From: NC Times
CARLSBAD ---- For as long as anyone can remember, Carlsbad High has been regarded as one of the top football programs in North County. The same can be said for La Costa Canyon.

But one thing stands out when comparing the two teams separated by roughly 12 miles: CIF San Diego Section finals appearances. The Lancers have made six trips to Qualcomm Stadium since La Costa Caynon opened in 1996 while the Mavericks have none.

"We've been knocking at the door; we just haven't kicked it down yet," LCC coach Darrin Brown said. "Sometimes it's luck, sometimes it's other things, but either way it hasn't worked out and hopefully we can get over the hump and get to the stadium.

"But first we have a pretty tough opponent to get through, and that is our main focus."

That opponent is Carlsbad, as the teams square off in the semifinals of the Division I playoffs at La Costa Canyon at 7 p.m. on Friday. The winner will secure a berth in the CIF finals on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at Qualcomm.

The top-seeded Mavericks dismantled the Lancers, 52-3, in the second week of the season.

"Everything that could go right for us went our way and everything that could go wrong for them went wrong for them in that game," Brown said. "I expect a much different ballgame. They have come together well. They know how to win.

"They have been here before and they are a much better team than (when) we first played them."

Carlsbad coach Bob McAllister agreed with his counterpart.

"It's definitely a different team," McAllister said. "We have a lot of kids that have gained some valuable experience and now some playoff experience. We only returned four starters this year, so we were a very young team at that point in the season.

"Now we are a decent team with some guys who have played a lot of football, and we are as healthy as we've ever been."

With no home field this year because their playing field was condemned, the Lancers will play on the road for the 13th straight week. La Costa Canyon's field has been their home away from home, as Carlsbad played there four times during the regular season.

"In the beginning of year they had some adversity and they dealt with it," Brown said. "We need to be ready for their best game. They are not going to change. I think they will be prepared to play a very tough 48-minute football game and give it to us all night long."

McAllister said his team has gotten tougher thanks to the bus rides.

"They've overcome some adversity from the fact that the only time we get on a regulation football field with goal posts is Friday night," McAllister said. "When we go out there, it's like 'Hoosiers' and we think, 'Wow, this is a big field.'

"We practice on the baseball field, which is a little bit of a challenge. But they like getting muddy in practice and we feel pretty special when we go over to the nice field. But it's tough and they've gotten used to it. We've got the routine down for our bus rides. There are certain things not in our control, and they have overcome that."