Oceanside CA— The El Camino Wildcats hosted the powerhouse from Perris, Citrus Hills on 9-11 First Responder Night and fell to the Hawks 54-21.
The Wildcats were without starting quarterback, Jayden Casey (ankle injury) and back-up QB, Christian Betz was held out until late (hip injury) relying on Brock Manber, a Junior Varsity QB who was called up the afternoon before the game to lead the Wildcats. It may not have made a difference who started under center as the Wildcats defense had no answer for the Citrus Hills running attack.
ECHS went three and out on their first possession and the Hawks took over at the fifty yard-line after a short punt. Citrus Hills went the distance in seven plays with KJ Lacy running it in for the 7-0 lead, 6:57 left in the first quarter.
The Wildcats again went three and out but a high snap on the punt gave Hawks strong safety, Dominique Calahan just enough time to get around the corner and block the kick which he recovered in the end zone 14-0, Citrus Hills with 5:25 left in the first period.
Again the Wildcats couldn’t get anything going on offense and the Hawks took over at their own 47. Citrus Hills went 53 yards in three plays scoring on a 29-yard reception by Michael Washington and just that fast, it was 21-0 with just over nine minutes gone in the first quarter.
El Camino got a break fielding a short kick-off giving them their best field position of the night, at their own 47 yard line. The young Wildcat QB was pressured all night long and a hurried throw by Manber was read perfectly by Hawk strong safety, Shawn Dourseau who returned the interception to the Wildcat 15 yard-line leading to another Citrus Hill touchdown.
The Wildcats got their first, first down of the game early in the second quarter but were unable to sustain the drive. The punt left the Hawks with their worst field position of the night, their own 29 yard-line. Citrus Hills proceeded to march 71 yards in eight plays to take a 35-0 lead with 5:44 left in the first half.
The Wildcats (1-2) expect to have Jayden Casey and Christian Betz next week when the travel to Torrey Pines(1-1) a 20-0 winner over Fallbrook(1-2).
Oceanside- 30
Chaparral- 13
Max Shuffer ran for one touchdown, threw one touchdown to Jake Gerardi and Jacob Bernard scored twice as the Pirates improve to 3-0. The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Pirates as they travel to San Marcos(3-0) next Friday.
Imperial- 3
Carlsbad – 45
La Costa Canyon- 40
Escondido- 14
Fallbrook – 0
Torrey Pines- 20
Vista- 25
RBV- 13
Sabino (AZ)- 7
Mission Hills – 10
Del Norte- 14
San Marcos- 40