Torrey Pines run away from El Camino

By: MARC FIGUEROA - Staff Writer | Friday, September 30, 2005 11:51 PM PDT ∞

CARMEL VALLEY---- A power running game is not the forte of the Torrey Pines High football team. It doesn't have to be when you have players like Connor Bird, Robby Collins and Scooter Belasco.

Bulk is not what these guys are about, but boy can they run. The three running backs, none of whom weigh more than 171 pounds, joined forces to score five touchdowns to lead the fifth-ranked Falcons to a 36-19 nonleague victory over visiting El Camino.

"When you have a lot of toys to play with, Torrey Pines certainly makes the best use of them," said Wildcats coach Trace Deneke. "And that's a testimony to (Torrey Pines coach) Ed Burke and his coaching staff."

Torrey Pines (4-1) couldn't shake loose from the Wildcats until early in the fourth quarter when Belasco found a seam and raced 30 yards for a touchdown to give the Falcons a 29-13 lead with 11:40 to play. Belasco scored again on a 7-yard run with 6:29 remaining to put the game out of reach.

Trailing 22-7 late in the third quarter, the Wildcats (2-3) cut the Falcons' lead when Andrew Aiello scored on a 2-yard touchdown run ---- his second rushing TD of the night. El Camino's two-point conversion failed and that's as close as the Wildcats would get.

It was all Torrey Pines after that.

"They're like a bulldog with the mailman," Deneke said. "They just grab your leg and never let go."

The Torrey Pines ground attack accounted for 269 yards, 221 of it coming compliments of Bird, Belasco and Collins.

"It's a blessing to have these great athletes," Burke said. "And fortunately all of the guys showed up tonight."

Nursing a slim 9-7 lead late in the first half, the Falcons created a bit of breathing room when Bird caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Hunter Wanket with 21 seconds to go. The extra-point attempt failed.

The Falcons started with a short field and needed just four plays to reach the end zone.

The Wildcats found themselves pinned back in their end of the field for most of the second quarter. Torrey Pines made them pay the first time when Aiello was tackled in the end zone for a Falcons safety with 7:01 to go.

The Wildcats got great field position on their second possession of the game and took an early 7-0 lead on an Aiello 1-yard run with 6:27 left in the first quarter.

The Falcons countered right back when running back Collins scored on a quarterback option that resulted in a 47-yard TD run.

The Wildcats were on the move early in the game, but were stalled when the Falcons forced an El Camino fumble at the Torrey Pines' 3-yard line.

Contact Marc Figueroa at marcfig@aol.com.