Mount Miguel Moves on in CIF Playoffs, Monte Vista's Season Ends

While the top four seeds in each of five divisions had the night off, 40 other teams took the field Friday night in the opening round of the CIF San Diego Section football playoffs.

Two Spring Valley schools competed Friday, with Mount Miguel moving on over Mater Dei Catholic. Monte Vista's season came to an end, however, after a loss to Serra.

Serra 42, Monte Vista 13:

Jemeil Jackson scored from two yards out early in the game to give the Monarchs (6-5) a 6-0 lead, but Serra scored the game's next 42 points, benefiting from five Monte Vista turnovers, including three second-half interceptions.

Messai Small also had a rushing touchdown for Monte Vista, which had opened the season with a 26-14 loss to Serra.

Mount Miguel 26, Mater Dei Catholic 14:

Tre Bryers scored on runs of 1 and 3 yards as the Matadors (7-4) registered their first playoff win since 2009, advancing to a meeting with second-seeded Madison (9-1). 

Brad Moreno threw a 32-yard scoring pass to Jovon Richardson and Jacob Castillo came off the bench to toss a 22-yard touchdown to Rashad Harper. Miracle Tausaga had a pair of sacks to spark the Matador defense.

Here is a look at action involving teams in the local Patch communities:

West Hills 14, Hoover 13:

In Santee, the host Wolf Pack grabbed a 14-0 halftime lead on a Peanut Herrada 1-yard dive and Eric Seaboch's 16-yard run. Daniel McManus converted both extra-point tries. Hoover pulled within a point in the fourth quarter on a 30-yard interception returm, but a missed conversion proved the difference.

West Hills (7-4) advances to face third-seeded Ramona (6-4) on the Bulldogs' field next weekend.

Torrey Pines 42, Escondido 7:

Mike Ward threw a pair of touchdown passes to give the Falcons a 14-7 halftime lead, and Chase Pickwell highlighted a 28-point second half with touchdown runs of 2 and 71 yards as Torrey Pines pulled away.

The Falcons (6-5) visit second-seeded Eastlake (7-3) next Friday. 

Del Norte 34, Mission Bay 28:

Del Norte earned its first-ever playoff victory by holding the Bucs scoreless in the second half. The Nighthawks (6-5) now will visit top-seeded St. Augustine (8-2) in the Division IV quarterfinals.

Mark Gallant had a touchdown run and scoring pass for Del Norte, which trailed 28-20 at halftime. Khan Pham (3 yards) and George Liang (27 yards) brought the Nighthawks back with touchdown runs in the second half.

Valhalla 52, Rancho Bernardo 21:

Nehemiah Brown scored on kickoff returns of 97 and 96 yards and Ramsey Romano threw three touchdown passes and ran for another TD as Valhalla ended a long season for Rancho Bernardo (1-10).

The Norsemen will travel to fourth-seeded La Costa Canyon (7-3) in quarterfinal action on Friday.

Imperial 34, La Jolla 20: 

Kenneth Martey had touchdown runs of 25 and 3 yards for the visiting Vikings, who end the season at 3-8. La Jolla never led in the game, but was still within a touchdown in the fourth quarter before Imperial (9-2) put the game away with a late score.

La Jolla Country Day 70, San Diego Calvary Christian 6:

Sage Burmeister led the way for the 7-3 Torreys, who played like they had something to prove to the seeding committee that failed to award them a top-four seed and bye in the first round.

LJCD now visits fourth-seeded Horizon (7-3) in the quarterfinals.

Bishop's 24, Holtville 21:

Matt Harris kicked a game-winning 28-yard field goal after Holtville had come back from a 21-7 deficit through three quarters.

Bulla Graft scored on runs of 81 and 47 yards and caught a 5-yard scoring pass for the Knights (4-7), who visit second-seeded Francis Parker (6-4) for a quarterfinal game.

Carlsbad 49, Otay Ranch 29:

The Lancers (5-6) advance to face top-seede Mission Hills in the Division I quarterfinals after their upset of Otay Ranch (6-5).

Christian Chapman hit on 10-of-11 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns for the Lancers, who outscored Otay 28-12 in the second half. Aaryn Dorsett added 121 yards rushing and two touchdowns for Carlsbad.

Calipatria 41, Army-Navy 21:

Army-Navy Academy (10-1) fell behind 28-7 at the half and couldn't catch up in suffering its first loss of the season. Joe Naotala rushed for 106 yards for the Warriors, with Timothy Mack adding 80 yards and two touchdowns.

Chris Salisbury had a 10-yard scoring pass to Sam Harlib to complete the Army-Navy scoring.

El Camino 26, Patrick Henry 3:

Justin Williams scored a touchdown and increased his season rushing total to 2,100 yards as the fifth-seeded Wildcats (7-4) advanced to face fourth-seeded San Pasqual in Escondido next Friday. 

Chris Beauchamp tossed a pair of touchdown passes and El Camino's defense shut down the Patriots (9-2).

Mar Vista 31, Clairemont 7:

See the game story in Imperial Beach Patch.

Quarterfinal pairings for Patch-area teams with opening-round byes include Westview at Poway, Hilltop at Oceanside, Valhalla at La Costa Canyon, Rancho Buena Vista at Grossmont, Steele Canyon at Helix, West Hills at Ramona and Serra at Cathedral Catholic.