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Mobbed by Monte
Vista tacklers on this play, St. Augustine's Daniel Butler still rushed
for 107 yards in the Saints' 20-6 first-round win last night in the
san Diego Section Division III playoffs. St. Augustine will play Steele
Canyon in the Quarter Finals. (Nelvin Cepeda)
Saints
defense takes over
San Diego Union Tribune
November 17, 2007
By: Steve Brand
This
St. Augustine High School football team may not have the talent
of the past two section Division III champions, but the Saints still
know how to win.
Behind
a defense that got better as the game progressed and a 100-yard
running back who didn’t even start, the Saints posted a 20-6
first round playoff victory over Monte Vista last night at Balboa
Stadium.
With the win, the Saints (6-4) move into Friday’s quarterfinals
at third-seeded Steele Canyon.
Running
back Daniel Butler, who did not start because of what he termed
personal issues at practice during the week, made up for lost time
when he rushed for 107 yards on just nine carries, scoring twice.
“All week we were focusing on the pass, so I didn’t
expect to carry the ball very much.” Said Butler, a 5-foot-10,
190-pound senior. “I think I caught them off guard.”
Butler opened the scoring when he swept to his left, eluded two
tackles and avoided stepping out of bounds to race 48 yards with
3:09 to play in the first quarter.
His 12-yard run with 6:41 remaining in the game clinched the victory
that until then looked tenuous at best.
“(Monte Vista) plays tough,” said Butler, who was also
part of the defense that came back from allowing 200 yards in the
first half to limit the Monarchs (4-6) to 98 after the break.
Kyle Richardson’s 70-yard TD reception in the first quarter
trimmed the Saints’ lead to 7-6.
But once the Saints defense, led by Chris Pousson (one interception,
two blocked kicks) and Nick Sowa (12 tackles) started applying the
pressure, the Monarchs were doomed.
“The defensive line was outstanding, giving us great field
position,” said Saints coach Jerry Ralph, “but we had
a lot of missed opportunities that we’ll have to convert against
a team like Steele Canyon.”
Monte Vista's
Nick Williams carries during loss to St. Augustine. (Nelvin Cepeda)
St.
Augustine High School
3266 Nutmeg Street, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: (619) 282-2184 | Fax: (619) 282-1203 | www.sahs.org
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