Weekend Recap: Aztecs blowout NAU, #6 Helix pulls off upset, and more.

San Diego State 38, Northern Arizona 7.

QUALCOMM STADIUM (08/30/2014) Sophomore running back Donnel Pumphrey rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns as the San Diego State Aztecs (1-0) rolled pass Northern Arizona (0-1) in the season opener.

Senior quarterback Quinn Kaehler completed 18 of 29 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown, helping the Aztecs get off to a 24-0 halftime lead.

Northern Arizona finally got on the board in the third quarter after a one-yard touchdown run by Casey Jahn. The Lumberjacks would regain possession, but their momentum would be destroyed after linebacker Calvin Munson picked off Kyren Poe's pass and returned it 64 yards to the NAU 1, leading to a one-yard touchdown run by Pumphrey on the very next play.

Sophomore Lloyd Mills put the nail in the coffin with a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown, his first score as an Aztec.

2014 Prep Football Preseason Rankings

The #10 El Capitan Vaqueros will face an early test when they open the 2014 season at #9 Madison.

Games of the Week

 

#2 St. Augustine Saints at #3 Oceanside Pirates

 

The 2014 season will kickoff with a bang when two of the top teams in the county battle it out in what could be a preview to this year's Open Division Championship. Last year these teams faced off in a thrilling season opener that ended with Oceanside pulling off a 47-28 win at Mesa College. St. Augustine leads the all-time series 5-3.

 

#10 El Capitan Vaqueros at #9 Madison Warhawks

 

The Vaqueros travel to the city to square off against Madison for the first time since 1974. This game features two of the most productive quarterbacks in the county (Madison's Kareem Coles & El Capitan's Brad Cagle) leading the offenses. The all-time series, that took place from 1971 to 1974, is tied at 2-2.

 

2014 Prep Football Preseason Rankings: #1 Mission Hills Grizzlies

#1 Mission Hills Grizzlies

Location: San Marcos, CA

School Colors: Cardinal & Gold

Division: I

League: Avocado East

Championships: 1 (Section), 5 (League)

Head Coach: Chris Hauser (11th Season)

2013 Recap: 12-2 Open Division Champions (3-1 Avocado East, T-1st)

Going into its 10th season in program history, Mission Hills had never won a section championship despite appearing in the title game three times. They were also 0-6-1 all-time against Oceanside. The Grizzlies would go on to defeat the Pirates twice, including a 36-14 victory in the first-ever San Diego Section Open Division Championship.

The win earned the Grizzlies a bid to the state playoffs, where they fell to Bakersfield (CA) in the regional.

2014 Prep Football Preseason Rankings: #2 St. Augustine Saints

 

#2 St. Augustine Saints

Location: San Diego, CA

School Colors: Purple & Gold

Division: I

League: Eastern

Championships: 4 (Section), 13 (League)

Head Coach: Richard Sanchez (6th Season)

2013 Recap: 11-2 D-II Section Champions (4-0 Eastern League, 1st)

 

The Saints set a team record in points scored (583) and made their second straight section championship appearance. They earned their first title since 2006 after routing Mission Bay 49-0.

2014 Prep Football Preseason Rankings: #3 Oceanside Pirates

 

#3 Oceanside Pirates

Location: Oceanside, CA

School Colors: Green, Black, & White

Division: I

League: Avocado West

Championships: 2 (State), 14 (Section), 20 (League)

Head Coach: John Carroll (26th Season)

2013 Recap: 10-3 (4-0 Avocado West League Champions)

 

Late into the season, head coach John Carroll suffered a tear in his vertebral artery that forced him to coach the team from the press box. The Pirates rallied their way to the first-ever Open Division Championship where they fell to Mission Hills 36-14.

2014 Prep Football Preseason Rankings: #4 Cathedral Catholic Dons

#4 Cathedral Catholic Dons

Location: San Diego, CA

School Colors: Red & Gold

Division: I

League: Eastern

Championships: 1 (State), 10 (Section), 9 (League)

Head Coach: Sean Doyle (19th Season)

2013 Recap: 11-2 D-I Section Champions (3-1 Eastern League, 2nd)

Hungry to redeem a 2012 season that ended with a disqualification from the playoffs, Cathedral made its way back to the Division I section title game. It took three overtimes but the Dons prevailed in dramatic fashion after junior linebacker Jack Onstott returned an interception 94 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

Scrimmage Saturday Recap: USD Toreros & SDFNL Kickoff Classic

USD senior receivers Reggie Bell (#3) and Brandon White (#13) sporting what appears to be a new helmet design for the 2014 season.

 

Big Plays Dominate USD Toreros Scrimmage

 

Two weeks before they host the season opener against Western New Mexico, the Toreros held it's annual scrimmage for alumni and donors. With the passing game accounting for a combined seven touchdowns, the race for the starting quarterback job became a little more intense. The coaching staff is hoping to make the big decision sooner rather than later.

 

2014 Prep Football Preseason Rankings: #5 Eastlake Titans

 

#5 Eastlake Titans

Location: Chula Vista, CA

School Colors: Royal Blue, Kelly Green, & Silver

Division: I

League: Metro-Mesa

Championships: 2 (Section), 9 (League)

Head Coach: Lee Price (1st Season)

2013 Recap: 10-2 (4-0 Metro-Mesa League Champions)

 

After dropping it's season opener, Eastlake rolled to a 10-game win streak going into their Open Division semifinal contest against Oceanside. With a 30-7 halftime lead, it looked as if the Titans had a trip to the Open Division Championship in the bag. Unfortunately the Pirates rallied back with a 26-0 second half run including a game-winning field goal with four seconds left to play, putting an end to the Titans' championship hopes and a stellar season.

Video: USD Toreros RB Dallas Kessman & Safety Matt Miller

 

We caught up with Junior running back Dallas Kessman (#20) and Senior safety Matt Miller (#6) after a USD fall camp session to discuss goals and expectations for the upcoming season, new players stepping up to fill voids left by graduating seniors, and more.

After leading the team in rushing yards as a redshirt freshman in 2012, Kessman was forced to miss the 2013 season due to an injury suffered during the opening game. He'll be looking to remain healthy in 2014 as he competes to regain his role as the primary rusher.

Miller had a stellar 2013 season leading the team in total tackles (90) while recording three pass break-ups and two forced fumbles. With seven defensive starters graduating, the All-PFL Honorable Mention is ready to take on a leadership position.

2014 Prep Football Preseason Rankings: #6 Helix Highlanders

 

#6 Helix Highlanders

 

Location: La Mesa, CA

School Colors: Green, Black, & Grey

Division: I

League: Grossmont Hills

Championships: 1 (State), 7 (Section), 26 (League)

Head Coach: Troy Starr (7th Season)

2013 Recap: 9-3 (5-0 Grossmont Hills League Champions)
 

After sweeping the Grossmont Hills League for the fourth straight season, the Highlanders were a game away from appearing in the first-ever Open Division Championship. But a 24-21 loss to eventual champion Mission Hills in the semifinal put an end to those aspirations.

Video: USD Toreros' First Day in Full Pads

 

 

After wrapping up it's first full padded practice of 2014 Fall Camp, the University of San Diego Toreros received a special visit from the Autism Tree Project Foundation.

2014 Prep Football Preseason Rankings: #7 Carlsbad Lancers

 

#7 Carlsbad Lancers

Location: Carlsbad, CA

School Colors: Purple & White

Division: I

League: Avocado West

Championships: 6 (Section), 8 (League)

Head Coach: Thadd MacNeal (4th Season)

2013 Recap: 9-3, (2-2 Avocado West, 3rd)
 

Carlsbad got off to a 5-0 start before dropping their first two league games to Oceanside and La Costa Canyon. The Lancers didn't lose another game until they fell to San Pasqual in the Division I semifinal.

Video: First Day of USD Toreros Fall Camp

Senior WR Reggie Bell (#3) hauls in a pass during USD fall camp.

 

 

The University of San Diego Toreros held it's first fall football practice at Manchester Field Wednesday morning. We caught up with sophomore quarterback Keith Williams and second-year head coach Dale Lindsey to get their take on the upcoming season.

2014 Prep Football Preseason Rankings: #8 Ramona Bulldogs

 

#8 Ramona Bulldogs

Location: Ramona, CA

School Colors: Blue, Red, & White

Division: I

League: Palomar

Championships: 12 (League), 5 (Section)

Head Coach: Damon Baldwin (10th Season)

2013 Recap: 10-2 (4-0, Palomar League Champions)

 

The Bulldogs got off to a 7-0 start that included a signature win over Helix. They went on to clinch their first outright league title since 1998 before their season ended with a loss to Cathedral Catholic in the Division I quarterfinal.
 

2014 Prep Football Preseason Rankings: #9 Madison Warhawks

 

#9 Madison Warhawks

Location: San Diego, CA

School Colors: Navy & Grey

Division: I

League: Western

Championships: 1 (State), 2 (Section), 11 (League)

Head Coach: Rick Jackson (11th Season)

2013 Recap: 9-2 (4-0, Western League Champions)

With a 9-1 record, the defending state champions earned the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the Division II playoffs. In one of the most stunning upsets of the season, hopes of a repeat were ended early after falling in the quarterfinal to league rival Mission Bay, a team they defeated 42-7 during the regular season.

Chargers top Dallas 27-7 in Preseason Opener

 

QUALCOMM STADIUM (08/07/2014) In his first game as the San Diego Chargers' offensive coordinator, Frank Reich almost saw a perfect showing from all three of his quarterbacks.

Until the 14:24 mark in the fourth quarter, Phillip Rivers, Kellen Clemens, and Brad Sorensen had a combined 12 passes for 12 completions. After Sorensen threw the only two incompletions, the group finished 14 for 16.

2014 Prep Football Preseason Rankings: #10 El Capitan Vaqueros

 

#10 El Capitan Vaqueros

Location: Lakeside, CA

School Colors: Black & Gold

Division: II

League: Grossmont Hills

Championships: 11 (League)

Head Coach: Ron Burner (10th Season)

2013 Recap: 10-2 (3-1 Grossmont Valley, 2nd)

The Vaqueros began the season with a six-game win streak before losing to eventual Grossmont Valley champion Mount Miguel in the league opener. They would go on to win their next four games before a hard fought 49-42 playoff loss to then undefeated Imperial ended their season.

Aztecs add red outline to jersey numbers

The San Diego State Equipment Room unveiled an updated design to the Aztec football team's home and away jerseys via it's Twitter account Friday. A bold red outline was added to the numbers for a more complete look.

The Aztecs start fall camp on Monday, and will open the 2014 season against Northern Arizona on Saturday, August 3oth at Qualcomm Stadium.

Surge fall to Boston in the WFA National Championship

CHICAGO (08/02/2014) In a battle between two of the best teams in the Women's Football Alliance, the Boston Militia (11-0) earned it's third league title with a 69-34 win over the San Diego Surge (11-1) in the 2014 WFA National Championship.

Early turnovers and an inability to stop the run proved to be costly for the Surge after the Militia capitalized off three first half fumbles with 21 points.

Militia running back Whitney Zelee earned MVP honors after exploding for six rushing touchdowns.

In a losing effort, Surge quarterback Melissa Gallegos recorded three touchdown passes, while Surge MVP winner Alexis Snyder found the end zone three times on the ground.

 

2014 WFA Award Winners

 

American Conference Most Valuable Player: RB/WR Deana Guidry

American Conference Defensive Player of the Year: LB Knengi Martin

 

Surge set to face Boston in the WFA National Championship

San Diego Surge DB Sonfre Roberson (#2) during pregame warm-ups vs. Kansas City.

After rolling over every team they faced this season, the American Conference champion San Diego Surge (11-0) will finally meet their match when they square off against the National Conference champion Boston Militia (10-0) in the 2014 WFA National Championship.

The game takes place at Lane Stadium in Chicago on Saturday, August 2nd with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m. PST. You can watch it on PSBMN or Livestream.

Along with their second national title, the Surge will be looking for redemption after falling to the Militia 34-19 in the 2011 championship game.

Lindsey prepares for a challenging second season as USD head coach

For the third straight preseason, the University of San Diego Toreros were picked to finish first in the Pioneer Football League by the league's head coaches, but with uncertainty at multiple positions due to losing 24 seniors, head coach Dale Lindsey isn't buying into any preseason hype.

"We're very appreciative of all the first-place votes. We don't know how we got them," Lindsey said during Thursday's PFL coaches preseason teleconference. "We'd like to thank all the coaches for their kindness, but we don't know that we're a first-place team."

"There's just too many questions at this time."