Oceanside takes down No. 7 Rancho Bernardo behind strong rushing attack

by Breven Honda

Although Oceanside had a sub-.500 record entering Friday night, that schedule has come with playing some of the top teams in the county.

“When you want the best teams to play you, you’re going to get better, no matter what,” Pirates wide receiver Kymani Nua said. “When you play a hard schedule, it makes you tough and you have to overcome everything.”

Playing against the best helped the Pirates Friday night as they secured a 24-21 road victory at No. 7 Rancho Bernardo, fueled by their ground game.

The sophomore trio of Neke Letuli, SJ Poumele and Exzodus Taele combined to record 203 rushing yards as Oceanside handed Rancho Bernardo its first loss of the season.

Letuli, who recorded 21 carries for 119 yards, capped off his day with a 52-yard rushing touchdown on fourth-and-2 to give the Pirates (4-4, 2-0 Avocado East) 24 unanswered points for a 17-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

“That’s on the O-Line,” said Letuli, who averages more than 100 rushing yards per game. “The line opened it up. If they don’t open that up, I don’t score.”

Poumele was also a force, recording five carries for 55 yards and three receptions for 61 yards, including a 34-yard run on the team’s first offensive play against the Broncos (7-1, 2-1 Avocado East).

“Those two sophomores are out of control,” Nua said of Letuli and Poumele. “They’re going to be the highest recruits in the class. It’s not just the name, it’s them showing themselves. Them making these big plays. When you can put the trust of the game in the young kids’ hands, and they make the plays, that’s going to keep pushing us as a team.”

As a result of the strong rushing attack, it opens the holes for Nua to produce as a pass catcher. The senior wide receiver logged five receptions for 59 yards and the team’s first touchdown of the night.

“We want to get him the ball all the time, if we could,” Pirates head coach Fale Poumele said. “It’s a good confidence booster for a young quarterback like (Anthony Barquinero). For him to stay in the pocket and take a hit like that, it’s huge.”

In addition to offense rolling, the Oceanside defense and special teams each made key plays.

In the second quarter alone, the Pirates got two fourth-down stops and blocked a 38-yard field goal to maintain a 17-7 lead going into halftime.

“Anytime you get a block, it’s the most important,” Fale Poumele said. “For us to execute in that space, it was big for us.

“That ended up being the game-winning block.”

The Broncos were led by Brody Cella, who recorded five receptions for 173 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown 16 seconds after Letuli’s 52-yard score. Gaige Weddle completed 17-of-26 passes for 309 yards and a touchdown. He also added eight carries for 30 yards and two touchdowns.

Next week, Oceanside hosts Poway while Rancho Bernardo travels to No. 4 Mission Hills.