BALBOA STADIUM—The Lincoln Hornets have one of the most explosive offenses in San Diego Section, but without star running back Davon Dunn, it was as if the Hornets’ stinger had been pulled. With St. Augustine’s ball-hawking defense focusing on Lincoln’s passing attack, the Saints (6-1, 2-0) forced four turnovers and blanked Lincoln (4-2-1, 1-1) into the final two minutes, closing out an 18-7 victory which was good enough to claim sole possession of first place in the Eastern League.
Dunn, an electrifying senior running back who is headed to Cal after graduation, was held out by Lincoln head coach Ron Hamamoto after struggling with a knee injury suffered two weeks ago against Mission Bay. Hamamoto said after the game that Dunn has undergone an MRI exam on the knee, with the results still pending.
“We could have played (Dunn) tonight,” said Hamamoto, “we were just being careful with a talented young man.”
Without Dunn, the Hornets’ offense was pretty much done.
Hear from St. Augustine head coach Richard Sanchez after the jump:
Saints defense shut out Lincoln until late in the fourth quarter/(619 Sports photo)
Saints sophomore defensive back Nicolas Gonsalves intercepted Lincoln QB Jake Marrion twice in the first half, both in the end zone, as the Hornets repeatedly attempted long bombs to SD Section-leading receiver Victor Dean. Marrion was 0-for-7 with two INT’s in the first half and finished the game 5-of-18 for 88 yards passing, all in the final two drives of the game. The Hornets didn’t complete a pass at all until a leaping grab by Dean with just over seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The frustrated Dean made his catches late, finishing with three receptions for 71 yards and his section-leading 14th TD of the year.
Saints first-year head coach Richard Sanchez installed a defensive gameplan designed to constantly harrass Dean with double coverage:
Evan Crower rebounded from a rough first half to throw 2 TDs/(619 Sports photo)
In a sloppy first half, Saints QB Evan Crower seemed determined to match Marrion pick for pick. After opening the game with a determined 17-play march to start the game, capped by a Paul Hundley 20 yard field goal, St. Augustine shot itself in the foot with turnovers on their next four possessions, including three Crower interceptions. Lincoln linebacker Jamar McClendon had two of the three picks for the Hornets.
The second half was a different story, as Crower found his range. The Saints QB was 8-for-12 in the second half for 113 yards and two touchdowns (his full line: 11-24, 158yds, 2 TD, 3 INT). Coach Sanchez said it was a matter of Crower settling down:
The key play of the second half came with 7:40 remaining and Saints clinging to a 12-0 lead. On a 2nd and 12, Crower lobbed a fade down the left sideline for senior wide receiver Dana Barbaro. The Saints wideout spun out of a Dean tackle attempt, leaving Lincoln’s star grasping wildly at the back of his jersey. Barbaro’s jersey didn’t tear away but he did, racing down the sideline for a 49-yard touchdown.
It was a happy homecoming for the St. Augustine cheerleaders/(619 Sports photo)
The Saints balanced running attack featured 67 yards rushing from De’Andre Crowder and 63 for Johnny Jackson. Paul Hundley boomed a 46-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The Saints now hit the road for back-to-back weeks against league rivals Mira Mesa and Cathedral Catholic, while the Hornets have to hope to get Dunn healthy in time for a showdown with Scripps Ranch next Friday.
