Oceanside CA- Thanks to the loss to Mission Hills and subsequent #3 seed in the CIF, San Diego Section Open Division playoffs, Oceanside travels to Chula Vista tonight to take on the Eastlake Titans. Eastlake, the #2 seed, brings an unbalanced attack to the semi-final game. Averaging 58.3 yards a game in the air, the Titans have powered their way to a 10-1 record averaging 335 yards per game on the ground. The Titan defense is stingy allowing just 105 points in 11 games while the offense put 409 points on the board.
Eastlake is a young team with a full stable in the backfield and three running backs with 12 TD’s each on the season. The Titans leading rusher is, junior running back, Isaiah Strayhorn with 1131 yards on 116 carries and 12 TD’s. Sophmore Traylon Reed averages 13.5 yards a carry, 986 yards and 12 touchdowns. Isiah Olave, a senior, averages 10.83 yards a carry with 12 rushing touchdowns, 6 more catching the ball out of the backfield, one on special teams and one on defense.
The Oceanside Pirates averaged 358.1 yards per game during the regular season with a more balanced attack than their Eastlake counterparts. Pirate quarterback Matt Romero threw for 1740 yards while, the backfield has rushed for 1510. Leading rusher, Thai Cottrell has 771 yards on the ground , 148 all purpose yards per game. Romero’s targets are Jace Whittaker and Mikah Holder and Thai Cottrell with all three a threat after they catch the ball.
The Oceanside defensive line will need to get off their blocks and plug the holes to stop Titan rushers that hit the line quickly. Romero will need to make smart throws and minimize the mistakes, he can be prone to when under pressure, for the Pirates to advance to the championship game.
Division I Quarter-Finals
El Camino’s season came to an end 42-9 at San Pasqual High School. Carlsbad advances with a 33-17 win over Grossmont and will take on San Pasqual in the semi-final game on November 27.
Division II Quarter-Final
Rancho Buena Vista has won 5 of their last 6 games and advance to the semi-finals of D-II playoffs by dismantling a strong Mount Miguel team 51-10 on the road. They will face Mission Bay, who defeated Madison 21-18, in the semi-finals on November 27.