Oceanside High School football coach Fale Poumele was none too happy with his team’s performance in its season opener, a 29-point whipping istered by San Juan Capistrano San Juan Hills last week.
“They know that we’re better than what we put out,” Poumele said days after the loss. “Now, they’re just trying to find their identity.”
On an unusually mild late summer evening at Torrey Pines High School on Friday, Oceanside’s identity was one of grit, physical toughness and moxie. The Pirates flushed the memory of last week’s embarrassment, defeating Santa Fe Christian 26-14 in a non-league game.
Both teams leveled their records at 1-1.
It helped more than a little that senior Christian Sanchez handles the place-kicking for Oceanside. Sanchez was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, hitting from 40, 35, 42 and 27 yards.
Said Poumele, “The good thing is we have a kicker who can kick it from anywhere. We’re truly blessed with his leg.”
The Pirates looked like they might win the game easily, taking a 13-0 lead late in the second quarter. But behind talented 6-foot-3 sophomore quarterback Dax Labrum, SFC scored TDs on its final drive of the first half and first possession in the third quarter to take a 14-13 lead.
Labrum finished the game 8-of-17 for 142 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Connor Sawyer caught four es, a couple of the spectacular variety, for 111 yards and a TD.
It was how Oceanside responded to being behind that impressed Poumele. Sanchez’s 42-yard field goal gave the Pirates a 16-14 lead on the first play in the fourth quarter.
On Oceanside’s next possession, bruising 5-foot-10, 205-pound junior running back Warren McKillup bounced off some would-be tacklers, broke the edge and lumbered his way for a 27-yard TD.
McKillup finished the game with 117 yards on 16 carries and the one TD.
“I’m sure we imposed our will with (McKillup),” said Poumele. “It took a little while to get him revved up and going, but once he got going it was hard to bring him down. He’s figuring out, ‘I’ve got to be that guy.’ He’s got to change his style of running. Not too much lateral, just more vertical.”
As backs are wise to do, McKillup gave props to his offensive line.
“They were clearing out holes and getting to the linebackers,” said McKillup.
As for establishing an identity, McKillop thinks the Pirates, for one night, made a statement.
“The Oceanside identity is just big, physical, strong guys. Pounding the rock, getting four, five yards at a time, driving the ball down the field and scoring.”
The calendar has yet to flip from August. Championship games are played in November and December. But Poumele thinks he learned something about his team.
“They persevered through some adversity tonight,” he said. “They did a good job of when their backs got against the wall, they figured out a way to fight through that adversity.”
