3-A: Fallbrook Beats Mt. Miguel, 34-27, Sets Up Final With Vista

SAN DIEGO — The Fallbrook High School football team, known throughout San Diego county for its passing game, threw in the counter Saturday night to assure a 34-27 victory over Mount Miguel in the San Diego Section 3-A semifinal at Mira Mesa High School.

Fallbrook (10-2-1) advances to the 3-A championship game next Saturday against Vista in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. Mount Miguel ends its season at 9-3.

Midway through the third quarter, Fallbrook ran a perfectly executed counter play five consecutive times before running back Ty Barksdale powered his way into the end zone from the one to boost Fallbrook’s lead to 27-14.

Still, Scott Barrick, the county’s top quarterback, paced Fallbrook, completing 10 of 26 passes for 191 yards and 3 touchdowns.

But it was the powerful running of Barksdale that sparked the Fallbrook passing attack.

“I thought we were going to throw the ball more than we ran,” Barrick said.

Said Barksdale, who rushed for 105 yards in 24 carries, including 2 touchdowns: “We were hoping to get the running game established early--that just makes our passing game better.”

A thick patch of mud stretched between the 30-yard lines on the rainy night, making conditions difficult for passing, Barrick said.

“It was hard to throw the ball out there,” the senior All-County quarterback said. “I was pushing it instead of throwing it.”

On the opening play of the game, Barrick hit wide receiver Bill Dunckel streaking across the middle, good enough for a 72-yard touchdown pass, giving Fallbrook a quick 6-0 lead.

Later in the first period, the Warriors took over possession on the Matador 13 when Mount Miguel’s Jay Jay Ludlow fumbled a bouncing punt. Three plays later, Ty Barksdale scored from the one.

The touchdown was set up by Barksdale eight-yard gain a play earlier on a quick pitch from Barrick. Barrick hit Dunckel in the left corner of the end zone for the conversion, giving Fallbrook a 14-0 lead with 3:29 remaining in the opening quarter.

Fallbrook increased its lead to 21-0 early in the second period after Barrick connected with wide receiver Gary Nelson on a six-yarder. That score was set up by a 38-yard pass from Barrick to Dunckel two plays earlier.

Mount Miguel, which had poor field position the entire first period, got its running game in motion midway through the second quarter.

Running back Charlie Ray broke through the middle and the mud on a 47-yard run before he was dragged down at the one-yard line. Rivera then scored from the one on a keeper to trim Fallbrook’s lead to 21-7.