San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Section record book needs overhaul after Friday shootout
The CIF Record Book is horribly out of date.
And after 18 months without high school football, memories are foggy.
Turns out Friday’s Orange Glen-santa Fe Christian 81-54 shootout was a San Diego Section record for most points scored in a game, but only by a point.
In December 2019, in the Division II championship game, El Camino (75) and Bishop’s (59) combined for a section record 134 points.
In that game, Bishop’s quarterback Tyler Buchner, who graduated early and is now at Notre Dame in hopes of winning the starting QB job in spring ball, had a San Diego Section 636 yards total offense — 350 rushing, 286 passing.
According to the CIF Record Book, only 10 teams have combined for more than 100 points in a game, including 119 by Rancho Bernardo (71) vs. West Hills (48) in 1999 in what is listed as the record.
El Camino and Bishop’s combined for 1,282 yards total offense.
Orange Glen and Santa Fe Christian combined for 1,020 on Friday — 563 by OG, 457 by Santa Fe Christian.
Orange Glen junior quarterback Dennis Andrew threw for 506 yards and seven TDS. He had TD throws of 79, 57, 48, 70, 29, 15 and 10 yards.
The San Diego Section record for TD passes in a game is eight, set by Jake Santos of St. Augustine in a 2003 game against Scripps Ranch. Four others have now thrown seven.
The record for passing yards in a game is 597 by Tanner Rust of El Capitan in a 2007 game against St. Augustine.
Orange Glen’s Travis Ehman caught 13 passes for 211 yards and two TDS against SFC. Malachi Keels had seven catches for 185 yards and three TDS. Jonathan Littlejohn caught six for 84 yards and a pair of scores.
None of OG’S passing or receiving marks are close to records.
Santa Fe Christian’s Stephen Britton rushed for 310 yards and had four TDS and a two-point conversion.
SFC QB Thomas Greupner accounted for five TDS, two running — one a 51yarder — and three passing.
Orange Glen did not punt in the game, tried an onside kick on all nine of its kickoffs — recovering none — and tried for two points after every TD, making three.
Fans limited
Santa Fe Christian allowed two household members per player and allowed seniors to stand in the north end zone. The visiting bleachers, which normally sit in the baseball outfield, were not in place. Orange Glen fans were invited to attend as long as they provided their own seating. Many did, bringing lawn chairs and blankets.
Cathedral Catholic allowed four household members per player for both home visiting Torrey Pines.
Helix also allowed four household members per player.
Things were a little different at El Capitan for a game against Steele Canyon. Before the game, parents were permitted on the field as the Vaqueros honored their senior players ... 10 minutes before they would play their first game as seniors. Concession stands (home and visitors) were open — the only game to sell concessions.
In addition, the El Cap booster club manned tables with sweaters, shirts, hats and scarves for $5. Best of all, commemorative masks.
Other highlights
San Marcos 9, La Costa Canyon 7: San Marcos’ only TD came on a 50-yard interception return by Trey Bradford. La Costa Canyon missed a field goal in the game’s dying seconds that would have won the game.
Tri-city Christian 27, Bishop’s 7: TCC QB Maverick Farr threw three TD passes, two to Trey Blackford, one of those covering 60 yards.
Steele Canyon 35, El Capitan 12: Steele Canyon QB Elia Kirismasi threw a pair of TD passes and Major Givens scored twice, once on a 22-run run, the other on a 16-yard pass from Kirisimasi. Adrien Chargualaf returned a punt 34 yards for a TD for the Cougars.
Maranatha Christian 12, Mountain Empire 7: Maranatha scored in OT to win.
Praise heaped
Players and coaches at nearly every game Friday praised Torrey Pines coach Ron Gladnick and Scripps Ranch coach Marlon Gardinera for their efforts to get teams back playing.
Gladnick headed the Golden State Coaches Association and Gardinera filed a suit against the State of California and worked closely with the Let Them Play CA group.
Union-tribune freelance writers Don Norcross, Terrry Monahan and Jim Lindgren contributed to this report.