Torrey Pines Pop Warner Falcons (D2) regain winning ways

By Bill Butler

Following last week’s 24-24 tie with the Murrieta Hawks, the Torrey Pines Falcons are again in the winner’s circle after a 35-0 victory over the Carlsbad Golden Lancers.

The Falcons were represented at midfield for the coin toss by Conner Whitton, Andre Norden, Tyler Alexander, and Zac Friedland. Torrey Pines won the toss and elected to defer their choice until the second half. After Mac Bingham’s kickoff was covered by Alexander, Garth Erdossy, Kevin Misak, and Beau Morgns at the 31-yard line, the Falcons held the Golden Lancers short of a first down on the initial possession and regained the ball at the Carlsbad 33-yard line. Tanner Watkins, Jackie Plashkes, and Zac Friedland had key defensive plays to hold Carlsbad short.

On the second play of the possession, Zac Friedland took the ball over the right side of the line and then cut back to the left and 33 yards into the end zone. The PAT kick was just a bit wide and the Falcons were up 6-0. On the Golden Lancers’ next possession, three runs for no gain were followed by a pass on fourth down. The pass was a bit overthrown and settled into the waiting arms of Zac Friedland, who took the ball from the 44-yard line down the right sideline for touchdown number two. The PAT kick was blocked, and the Falcons led 12-0.

The Torrey Pines defenders, Watkins, Plashkes, Morgans, Nick Zimmer, and Seth Friedman held the Golden Lancers to no gain in three efforts, and this time Carlsbad chose to punt. Friedland returned the punt 27 yards to the Lancer 29-yard line. Following a loss of 7 yards, Plashkes took the handoff over right guard, sidestepped a defender at the 25, and carried into the right corner of the end zone for another Falcon touchdown. Ryan Wells was perfect on the kick, and Torrey Pines led 20-0. On the next Falcon possession, with the ball resting on the 42-yard line, Conner Whitton wasted no time in getting the offense on track again. With three receivers running pass routes, Whitton hit the deep receiver, Alexander, in stride, and he raced untouched into the end zone. A PAT kick later by Wells, and the score was 28-0. The remainder of the game was played with a running clock. The Falcons would score once again to win 35-0. The Golden Lancers mounted a late drive that carried to the Falcon 18-yard line, but which ended at that point.