El Toro 37, El Dorado 2--Defending V...

El Toro 37, El Dorado 2--Defending V champion El Toro coasted to victory over Empire League champion El Dorado thanks to a smothering defense.

The Chargers, the wild-card entry in the playoffs after finishing fourth in the Sea View League, entered the game giving up 25.3 points per contest. El Toro limited the Golden Hawks to one yard rushing and 67 passing as the Chargers set up a rematch of last year’s final against Servite, which has been tentatively scheduled for Friday at Trabuco Hills.

Richard Oates scored on a 10-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to give El Toro a 6-0 lead.

The Chargers increased the lead to 14-0 with 10 seconds left in the second quarter when Mike Strand hit Michael Smith in the end zone with a 33-yard scoring pass. The two-point conversion attempt, a pass from Strand to Brian Koupal was successful.

El Toro (6-5) increased its lead to 21-0 on a 78-yard punt return by Darren Ohlwiler. Strand scored on a one-yard run and Chad Johnson hit a 28-yard field goal to give the Chargers a 30-0 lead after three quarters.

Strand finished the game connecting on 14 of 18 passes for 178 yards.

El Dorado (5-6) avoided the shutout when an El Toro center snap sailed out of the end zone.

El Toro, substituting freely in the fourth quarter, scored a touchdown late in the game on a 26-yard pass from David Reyes to Sam Moore.