Torrey Pines opens season with win over La Jolla

SAN DIEGO — Opening week is supposed to consist of false starts, missed assignments along the line and maybe a fumble or two.

Someone forgot to tell the Torrey Pines offense.

Quarterback Blake Miller was efficient and the two-headed rushing attack of Sonny Villegas and Dominic Rocha combined for 29 carries for 181 yards — including three touchdown runs from Rocha — in a 43-19 dominant performance over visiting La Jolla.

“Our offensive coaches revamped our entire offense this offseason, cleaned up a lot of issues we had and put in countless hours to make it better for our kids and our kids just responded very well,” Falcons coach Scott Ashby said. “We’re really young on both sides of the ball. Ten of the 11, that was their first varsity action.”

Not to be outdone, seven of the 11 Torrey Pines starters on defense had never played a varsity snap. The Falcons notched three sacks and caused three turnovers.

Miller finished 12-of-21 for 179 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Several times he floated deep balls and watched his receiver make a spectacular grab. He connected with Logan Bonneau five times as he spread the ball to five different receivers.

“They did an amazing job catching some balls that maybe weren’t the best,” Miller said. “Making plays that needed to be done in moving the ball down the field. (The offensive line) did a very good job giving me the time I needed to make plays and then gave our running backs some key run protection.”

The Vikings (0-1) combination of quarterback Hudson Smith and Carson Diehl was in midseason form as well. Smith finished 19-for-28 for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Diehl was his favorite target, hauling in 11 catches for 161 yards and a 69-yard score.

In the first half, the Falcons (1-0) held the visitors to only 37 yards from scrimmage and two first downs late in the second quarter until Smith connected with Aiden Farrell. The sophomore wide receiver appeared stopped by a group of Falcons until somehow breaking free around midfield and racing down the field for a 60-yard score. Senior Lukas Grismer had a key block for the final push.

Take away that one spectacular play late in the second quarter, and the Falcons completely dominated the line of scrimmage in the first half. Without the Smith-to-Farrell connection, they outgained La Jolla through quarter two, 186 -26.

The Falcons got on the board first with a Clark Drcar 23-yard field goal, the first of three first-half field goals for Drcar, two of which were from 41 yards out.

Miller connected with Kevin Jackson for a 14-yard touchdown on the Falcons’ next drive when the wide receiver got behind the defense on a play-action fake as the first quarter ended.

Dylan Camren recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and the Falcons took advantage behind Kingston Bankston’s 1-yard touchdown run.

A Carter Rose interception two plays later set up Drcar’s second field goal for a 20-0 lead.

Another turnover doomed the Vikings early in the second half. A fumble inside the hosts’ 10-yard line recovered by Zak Halpern set up four long runs, culminating in a 16-yard touchdown from Rocha.

Torrey Pines 43, La Jolla 19

La Jolla                 0               7               6               6 – 19

Torrey Pines     10            13            14            6 – 43

TP – Drcar 23 field goal

TP – Jackson 14 pass from Miller (Drcar kick)

TP – Bankston 1 run (Drcar kick)

TP –Drcar 41 field goal

LJ – Farrell 60 pass from Smith (Zavala kick)

TP – Drcar 41 field goal

TP – Rocha 16 run (Drcar kick)

LJ – Bardaro 7 pass from Smith (kick failed)

TP – Corchis 9 pass from Miller (Drcar kick)

TP – Rocha 5 run (kick failed)

LJ – Diehl 69 pass from Smith (pass failed)