In a game that was similar to the game up North, it was the host Oceanside Pirates who jumped out to a 30-6 halftime lead and led 37-6 after three quarters on the way to the 37-22 win over the Tigers in the CIF Southern California Division I bowl game.
For more on Folsom’s win over Grant of Sacramento, CLICK HERE.
Senior running back Josh Bernard, who already has been named the San Diego Section Player of the Year, opened the scoring with a short one-yard touchdown run and after blocking a punt out of the end zone to make it 9-0 the Pirates got a 19-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Romero to John Grumbling in the final minute of the first quarter for a 16-0 lead.
Josh Bernard (left) and Matt Romero at the Honor Bowl.
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According to Andy Boogaard of the Fresno Bee, the Pirates outgained the Tigers 175-2 in the first quarter. Bernard later added two more short touchdown runs in the second quarter.
With the win, Oceanside advanced to its third CIF state title game and will be trying to make it 3-for-3 when it plays 15-0 Folsom next Friday at the StubHub Center in Carson.
The Pirates have been ranked No. 5 in the state. Folsom has been sitting at No. 3. The winner of the game could finish as high as No. 2 depending on what happens in the Open Division bowl game between No. 1 De La Salle of Concord and No. 2 Centennial of Corona.
Head coach John Carroll’s team won its first state title in 2007 over Novato in Division II and won its second in 2009 in Division I over Bellarmine of San Jose.
Defensive end Tommy Woo, whose pass rush along with teammate Amadeo West figures to be critical in a matchup with Folsom, left the game just before halftime with what appears to be a separated shoulder. His status is questionable.
Edison concluded a 12-2 season and couldn’t match the feat of last year’s CIF Central Section Division I champion, Bakersfield, which went on the road and defeated Mission Hills of San Marcos, which was the CIF San Diego Section Open Division winner.
