Strong Second Half Carries Orange Glen

Bring on the big boys.

Orange Glen welcomes the opportunity, and Rancho Buena Vista gives its wholehearted support.

With a 31-17 quarterfinal victory Saturday night, Orange Glen has kicked two opponents out of its way on the road to the San Diego Section 3-A football finale.

There remains one living and breathing roadblock--the top-ranked Morse Tigers the top-seeded team of the playoffs.

But fourth-seeded Orange Glen (9-3) thinks it can meet Morse on even footing and even enjoy the experience.

“You always want a shot at No. 1,” said Coach Rob Gilster, whose Patriots won their seventh consecutive game. “We want the chance to play the best. It’ll be fun.”

One player who had a lot to relish in this victory was quarterback Brady Batten, who was seven of 15 for 176 yards, passed for a touchdown and caught his own touchdown pass on the Patriots last score of the game. Batten’s not sure what to expect from Morse, but he knows mistakes could be costly.

“Personally, I haven’t seen them,” said Brady Batten. “I think we can put a good game together, but we have to go out and play 100%.”

Saturday’s showing was nearer to perfection than Rancho Buena Vista cared to be. Longhorn Coach Craig Bell wouldn’t stop the presses if Orange Glen wins its semifinal against the Tigers to advance to the championship in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium on Dec. 12.

“That just may be the best team in the CIF we played tonight, and if they aren’t, they’re close,” said Bell.

The Longhorns, on the other hand, were close only for a half. RBV led, 17-14, going into the locker room.

Two weeks ago, RBV lost to Orange Glen in the final week of the regular season, 7-0. This time the Longhorns weren’t about to be shut out, but a sound first-half performance turned sour when RBV returned to the field.

But some goofs by the Patriots special teams contributed to the Longhorn lead.

RBV tied the game 7-7 on a nine-yard pass from quarterback Joe Walter to Von Ware after Marka Regalado blocked a Patriot punt.

Orange Glen lost little time in retaking the lead with 1:15 left in the first quarter, on a reverse play that Chris Buddin scored on from 60 yards out, but RBV retied it on a one-yard run by Lee Johnson 20 seconds later.

To set up the 28-yard field goal that gave RBV the halftime lead, Jesse Aguilar recovered the ball on a kickoff return by Orange Glen that hit the shoulder pad of a Patriot.

“We just got outplayed in the second half, we just couldn’t hang with them,” Bell said.

Orange Glen’s return to--and success of--its passing game and its tough defense were factors, especially in that second half.

Orange Glen’s Aaron Blake opened the second half with a 39-yard field goal to knot the game at 17-17, but it was all Patriots from there.

Jason Mahaffey scored on an 11-yard pass from Batten for the 24-17 lead late in the third quarter.

Walter had three passes intercepted, in the second half, the first one, by Jon Goodman, seemed to mentally hurt the Longhorn’s the most.

On the next series, Batten scored on a nine-yard pass from Chet Lockwood.

“That was a play we’ve practiced,” Batten said. “It was the perfect time to use it.”