 47 yards during the drive. He finished seven for 14 for 65 yards.

Fallbrook played without speedy receiver Mike Chiarella (broken fibula) and its most experienced pass-catcher, Jordie Camp (lower back). But it played for the first time with Chiarella’s twin, Matt, who missed three weeks with a concussion.

“I didn’t think it would affect us, but I noticed it as the game went on,” Dutton said.