HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Orange Glen Turns to Run, Wins Easily

ESCONDIDO — When you already have the county’s leading passer in Cree Morris and the county’s leading receiver in Jake Nyberg, it almost seems unfair to unleash a running attack.

But Orange Glen High, the top-seeded team in this year’s San Diego Section 3-A playoffs, let running back Dennis Esposito loose Friday night and didn’t bother to worry whether visiting Southwest approved.

Esposito rushed for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns as Orange Glen rolled to a 28-0 victory and secured a spot in next weekend’s semifinals against either Point Loma or Granite Hills, who play tonight.

That Orange Glen (11-0) advanced was no big surprise, but the way it went about it was--in the first half, at least.

On a rain-soaked field, Morris seemed to have trouble finding his legs and completed just 2 of his first 9 passes. Meanwhile, Nyberg, as sure-handed receiver as there is in the county, dropped a certain touchdown pass on a deep post route.

But Orange Glen’s offense didn’t stall. Esposito gained 107 yards before halftime and helped Orange Glen take a 14-0 lead.

Esposito scored the first touchdown on a 11-yard run early in the second quarter, and then Morris and Nyberg returned to form and hooked up on an 11-yard scoring play just before halftime.

Orange Glen’s unheralded defense made sure the lead would stand up, limiting Southwest (9-3) to just 9 yards of total offense in the second half.

Morris hooked up with Glen Reyes on a 42-yard scoring pass in the third quarter and Esposito ran 2 yards for a score in the fourth quarter to account for the final margin.