CARMEL VALLEY ---- Torrey Pines High stayed low to the ground Friday night in its quest for another shot at No. 2-ranked La Costa Canyon.

The Falcons defeated visiting Otay Ranch 27-17 thanks to grinding out 254 rushing yards in the first round of the CIF San Diego Section Division I football playoffs.

With the triumph, Torrey Pines (5-5-1) gets a rematch with La Costa Canyon next week. The top-seeded Mavericks had a first-round bye.

Joseph Driscoll led the Falcons as he rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, too much for the Mustangs (3-7-1) to handle.

In the second half, Driscoll stepped aside for Kevin Cuff, who responded with 52 yards on six carries, including a 20-yard touchdown run.

Now Torrey Pines faces the defending champion Mavericks, who the Falcons played tough in a 30-20 loss earlier this year.

Friday's game was close throughout, as the teams were tied 14-14 at halftime.

But Blake Busse hit his second of three field goals ---- this one from 21 yards ---- early in the third quarter for a 17-14 edge. The kick was set up on a nifty 26-yard scramble and run by quarterback John Cabot and a 31-yard strike Cabot threw to John Wilson, splitting two defenders with the throw.

Busse added another boot, a 44-yarder that had just enough oomph, for a 20-14 cushion. The drive's key play was a 52-yard pass from Cabot to Wilson.

The Mustangs drew within 20-17, but Cabot directed a three-minute possession that was capped by Cuff's scoring run on his first carry of the evening for a 27-17 lead midway through the final quarter.

Torrey Pines still had to sweat when Jaime Abasolo blocked a Bussey punt and the Mustangs took over near midfield looking for a quick strike.

But their drive stalled at the Torrey Pines 32 when Michael Nasland recovered a fumble by Otay Ranch quarterback Marcus Hernandez.

The Falcons milked the remaining time and are heading to the second round against a familiar foe.

Torrey Pines looked strong early, scoring on its first possession when Driscoll went over from the 1. But the Mustangs came right back to tie the game, setting the tone for a game against two evenly matched teams.

Otay Ranch led 14-7 early in the second quarter before Wilson's keen 35-yard run in which he went around the right side on a pitch, found the edge, then high-stepped out of a would-be tackle at the Otay Ranch 5 to go in standing.

The Torrey Pines defense was also impressive, allowing 165 total yards. The Mustangs mustered just 65 yards in the second half as their running game was shut down and Hernandez completed just 4-of-12 passes.