La Jolla Country Day loses wild one to Valley Center in Division IV football semifinal

Quarterback Jett Astephen’s four touchdown passes and 377 yards through the air weren’t quite enough for the La Jolla Country Day Torreys as they lost their CIF San Diego Section Division IV semifinal game to host Valley Center 42-35 on Nov. 21.

No. 3 seed Valley Center got 297 yards rushing and four touchdowns from senior running back Joeisha Ryan Tirado to help the Jaguars advance to the division title game Saturday, Nov. 29, against Eastlake.

Country Day, the 10th seed, was seeking its third consecutive road playoff victory and battled to a 21-21 tie at halftime before Valley Center got the edge in the second half. The Torreys finished the season with a 6-7 overall record.

Astephen, a senior, threw TD passes of 83 and 26 yards to Hesh Hertz, 37 yards to James Picinich and 10 yards to Quentin Cesaire.

“We had a chance until the very end,” Torreys coach Tyler Hales said. “I’m so proud of these guys.”

— Writer Rick Hoff contributed to this report.