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Leaders Emerge in SoCal Varsity Red

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Leaders Emerge in SoCal Varsity Red

Andrew Alves on the gallop for St. Augustine
This past weekend was one of clear differentiation among the top teams and the second tier in the Varsity Red Division in Southern California.
 
Both 1-0, Cathedral Catholic and Torrey Pines both won comfortably - Cathedral 50-10 over Del Norte, and Torrey Pines 36-0 over Poway.
 
Brandon Hong, had a very good game with his kicking for Torrey Pines. Hong is being recruited by college football programs as a punter. He got Pines out of trouble in their own end and also accounted for 11 points with the boot.
 
“Hong is so much more than just a kicker,” said Torrey Pines Coach Matty Sandoval. “He defends the air ball well, runs strong in counter, and makes the decisions you need back at fullback.”
 
Jerrod Rosen had a strong game at flanker in place of the ill Mason O’Rosky. Sandoval was less than impressed with his teams accuracy the week before, but with a shutout of a Poway team that already had a win under their belt, the Pines squad seemed to have taken that criticism to heart.
 
Meanwhile, St. Augustine, coming into their game with La Costa Canyon 0-1, took care of the Mavericks in impressive fashion 45-8.
 
Michael Alves makes a tackle for St. Augustine.
Michael Alves makes a tackle for St. Augustine.
 
“We haven’t been far off the mark,” said co-Head Coach Sean Lindersmith of his team’s one close win and two close losses (two non-league games). “We started pretty slow, but our level of intensity
picked up. We’ve been doing a lot of good things and we felt that a few bounces in previous games just didn’t go our way.”
 
Things certainly went their way this week. Brothers Michael and Andrew Alves were outstanding. lock Michael scored four tries, including one on a 70-meter breakaway. Andrew got the team going forward all day from No. 8.

So with most teams having played just two games, it's becoming clear who are the top teams. Cathedral are in 1st and should be heavily favored in their next two games against Poway and LCC. They finish their season against their two toughest rivals - Torrey Pines (February 6), and St. Augustine (February 20). Torrey Pines has rolled so far and have four straight weeks of games ahead of them, culminating in the clash with Cathedral. 

St. Augustine might rue that 27-12 loss to Torrey Pines on December 19, but they are in excellent position to win through to their finale against Cathedral. If they get a little help, they could still win the conference.


 
 
SoCal Varsity Red      
Team W L T PF PA PD BT BL Pts
Cathedral 2 0 0 72 20 52 2 0 10
Torrey Pines 2 0 0 63 12 51 2 0 10
St. Augustine 1 1 0 57 35 22 1 0 5
LCC 1 1 0 37 52 -15 1 0 5
Fallbrook 0 1 0 10 22 -12 0 0 0
Del Norte 0 1 0 10 50 -40 0 0 0
Poway 0 2 0 7 65 -58 0 0 0