Turnovers help Carlsbad top Poway in efficient win

by Tim Meehan

POWAY — Carlsbad’s offense and defense is about as symbiotic of a relationship as any San Diego team.

Friday night’s top 10 battle at Poway was no exception.

Eli MacNeal threw five touchdown passes and the Lancers’ defense caused three first-half turnovers as No. 6 Carlsbad rolled to a 42-22 win over 10th-ranked Poway in the Avocado League opener for both.

“Really executed well on ‘O’ except for one drive that was not real sharp, but the offense came out really sharp,” Carlsbad coach Thadd MacNeal said. “The defense creating turnovers giving us the ball is really going to help.”

MacNeal was a perfect 10-for-10 for 178 yards and four TDs in the first half and finished 13-for-16 for 197 yards.

He threw touchdowns to four different receivers, including two to Travis Jeffrey, who finished with five catches for 146 yards. Running back Kai Brown carried nine times for 81 yards and a score.

“I played Poway my sophomore year and I think I was 14-for-15,” Eli MacNeal said when asked to point out a more efficient game. “It was a good night. I think we’re cooking for sure. Our guys are on top of things and playing really well. I’m excited for this team.”

MacNeal connected with Jeffrey for two long touchdowns in the first half, one for 51 yards and the other for 46 as the receiver got behind the Titans defense both times. He also found Rocky Cummings (2 yards) and Ethan Meyerhoff (4) for short touchdowns sandwiched around Brown’s 5-yard TD run.

“We’re a long way away,” Thadd MacNeal said. “It’s a real young season. We’re still finding out about our team, but tonight was a good step.”

The Lancers (4-0) completely stifled Poway quarterback Noah Schuback and the Titans offense. They had three sacks in the first half and stopped three Titans drives on interceptions by Dylan Sims, Brett Baudot and Meyerhoff.

“We kept them contained,” said Cummings, who had a pair of sacks from his linebacker position in addition to his TD catch. “Obviously we have great guys up front so we’re going to get pressure on quick and then our linebackers do a great job of finding the gaps, filling in and making sure he’s under containment.”

Schuback was injured late in the first half and didn’t return. He had as many interceptions (two) as completions for only 14 yards.

Running back Luke Jorgensen ran 30 times for 260 yards and two touchdowns for the Titans (2-2, 0-1) as the offense had to go very basic after losing Schuback. Poway managed only 43 total yards outside of Jorgensen’s.

The Titans had basically just two positive plays the entire first half, and the first came under odd circumstances. After Schuback took a hit on a pass attempt, he sat the next play out.

Jorgensen took the snap on that play and weaved downfield for 40 yards to the 1-yard line. Two plays later, Schuback was back and ran it in to put the Titans on the board.

After Schuback hurt his foot on the next drive, Jorgensen again provided fireworks with a 56-yard run on a third-and-7. But two plays later, his first pass attempt was intercepted by Meyerhoff for the hosts’ third turnover of the first half.

Darian Webb caught three passes from MacNeal, including a 5-yard touchdown late in the third quarter for a commanding 42-14 lead.

Carlsbad certainly belongs in the talk for the most complete teams in the section.

“We can’t slow down,” Cummings said. “We’re just going to chop wood, carry water, stay humble and keep driving.”