Torrey Pines (San Diego) rides big wave of preparation in shutout of Radford
By Wes Nakama
The well-prepped Torrey Pines (San Diego) football team surfed its way to a 45-0 victory over Radford at John Velasco Stadium on Thursday night and earned its ticket to a luau, beach time and sight-seeing this past weekend.
Blake Miller completed 12 of 19 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception, and the Falcons defense pitched a shutout while allowing only 87 yards of total offense. The Rams, who began their season with a 44-20 home victory over Castle, fell to 1-1.
Bobby Dodd's 51-yard punt return for a touchdown put Torrey Pines ahead, 39-0, and triggered a running clock with 1:36 remaining in the third quarter.
"Our coaches keep us very well prepared, we have a lot of meetings -- pregame, and just throughout the entire week," said Miller, a poised, 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior in his third year as a starter. "We're just very well-prepared, so it's easy to come out and play the way we do."
The Falcons certainly wasted no time in getting untracked, with Cullen Green returning the opening kickoff 39 yards to their own 44-yard line. Just three plays later, Miler connected with Jacob Kreiss on a 25-yard TD pass, with Green converting the extra point for a quick 7-0 lead. Things just as quickly went from bad-to-worse for Radford, which suffered a bad punt snap four plays into its first possession, giving Torrey Pines the ball on the Rams' 20.
Seven plays later, Miller again connected with Kreiss, this time from 6 yards out and Green's PAT made it 14-0 with 6:27 still to go in the first quarter. Radford went backwards again on its next series, ending up with a safety after another errant punt snap rolled out of the end zone, pushing the deficit to 16-0.
After the ensuing free kick, the Falcons started at the Rams' 45 and needed just three plays to score again, on Miller's 27-yard touchdown pass to Logan Miller. Green again kicked the extra point to extend the lead to 23-0 with 2:55 remaining in the first quarter.
Blake Miller -- who was named the game's Most Valuable Offensive Player by game sponsor KSA Events -- finished the first quarter going 6 of 8 for 90 yards and three TDs, showing impressive pocket presence and accuracy.
"To have a third-year starter understanding the offense the way that he does, and the composure he has, and the command he has in the huddle ... is just a blessing," Torrey Pines coach Scott Ashby said. "And then you mix in his arm talent, which is second to none ... he can put the ball wherever he wants, he's tough as nails. He's a pleasure to coach."
Radford finally got a stop late in the second quarter when Torrey Pines lost the ball on downs at the Rams' 30, but fumbled the ball right back to the Falcons just two plays later. And after Miller threw his lone interception on the ensuing possession, Radford again went three-and-out but escaped with the 23-0 deficit after a missed 45-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the half.
The Rams' struggles continued in the third quarter, when their punt got blocked and the ball rolled out of the end zone for another safety, making it 25-0 with 4:46 left. On the ensuing free kick, Logan Bonneau returned the ball 77 yards back to the house and Green's PAT pushed the lead to 32-0.
After yet another three-and-out by Radford, Dodd galloped 51 yards on the punt return for another touchdown which invoked a running clock with 1:36 remaining in the third quarter.
Torrey Pines' special teams directly produced two safeties -- one after a blocked punt -- and two TD's on returns, in addition to providing good field position.
Ashby said special teams has always been emphasized in the Falcons' program, and even more so this season.
"We always have (prioritized it), but this year we put a special focus on it and actually have a special teams coordinator, Matt Livingston," Ashby said. "He's done a great job, all spring and summer, installing a bunch of pod drills to simulate blocking and all the things that are crucial. His schemes are good, and all that extra work they did has really paid off."
Blake Miller and Ashby said the team focused on game preparation all last week, but would enjoy some fun and sightseeing as a reward for the victory.
"We have a luau (planned), we're gonna go to the secret beach, do some outrigger racing, and also pay our respects to Pearl Harbor, which I am very grateful to get that opportunity to do," Ashby said. "We'll let the kids go have some fun now."
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