Oceanside Upholds Avocado League’s Honor

Torrey Pines Coach Ed Burke has only been in the Avocado League one season, but he realized what Oceanside’s 27-13 first-round 2-A playoff victory Saturday over once-beaten University City meant.

“That was a statement for the Avocado League,” said Burke, whose team plays Oceanside Friday in the quarterfinals.

For the second consecutive year, the Avocado has showed its strength by advancing all five of its playoff teams into the quarterfinals. Oceanside (6-5) finished fourth in the Avocado. UC (9-2), which finished second to Kearny in the City Western League, still has not won a playoff game in the school’s 12-year history.

Early on, the Pirates didn’t look good enough to finish fourth in the City Harbor League. They fell behind 13-0 with 6:14 into the game and appeared to have wasted a trip down Interstate 5 to University City.

But UC began celebrating a tad early.

The Centurions let the Pirates back into the game by aiding an Oceanside 80-yard scoring drive with two penalties for late hits. John Portugal’s 16-yard pass to Aaron Durley capped the drive, making the score 13-6 after George Hernandez’ kick went wide.

“We sort of woke them up,” UC Coach Steve Vukojevich said. “Once they woke up, they dominated the line of scrimmage.”

The holes that had been opening for running backs Ed Miller (19 rushes for 120 yards, one fumble) and Paul Turner (six rushes for 16 yards) began closing and the protection that UC quarterback Daranzol Sheppard was getting suddenly collapsed.

Four plays after Durley’s score, cornerback George Sutton picked up a Turner fumble and ran 55 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 13.

The Centurions showed some life early in third quarter, but their scoring drive ended when Miller was stuffed on a fourth and three at the Oceanside 21. Four plays later, Sheppard fumbled a punt and Oceanside’s David Williams recovered at the UC 35. Portugal (17-28, 182 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions) snuck in from a yard out to finish off an eight-play drive.