High school scene & heard: Oceanside gets reinforcements for season’s second half; is Mount Miguel star one of the best ever?

OCEANSIDE — This week marks the first eligible game for transfers who were not cleared to play immediately by the CIF office.

Oceanside High School had a handful of impactful players take the field for Friday’s 26-25 win over Mount Miguel, including four transfers from rival El Camino.

The four new guys, with thoughts from coach Fale Poumele:

Linebacker Wyatt Gulley: “His family is a Pirate family, but to see him finally come home to play for us is great because of his family heritage. Long line of Pirate champions with great IQ of the game and plays fast.”

Cornerback Lucas Tuning: “Rangy and learning our system since day one. He will be our X factor as he has great speed and athleticism, but no one knows him because this is his first year on varsity.”

Linebacker/defensive end/punter James Crespo: “An asset as he’s athletic and can do it all.”

Spartan Laie, offensive lineman and defensive lineman: “Thick run-stopper with a motor. On offense, he’s a force and can play several positions on the line. His team-first attitude is what brings that spark and swag to the line. He’s strong and can do it all.”

Mount Miguel debuted a high-level transfer of its own Friday in quarterback Andre Jackson, a sophomore transfer from Lincoln. For now, the Matadors will go with a two-QB system with junior Jeremiah Loper, who came into the game with a 114.9 QB rating, 11 total touchdowns and only two interceptions.

“They’ve been competing all offseason and all summer,” Matadors coach Verlain Betofe said. “We want to give Andre a shot just like we’ve given Jeremiah a shot. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Playing for a legend

Poumele played for John Carroll, graduating in 2001 as a 6-1, 200-pound running back.

Poumele, who lives less than a mile from campus, was hired in January 2023 to take over his alma mater.

“Playing under Carroll was great because he made it a family atmosphere at the school,” Poumele said. “Most of my teammates were guys I went to school with since seventh grade and some in elementary school. To play for our school with great pride and with hometown kids I grew up with was a blessing. The way we played for each other was selfless and as of now we are playing that kind of ball. Looking to make this run and finish strong.”

Hogs dominating

Natural size combined with relentless work in the weight room has produced massive lines for the Matadors. Three seniors have committed to four-year schools.

Frank Fanua, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound defensive tackle and offensive tackle, is headed to Cal. Iosua Faleagafua, a 6-5, 280-pound left tackle, has verballed to Boise State. And Dristan Williams, a 6-3, 285-pound right tackle and defensive tackle, is headed to Northern Arizona.

It’s not just them: Sophomore guard Kiti Fuga, a 6-2, 290-pound pile-mover, has an offer from Oregon State.

His way

Williams’ pregame meal is consistent: a No. 13 (original Italian) with bacon and avocado done “Mike’s Way” from Jersey Mike’s. His postgame meal is at home to “eat whatever’s there.” Williams is making plans to take the younger linemen out for a meal.

He credits the line’s speed as much as its size.

“It helps us out a lot when we’re running different plays,” he said. “For other things we lack in, we can make up for it with our speed.”

Best ever?

Mount Miguel’s Brandon Arrington was chased by pretty much every elite program in college football.

He made a verbal commitment in June to Texas A&M, which beat out, among others, Oregon, Alabama, USC, Penn State, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame and Oklahoma.

One of the top recruits in county history, Arrington, a 6-foot-3, 188-pound wide receiver and cornerback, had 269 total yards from scrimmage and 10 tackles heading into Friday’s game. He also returns kicks. He’ll play cornerback at A&M.

As a junior, Arrington had 26 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception while catching 57 balls for 527 yards and five TDs. He’s  ranked 19th nationally in the Class of 2026 composite rankings by 247Sports.com.

“What he has naturally to be honest, physically you don’t see it,” Betofe said. “He’s a rare athlete as far as size, speed, length. He’s like a once-every-15-year guy from a physical standpoint.”

On the track, Arrington is a state champion sprinter. He has won state titles in the 100-meter (10.33 seconds) and 200-meter (20.55 seconds).

Is he the best athlete in school history?

“He might be the best athlete in San Diego history, to be honest,” Betofe said.

Food review

Birria street tacos from Birrieria El Mendez was the choice, chased by a Dole whip float from Tiki Treats. Four belches on the U-T five-belch meter.

By the numbers

1 — CIF championships for Mount Miguel (1960, 40-13 over Vista).

7 — consecutive CIF Division II titles won by Oceanside beginning in 2004 under Carroll.

12 — blocked kicks in the 1987 season by Mount Miguel, the second-most in section history (nine punts, two PATs, one field goal).

13 — players on Mount Miguel’s roster weighing 250 pounds or more.

19 — CIF championships for Oceanside.