LCC scores first shutout in series against Torrey Pines

By: TOM SHANAHAN - For the North County Times | Saturday, November 10, 2007 7:25 AM PST ∞

CARLSBAD ---- La Costa Canyon High football coach Darrin Brown gathered his jubilant team for a postgame huddle moments after beating Torrey Pines 30-0 Friday night in their neighborhood rivalry.

He began to list what his eighth-ranked Mavericks accomplished with their second straight win against an opponent that has had the upper hand on them in recent years.

"We got the first shutout in the series," he said.

His players roared.

"We won for the first time on our field," he said.

More roars.

"And we won by the widest margin in the series," he added.

But the roars weren't so loud for the third one. Perhaps that's because the Mavericks (6-3, 4-0 Palomar League), who won their fourth straight game in the regular-season finale, have begun to look ahead.

They believe they should be among the favorites in the CIF San Diego Section Division II playoffs as the Palomar co-champions with a top seed.

"We were young when we lost a couple games early, but we're on a roll now, and that's where you want to be going into the playoffs," Brown said. "We think we're healthy and we're getting better on offense and defense."

Traditionally a Division I entry, LCC's enrollment places it in Division II this year. That means the Mavs won't get a shot at Poway in the postseason to unofficially settle their tie for the league title.

Poway and La Costa Canyon were supposed to play the week that games were canceled because of the wildfires.

Torrey Pines finished the regular season with an uncharacteristic record of 2-6 (1-3), but first-year coach Scott Ashby filed the necessary paperwork to seek an at-large berth in the playoffs.

"We felt we owed it to our seniors that have battled through a lot of adversity this year to give them one more game," he said.

La Costa Canyon senior quarterback Jose Mohler again directed a balanced offense. The Mavericks gained 157 yards rushing, and Mohler completed 13-of-16 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.

"He's a great athlete and leader," Brown said. "He can run and pass, and when he's hot, he's hard to stop."

Sophomore wide receiver Kenny Stills led the Mavericks with five catches for 90 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown reception on a third-and-12 play in the second quarter for a 13-0 halftime lead.

LCC's first touchdown was on a 19-yard run by T.C. Whaley for a 6-0 lead with 5:14 remaining in the first quarter.

The Mavericks' defense limited Torrey Pines to 94 total yards and one scoring opportunity. A 37-yard field goal try in the first quarter was missed.

Click here for boxscore