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Offense powers Tesoro football to victory over Capistrano Valley

October 14, 2023

LAS FLORES –Tesoro had no problem moving the ball down the field and wracking up yardage on long scoring drives in a 37-14 victory over previously undefeated Capistrano Valley in the South Coast League opener for both teams Friday at Tesoro High School.

In addition to the victory being critical in a four-team league, as teams play only three leagues games, it also gave the Titans (5-3, 1-0) a fifth victory overall, which is a necessary benchmark in order to be selected as an at-large team for the CIF-SS playoffs, Tesoro coach Matt Poston said.

“We were sitting at four wins, so we wanted to get to five to kind of make sure we have that winning record, to make sure we get a chance to go in the playoffs,” Poston said. “So that was our goal for this week, to punch our ticket to the playoffs.”

A victory over Mission Viejo next week would almost guarantee the Titans a playoff berth.

The Cougars (7-1, 0-1) will take on a tough San Clemente team next week.

The Tritons defeated the Diablos, 20-10, in the other South Coast contest Friday.

Tesoro kept the Cougars guessing with an array of passing and running plays.

Travis Wood ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns and had a receiving touchdown in the Titans’ 37-14 victory over Capistrano Valley on Friday, Oct. 13. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

The Titans scored touchdowns on drives of 80, 61 and 67 yards in the first half to take a 21-0 lead at halftime.

Travis Wood capped the first drive with a 7-yard touchdown run, O’Byrne hit Campbell Schamel for a 1-yard score on the second drive and threw a 2-yard scoring pass to Wood for the third score.

Tesoro’s defense, meanwhile, held the usually high-scoring Cougars to three-and-out drives on three of of four first-half possessions.

The Cougars did put together 60-yard drive by running a no-huddle offense late in the second quarter.

The drive stalled, however, at the Tesoro 15, forcing the Cougars try a 32-yard field goal.

But Drew Wong managed to get through the line and block the attempt, preserving the shutout.

The Cougars received the second half kickoff and put together a 66-yard scoring drive and getting back in the game on quarterback Tommy Acosta’s 1-yard touchdown run.

But the Cougars’ momentum was short lived because O’Bryne connected with Schamel for a 75-yard touchdown two plays into the ensuing drive to give the Titans a three-touchdown cushion again.

Schamel finished with 94 receiving yards and two touchdowns and teammate Todd Nelson had six catches for 149 yards.

Nelson’s receptions were a factor in four of the Titans’ five touchdown drives.

“Our offense carried us tonight, I felt,” Poston said. “To put 37 points up is a good effort. And especially once they started battling back into it, we had that huge play for the touchdown that reassured us a little bit.”

Wood, an Force Academy signee, was often difficult to bring down and ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns along with a receiving touchdown.

“When we run and pass that well, I don’t think we’re very easy to stop,” Wood said.

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