So goes the run, so goes the Eastlake Titans. So goes the Titans defense, so goes Eastlake.
Both sides of that same coin were put on display in the Titans’ 23-0 victory against the sixth-ranked St. Augustine Saints last Friday at San Diego Mesa College. Some were wondering if the defending Metro-Mesa League champions could hang with the reigning Division II champion Saints.
Hang with them? How about steam-roller them?
Eastlake’s victory was complete and thorough. The Titans led 21-0 at halftime.
“The kids are playing very hard and the new players are starting to feel more comfortable each week,” EHS head coach Lee Price said.
The Titans, who proved they belong among the San Diego Section’s top 10 teams, will be out to find out just high they might rank when they host Cathedral Catholic Friday. Computer rankings place the Dons at the top of the section while media polls have them ranked third behind No. 1 Oceanside and No. 2 Mission Hills.
Cathedral Catholic is 3-1 and coming off a 42-28 non-league victory at Newbury Park last Friday.
Eastlake is 3-2 and undefeated against section opponents.
“This next game will be a very big game for us,” Price noted.
The non-league contest against St. Augustine pitted two of the section’s top running backs in the guise of Titan senior Isaiah Strayhorn and Saints junior Elijah Preston.
Strayhorn stole the spotlight by rushing 21 times for 145 yards and scoring two touchdowns. His first touchdown came on a 50-yard dash to help boost the visitors to a 7-0 lead. His second touchdown came on a three-yard run to help double the score.
Dean Klaser scored on a 38-yard run in the second quarter to hike the EHS lead to 21-0.
About this time, Preston, who had rushed for 815 yards in his team’s opening four games, sustained an injury and left the game after totaling 36 yards on 14 carries. He finished the game on crutches.
Both Strayhorn and the Titan defense made statements.
Defense rests
Eastlake held the powerful Saints’ offensive attack to 80 passing yards and 90 rushing yards. Ronnie Sallee turned in a monster individual performance with 14 tackles, including 13 solo stops. He also blocked a punt that went out of the end zone for a safety in the third quarter to account for the game’s final points.
The Titans also recorded four sacks, including two by Nate Sweat and one each by Greg Raby and Jacob Preisler. Santiago Andujo also had one interception for 25 yards while teammates Breon Perry and Chris Valdez each were credited with fumble recoveries.
The big show
As for Friday’s game against Cathedral? The Dons are averaging 187 rushing yards per game and 113 passing yards per game. The Del Mar team has scored 12 touchdowns this season, including six by junior Currie Thomason.
Strayhorn has rushed for 799 yards at the midpoint of regular season play and is averaging 159.8 yards per game. Overall, the Titans are averaging 272 rushing yards per game.
