Of the six Metro Conference teams participating in last Friday’s opening round of the San Diego Section playoffs, two won to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Chula Vista defeated visiting Coronado, 37-0, in a Division IV encounter while Olympian topped Poway, 28-14, in a Division I matchup.
Rashaun Brown scored two touchdowns to help power eighth-seeded Olympian (6-5) past ninth-seeded Poway (3-8). The Eagles advance to play at top-seeded El Camino (5-5) in the quarterfinals.
It will be the first meeting of the season between Olympian and El Camino. The Eagles and Titans met for the second time this season, which is what made Olympian’s playoff win so dramatic.
Because of the parity that exists throughout the division, it’s often difficult to beat the same team twice in the same season.
The Eagles edged Poway in come-from-behind fashion by one point, 42-41, in the teams’ initial meeting on Sept. 8.
The rematch was close through most of the first half before the Eagles began to spread their wings and finally take flight.
A 30-yard completion from Nico Mendoza to Mikael Tyler set up a four-yard scoring run by Brown to punctuate Olympian’s first possession in the game. However, Poway immediately countered when Jack Blanco intercepted a pass by Mendoza. The Titans then turned that into points on a one-yard touchdown run by Donovan Bercasio to tie the game 7-7.
On the Eagles’ ensuing possession, a 41-yard run by Treyvion Davies set up teammate Isaiah Williams for a two-yard touchdown run to put the hosts ahead 14-7 at halftime.
Olympian finally put the game out of reach in the final quarter in which the teams combined for 21 points — 14 points by the Eagles.
Brown’s five-yard touchdown run put Olympian up 21-7. Following a defensive stop on fourth down, the Eagles offense sealed the win on a one-yard run by Mendoza.
In other playoff games last Friday:
•Newly crowned Metro-Pacific League champion Montgomery (7-4), seeded third in the Division V field, dropped a 52-14 quarterfinal contest to visiting Tri-City Christian (6-5).
The sixth-seeded Eagles, last season’s division runners-up, ripped off six touchdowns to start this year’s championship push.
Montgomery scored on its opening possession on a 51-yard run by Hunter Joseph but could not score again until its final drive.
Christian Salibo and Roman Gonzalez each scored three TDs to lead TCC to the playoff win.
•Fifth-seeded Oceanside (5-6) eliminated 12th-seeded Bonita Vista (0-11) by a score of 35-19. The Barons, despite posting a winless season, came out strong in their playoff debut under first-year head coach Aaron Jones by taking a 13-7 lead on the favored Pirates.
The visiting Barons, in fact, twice held early leads before being shipwrecked. Franklin Forbes connected with John-Michael Inzunza on an 11-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead. Tahj Stewart later scored on a 46-yard run.
The Pirates took a 14-13 halftime lead on a 34-yard interception return to take control of the game. Kevaka Tua led Oceanside with 140 rushing yards and two TDs.
•Seventh-seeded La Jolla (6-5) eliminated 10th-seeded Mar Vista (5-6) by a score of 28-0 in a Division III contest.
“It’s always tough for the seniors to go out,” MVHS head coach Tyler Arciaga said. “We’ve had a rough four games with injuries and trying to move guys around to fill the voids. La Jolla played us tough and made some big plays that put them over the top.
“One thing that holds true to this team is that they never stop fighting, which is a great trait for them to have in life after football. All of the coaches and admin at Mar Vista are proud of their effort and resolve. We have a young team coming back next season, so we will really need to work hard in the off-season and have a great spring football practice.”
•Eighth-seeded Southwest (4-7) lost 43-8 at top-seeded Vincent Memorial (9-2) in a Division V quarterfinal. Quarterback Eduardo Valenzuela led the Scots with four touchdown passes and 305 passing yards.
Joshua Sanchez scored the lone touchdown for the Raiders.
Of the 20 11-man football playoff games played, three visiting teams prevailed to record upsets, including TCC’s win over the Aztecs.
In other games:
•Ninth-seeded Westview (7-4) shocked eighth-seeded Christian (8-3) with a late goal-line stand to stand tall with a 21-14 win in a Division II first-round contest.
•Ninth-seeded Mt. Miguel (5-6) upset eighth-seeded Escondido (4-7) by a 28-17 score in a Division III contest.
