WESTMINSTER – Pacifica scored on its first three possessions Friday, then its defense stopped El Rancho with six turnovers for a 35-14 victory in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 10 playoffs.
The Mariners (8-3) will meet Liberty, a 42-35 winner over West Torrance, in a second-round game.
Ma’kai Brown opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run on Pacifica’s opening possession.
An interception by Zack Dickison gave the Mariners (8-3) the ball back at midfield, and James Aneme went deep immediately, hitting Eli Sandoval for a 50-yard touchdown.
The Dons (6-5) answered back quickly. Adrian Lopez, who threw 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in the regular season, shook off the pick by tossing a 17-yard scoring pass to Jackson Delight .
Anema responded with a 47-yard hookup with David Carlsson to set up Brown’s 13-yard scoring run with 44 seconds left in the quarter.
But very little went El Rancho’s way the final three quarters.
The Mariners intercepted three more passes, and Landon Manley recovered two fumbles, the second on his strip sack at the Pacifica 19.
The Mariners employed some unorthodox methods in practice this week to prepare for the Dons’ hurry-up offense.
“We ended up having two offenses on scout (team) and we ended up running them back to back and I think that absolutely helped them,” Pacifica coach Kyle Murphy said. “They battled, they communicate, and they just keep getting better. Obviously if you get six turnovers that’s going to help a lot.”
Pick No. 2 came when Max Salas snared a Lopez pass in the end zone to end the first half and preserve the 21-7 lead.
Carlsson’s interception, in the third quarter, gave the Monarchs the ball back at their 23.
Jordan Morales made the fourth interception.
Morales, playing safety, was responsible for giving Lopez a number of different coverages, sliding over from the middle of the field to provide double coverage on the outside.
“They’re a good team, and they’re going to make adjustments,” Murphy said of El Rancho.
By the same token, El Rancho gave Anema a lot to look at each time he got to the line. Sometimes the Dons lined up their three-man line in a regular stance, and on others plays the front seven were in all the box, on their feet and moving back and forth before the snap to disguise who was going to blitz.
“They blitz and they bring it and they’re tenacious and they’re physical,” Murphy said. “They started bringing guys in different ways and it’s really a credit to them.”
It stayed 21-7 until the fourth quarter.
After the strip sack gave the Mariners the ball back at their own 15, they burned the Dons when Carlsson caught a 42-yard pass, then Eli Sandoval broke a couple of tackles on the way to a 28-yard TD reception with 7:17 left in the game.
Brown, who ran for 109 yards, drove in the final nail when he broke loose up the middle for a 53-yard touchdown with 2:22 remaining.
Related Articles
Rancho Cucamonga football routs Tustin in playoff opener San Juan Hills football edges Downey in playoffs with game-winning FG Crean Lutheran football’s perfect record ruined by Leuzinger in playoffs Troy football defeats Orange in playoffs with boost from Ethan Mundt La Habra football lights up the scoreboard in playoff win over El ModenaHence then, the article about pacifica football uses big plays on offense defense to beat el rancho was published today ( ) and is available on The Orange County Register ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Pacifica football uses big plays on offense, defense to beat El Rancho )
Also on site :
- Saudi Arabia to unify LPG gas cylinder prices nationwide from January 2026
- Two dozen killed in Ukrainian strike on Russian New Year’s celebration – governor
- Volunteer in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reportedly killed during widening protests