Nordhoff Continues Run at Championship : High school football: Hawkins gains 264 yards as Rangers advance to title game with 30-19 victory.

If Nordhoff had any inkling it was a team of destiny before its Southern Section Division IX semifinal playoff game Saturday night, it got a strong sign in the second quarter of a 30-19 victory over Santa Ynez.

On first down at the Ranger 12-yard line, running back Josh Hawkins blasted through the left side of the line and took off on a spectacular 88-yard run up the left sideline to the end zone.

The play was wiped out. Holding, Nordhoff.

But two plays later Hawkins, still catching his breath, did it again--the same play, the same 88 yards. This time over right tackle, and this time no flag.

Hawkins’ big run gave the host Rangers (10-3) a 16-0 lead in front of a standing-room-only crowd of about 4,000.

“I saw the flag out of the corner of my eye, but I went anyway,” said Hawkins, who rushed for 264 yards and three touchdowns in 35 carries. “But any time I get the ball, I’m going full speed. (Two plays later) I got good blocks from (running back) Dallan Rigby and (wide receiver) Tony Henney, and it was wide open.”

Hawkins, a senior who entered the game with an area-best 2,055 yards rushing, led Nordhoff to its first berth in a section championship game. The Rangers will play Atascadero this week at a site to be determined.

The Rangers would need more of Hawkins after Santa Ynez (11-2) got touchdown plunges of one and two yards by fullback Russell Cole to narrow the margin to 16-14 in the fourth quarter.

Hawkins carried six times during an eight-play, 80-yard drive and scored on a nine-yard run to make it 23-13 with 8:09 left.

Hawkins dropped what looked like a sure interception for a touchdown when Santa Ynez took over. But after Nordhoff linebacker Russell Farrar sacked quarterback Josh Fiske on fourth down, Hawkins took off on a 15-yard scoring run.

Nordhoff outgained Santa Ynez, 353-268, and contained Fiske, a Division I recruit, until he fired a 47-yard scoring pass to Scott Chapman with 3:53 left.