PALO VERDE IS ‘OVER THE MOON’ WITH VICTORY OVER NO. 2 BUCS

They have a system, they believe in it and now they're section champs.

The top-seeded Palo Verde Yellow Jackets ran the ball and ran the ball and ran the ball, racking up 450 rushing yards to down No. 2-seeded Mission Bay, 41-19, in the San Diego Section Division V final at Grossmont High on Friday night.

“I'm over the moon,” said Yellow Jackets head coach Wally Grant, who brought the double-wing offensive scheme to the Blythe school from Orange County. “These kids believe in both our offensive and defensive systems, and this is what happens.”

It was the classic matchup between the Palo Verde running game and the outstanding passing game of Mission Bay, led by senior quarterback Clash Orsborn.

The Yellow Jackets (11-2) set the tone of the game right from their opening possession.

They methodically drove 76 yards on 14 plays, with senior running back Aizik Gonzales taking in from the 4 with only 3:48 left in the first quarter.

“There's basically only four plays to our offense,” said Grant.

“We run one until they make adjustments, they overload somewhere and then we see which hole it opens up next.”

“We came in with a lot of intensity and courage,” explained Gonzales, who also plays safety and handles all the kicking duties for the Desert League champions. “That first drive meant a lot. We kept adjusting to what they did and they couldn't stop us.”

Mission Bay (10-3) only had seven snaps under center in the first quarter. Markus Macon, who led all rushers with 209 yards on 14 carries, increased the Palo Verde lead to 14-0 with 9:49 left in the first half when he went in from a yard out.

In the second quarter Orsborn (16-of-25, 220 yards, 2 TDS) started to heat up. He cut the Yellow Jackets' advantage to 14-7 with he hit Jack Ryan for a 10-yard strike with 6:11 left in the half.

Three minutes later, Gonzales made it a 21-7 halftime lead by scoring from 14 yards out.

Orsborn led the Bucs back into the game on the first possession after intermission.

A 53-yard strike to Jacob Sloan set up the pair's 3-yard score two plays later.

TD runs of 8 and 1 yards by Xzavier Berjarano and a 44-yard breakaway by Macon increased the lead to 41-13 midway through the fourth quarter.

Orsborn carried one in for himself, sneaking in from a yard out with 3:13 left to play.

“I'm going to miss playing ball with my teammates so bad,” said Orsborn. “It's been a great journey, which just didn't get the results we wanted.”

Defensively, the Yellow Jackets held Mission Bay to just 86 yards rushing, 57 coming in the fourth quarter from freshman Caden Taffe. Leading the Palo Verde defensive charge was senior defensive end Ian Maciel with three sacks.

“I know if I can create some pressure it gives the defensive backs a chance to do what they do,” said Maciel. “That's what my speed is for.”