ESCONDIDO ---- The Torrey Pines High football team took control in the first half and never looked back, rolling to a 34-10 victory against San Pasqual on Friday night.
With four of their first seven games this season decided by a touchdown or less, the visiting Falcons (4-4-1, 2-1-1 Avocado League) enjoyed the cushion they were able to build this week.
"I thought our kids played well," Torrey Pines coach Scott Ashby said. "It was really nice to execute well."
Junior quarterback John Cabot threw three touchdown passes ---- connecting with Parker Vail on a 14-yard slant in the first quarter, finding Hunter Shigley on a swing pass to the right flat for 66 yards in the second quarter, and hitting Ryan Rodas on a 5-yard slant to the left in the third.
The Torrey Pines ground game was working, too. Fullback Joseph Driscoll rushed for 63 yards on 12 carries, including a 13-yard scoring run in the second quarter. Michael Small added a 7-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.
"We've got a good fullback named Joe Driscoll who runs hard and we've got a line that blocks well," Ashby said. "Our game plan was to have a balanced attack."
San Pasqual got the home crowd going with a field goal on the game's opening possession, as Manny Topete converted from 43 yards out. The Golden Eagles (0-9, 0-4) kept it close when quarterback Tyler Tony found a streaking Matt Lee over the middle for a 44-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Down 20-10 at halftime, the Golden Eagles gained some momentum when they forced the Falcons into a 3rd-and-28 on the second half's opening possession. But Cabot connected with Rodas for a key 53-yard pitch-and-catch, setting up Rodas' touchdown six plays later.
"It's kind of been the same story; we fight real hard, but we haven't been consistent," San Pasqual coach Tony Corley said.
San Pasqual's Lee finished with six catches for 97 yards. For Torrey Pines, Cabot was an efficient 8-of-12 for 160 yards and the three touchdowns, while Rodas had three catches for 65 yards.
Torrey Pines tied Escondido 21-21 in its first league game on Oct. 16, before losing 13-7 to Mission Hills on Oct. 23. The Falcons defeated Fallbrook last week, 27-10. This was also the first road win for the Falcons this year in three tries.
