Ricky Seale lined up in the wild cat formation for 32-of-61 plays. Ricky Seale broke the all-time San Diego rushing record, but was swarmed by La Costa Canyon's Gang Green Defense. The Mavericks had the final laugh. La Costa Canyon has made it 4 in a row over division I rival Escondido, beating the Cougars 44-28.

Weston Manor gained 166 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries, while Seth Hanson added 163 yards and a TD on 14 carries. Ian Seau led the defense with 3 sacks. Paul Quessenberry was a man-child out of hell, swarming the Cougar offense and contributing multiple stops on key possessions. Although the Maverick defense allowed 360 yards of total offense for Escondido, the LCC offense piled up an astounding 458 yards, including a pivotal 12-yard scamper by LCC quarterback Garrett Krstich late in the second half, securing the victory.

The Mavericks are undefeated at 8-0, and climbing the ranks of the California Southern California Bowl rankings. Meanwhile, Escondido must regroup and develop a viable strategy beat the Mavericks if they hope to win a championship. 

This will not be that last time the Mavericks and Cougars face each other this football season. Clearly the best 2 teams in Division I, expect the Mavericks and Cougars inevitably to face each other in the Division I playoffs.


QB Krstich runs for a pivotal first down late in the game



Seth Hanson jolts 35 yards for the touchdown run



Robert Zalud boots a 41-yard field goal



Nice hit by Ian Seau



Great containment and angled pursuit by the LCC defense



Kick return by Kenny Stills



The pivotal offensive pass interference call on Escondido late in 4th quarter



La Costa Canyon's swarming defense

On Friday night, the #1 and #2 seeds for the division I playoffs will be decided. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that La Costa Canyon and Escondido are clearly the most dominant teams in division I, light-years ahead of the rest. The Mavericks (7-0) travel to Escondido (6-0-1) for the most anticipated game of the season, looking to make it 3-straight against the Cougar attack. Oh and did I mention it is a rematch of last year's division I final?

In big games, big players step. Big players will step up, but individual players will not determine the outcome. This game will not be about Kenny Stills vs. Ricky Seale, two premier recruits who will take their talents to division I schools next year. This matchup will be about the La Costa Canyon defense and the Escondido Offense; the winner will guide their team to the #1 seed in the playoffs.

Escondido enters the game undefeated with a tie to Torrey Pines. The Cougars tied the game late in the last 2 minutes versus Torrey Pines last week. La Costa enters the game with the best start in the school's history, a 7-0 mark that adds to their long winning streak, stemming back to their last loss versus Santa Margarita, more than 12 months ago. 

Runningback's Ricky Seales and Tim Zier will lead the Escondido offense, averaging 36 points per game, against La Costa Canyon's gang-green defense, led by 5-sack defensive lineman Ian Seau. To secure a victory, La Costa Canyon will need to hold Zier and Seale under 300 yards total. Expect LCC runningback Seth Hanson to have a big game with over 100 yards in rushing and multiple touchdowns. LCC wide-receiver Kenny Still will make some plays, but will be heavily guarded by Escondido cornerback Ricky Seale.

The Bottom Line: John Maffei of the North County Times is picking Escondido 21-20 over La Costa Canyon, but he obviously has no clue what he is talking about. Paul Gomes-lead Escondido is a great team and deserves a ton of respect, but expect La Costa Canyon to advance to 8-0 and beat Ecsondido 28-27 in an Avocado league thriller for the ages.

This will not be the last time these teams meet this season...

La Costa Canyon is riding their best start in school history. The Mavericks grounded the San Paqual Golden Eagles, building a big lead early in a 38-12 victory.

Seth Hanson, Kenny Stills, and Garrett Krstich, in their pink socks, led the offensive attack. Seth Hanson rushed 6 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Kenny Stills caught 7 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Krstich threw 10-of-12 for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

Weston Manor rushed 6 times for 30 yards and a touchdown score.

The Mavericks are still undefeated at 7-0, and looking to advance upward in the CA Bowl Rankings. The Mavericks will need to finish the season undefeated and win the Division I championship to even have a shot. A loss by top ranked Oceanside coupled ith some losses of Los Angeles and Northern California teams, would strengthen La Costa Canyon's chances, assuming they go undefeated.

Next up, the rematch of the North County season, the Mavericks travel to undefeated Escondido to take on super running back Ricky Seale and the Cougars.

Scoring Overview:

LCC ---- Seth Hanson 16 run (Robert Zalud kick) 6:54

LCC ---- Kenny Stills 14 pass from Garrett Krstich (Robert Zalud kick) 1:55

LCC ---- Seth Hanson 22 run (Robert Zalud kick) :54

Second Quarter

SP ---- FG Manny Topete 41 8:38

LCC ---- Kenny Stills 8 pass from Garrett Krstich (Robert Zalud kick) 5:44

LCC ---- FG Robert Zalud 52 4:41

SP ---- FG Manny Topete 28 :00

Third Quarter

LCC ---- Weston Manor 11 run (Robert Zalud kick) 3:05

Fourth Quarter

SP ---- Tony Fiacco 1 run (kick failed) 11:28

The Mavericks are on a roll. Putting together arguably their best performance of the year, the Mavericks (6-0) entered the night expecting to face a competitive previously 1-loss Mission Hills opponent. Well... now Mission Hills is a 2-loss team.

Ian Seau punished Mission Hills, sacking the Mission Hills quarterback twice in the first half, blocking a punt and recovering it in the endzone for the touchdown, catching passes on offense, laying out opponents on special teams, and running around the field like a possessed man-child.

In the first quarter, wide receiver/quarterback Kenny Stills hit wide receiver Jacob Siem for 29 yards pass and catch for a touchdown. Later in the first quarter, Siem caught a 23-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Garrett Krstich to put the Mavs up 14-0. On a 4th down backed up deep in their own territory, Mission Hills attempted a punt. Defensive lineman Ian Seau broke through the line and blocked the kick, picking it up in the endzone for the special team touchdown.Senior runningback Weston Manor added a 5-yard touchdown run right before half.

The Mavericks went to the locker room up 28-0 and the rest was history.

The Mavericks dominated the second half, racking up 28 more points with an offensive assault. The offense finished the game with 479 total yards. Krstich completed 10-of-12 passes for 134 yards. Stills produced an impressive 311 total yards, inluding a touchdown pass and an interception. La Costa Canyon's defense dominated, forcing 7 sacks - two by Seau and two by Quessenberry - and holding the Grizzlies to 225 yards.

The Mavericks will finish the season with 4 games where they will be the heavy favorites. Their biggest test will be October 30th against runningback Ricky Seale and the Escondido Cougars, in a rematch of the 2008 CIF Division I final.



Ian Seau blocks the punt and recovers ball in endzone for a touchdown



Ian Seau catches the pop-pass from Garrett Krstich



Kenny Stills punt return. Ian Seau lays out unfortunate opponent (look on right side of screen).



Sack by #45 Paul Quessenberry



Kenny Stills 40-yard interception return from LCC endzone



Swarming La Costa Canyon defense

Mission Hills at No. 2 La Costa Canyon
Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Records: Mission Hills 4-0; La Costa Canyon 5-0

Mission Hills (4-0) RB Chad Dobbins may step in this week after missing time due to turf toe. He has missed two games, but still leads the team with 265 yards rushing. Hunter Moore has stepped in at QB for the injured Aaron Hauser and has completed 47-of-76 passes for 859 yards and nine TDs. TE Dallas Butler is second in North County with 23 receptions.

La Costa Canyon fields a balanced run and gun offense led by QB Garrett Krstich, who has completed 40-of-67 passes for 735 yards. Kenny Stills, a blue chip prospect whose stats don't represent his impact on opponents - forcing them to double and triple cover him - has 17 receptions for 390 yards, and is allowing his team to step up and put points on the board. Seth Hanson leads the running game with 350 yards and nine TDs on 46 carries. Isaac Maquet has emerged with 236 yards on 20 carries. The Maverick offense is balanced, but deadly. The Gang-green defense, led by Adam Witzmann, Ian Seau, Dylan Laurino, Paul Quessenberry, and Erik Nelson, have played as an overpowering blanketing unit.

The Bottom Line: Mission Hills is one of the more impressive North County teams and is well coached. This will be a tough, hard-hitting game for both teams. Last year, Mission Hills held strong into the 4th quarter. La Costa is more dynamic on offense. The LCC defense will limit Mission Hills to 2 touchdowns, and hold them under 250 yards in total offense. 

Prediction: La Costa Canyon 23, Mission Hills 10

La Cost Canyon wide receiver Kenny Stills made his Prep Pigskin Report studio debut Friday night during La Costa Canyon's bye week. The first Maverick to play the role of the Pigskin Idol, stills faked everybody out as when he claimed he would announce his college decision on the show...

"It's not USC... so Florida or Michigan..."

Stills whipped out a Prep Pigskin Report hat.

"I choose the PPR"

Stills gave a shout out to him his teammates, and landed them a 500-watt stereo system that will likely blow the ear drums of La Costa Canyon's administration and student body, compliments of Paul Rudy and the PPR.

Top 25: How They Fared (10/3).

These rankings include teams across all divisions.

1. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 4-0 def. Venice, 33-13

2. Grant (Sacramento) 5-0 def. Hiram Johnson (Sacramento), 62-0

3. St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 4-1 lost to Bishop Amat of La Puente, 24-23 (OT)

4. Crenshaw (Los Angeles) 5-0 def. Culver City, 48-7

5. Oceanside 5-0 def. San Marcos, 56-14

6. Edison (Huntington Beach) 5-0 def. Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 36-29 (2OT)

7. Lakewood 4-1 def. Compton, 61-0

8. De La Salle (Concord) 2-2 def. Amador Valley (Pleasanton), 32-21

9. Monte Vista (Danville) 4-0 def. Livermore, 55-13

10. St. Mary's (Stockton) 4-0 def. Lincoln (Stockton), 48-18

11. Mission Viejo 5-0 def. Murrieta Valley (Murrieta), 40-7

12. Servite (Anaheim) 4-1 def. Chaparral (Temecula), 28-21

13. Moorpark 4-0 def. Calabasas, 35-14

14. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 3-1 def. Dominguez (Compton), 48-10

15. Serra (Gardena) 4-0 idle

16. Granite Bay 4-0 def. Point Loma (San Diego), 22-12

17. Rancho Cucamonga 4-0 idle

18. Alemany (Mission Hills) 3-2 lost to Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood), 24-20

19. Redlands East Valley (Redlands) 4-0 def. Eisenhower (Rialto), 69-26

20. Serra (San Mateo) 3-1 def. Sacred Heart Cathedral (SF), 27-9

21. La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) 4-0 def. Rancho Buena Vista (Vista), 38-14

22. Foothill (Pleasanton) 3-1 lost to Granada (Livermore), 35-28

23. Los Alamitos 4-0 def. La Habra, 28-13

24. Norco 3-1 def. Corona, 50-43

25. Crespi (Encino) 2-2 idle

Check out these video highlights from La Costa Canyon's big win against Rancho Buena Vista last Friday. If reading this post via email feed, come to RawHideNation.com to view the videos...

LCC punt return team creams 2 RBV players


LCC runningback Weston Manor rushes for the touchdown


Swarming LCC defense


Big kickoff off the goal post by Robert Zalud


Good form tackle by linebacker Erik Nelson

Former La Costa Canyon runningback Vinny Perretta, a Boise State standout, was added to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. Perretta was cut by the Vikings at the end of training camp. He returns as a wide receiver and kick returner. In the practice squad position as a reserve, Perretta is potentially one or two wide receiver injuries away from getting activated to the active 53-man roster. The Vikings play the Green Bay Packers this week on Monday night football.

The La Costa Canyon Mavericks entered Friday night's game on a mission, to be the first LCC team to advance to 5-0 since the school's inception in 1997. 

In the first half, the Mavericks socked it to the Longhorns. Talented runningback Seth Hanson scored a touchdown and  and fullback Weston Manor scored twice on runs of 2 and 4 yards. Isaac Marquet added a 27-yard rushing touhdown in the fourth quarter.

By the end of the game, blue chip wide receiver recruite Kenny Stills caught 5 passes for 135 yards. Maverick quarterback Garrett Krstich threw a perfect post to Kenny Stills in stride, and Stills sprinted 73 yards down the center of the field for the touchdown; noboody even had a chance to touch him. Stills finished the evening with 5 receptions for 135 yards. He also took a handfull of snaps in the wildcat formation. La Costa Canyon finished the game with 445 total yards of offense.

The La Costa Cayon defensive held their opponent to a donut in the first half. Even though they gave up many 15+ yard running plays, the Maverick defense forced 2 turnovers, including a blocked late 2nd quarter field goal attempt by RBV. The defense is playing at the level last year's CIF championship team did. Ian Seau is punishing the opposing team's bakfield, and forcing turnovers.

 

After a solid 28-18 win over Santa Margarita, the Mavericks travel home for their first league game and host the Rancho Buena Vista Longhorns, a team recovering from tragedy.

Nearly two weeks ago, 17-year old Long Horn player Michael Victor Pyper died in a tragic rollover car accident, the night before his 18th Birthday. The Longhorns must unite and rally as they go on the road to take home a red-hot La Costa Canyon football team, ranked #1 in the county by RawHideNation.com, #2 in the county by the San Diego Union Tribune, and #7 in the Division I South Bowl rankings (Oceanside is #1).

La Costa Canyon's (4-0) dynamic offense poses a multi-dimensional threat, by air or ground. Junior Quarterback Garrett Krstich has stepped in big as this year's replacement to Sebastian Frausto, throwing for 603 yards this season with consistently good accuracy. Senior runningback Seth Hanson, North County Times player of the week, is coming off an allstar performance, last week rushing for 118 yards and a pair of two 31-yard touchdowns. And Senior star wide receiver Kenny Stills has yet to pick a college. The Mavericks jousted RBV in 2008, beating the Longhorns 48-3 (click to see video highlights). The Mavericks are averaging 37.5 points/game in 2009.

RBV (1-1-1) is coming off an impressive 34-19 victory over San Pasqual in which RB Jacob Kuchinsky had 294 yards rushing on 21 carries with touchdown runs of 75 and 49 yards. Like last year, RBV will show very few passes and run almost every play before their prominent rusher, Kuchinsky.

The Longhorns do not pose a serious threat this year. As much as we would like to see a competitive game, expect this game to be over by the end of the first half.

Prediction: La Costa Canyon 44 Rancho Buena Vista 10