The Scripps Ranch High School football team remains on its quest to capture the 2019 CIF San Diego Section Division III Football Championship following a 42-7 quarterfinal victory over West Hills High on Nov. 15. The win bumped up the team’s undefeated record to 11-0.

The Falcons will face Central High School of El Centro at Scripps Ranch at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 in a semifinal contest.

The Falcons played like a skilled undefeated team against West Hills High during its first CIF football playoff game in years. Although West Hills grabbed a first quarter touchdown to take the lead, the Falcons offense soon drove downfield to tie the score. The West Hills defense began executing powerful blitzes up the middle, one leading to a quarterback sack. The last time they attempted this tactic, they failed to tackle the Falcons runner who sliced right past the West Hills defenders for a touchdown. 

Then, two West Hills turnovers led to two more Falcons touchdowns and extra points. Those mistakes turned the tide and the Falcons held a decent lead as the first half ended. 

The game was never in doubt in the second half as the Falcons took charge with authority. The Scripps Ranch defense, which has been incredibly effective all season, did not allow any points the rest of the contest. 

Scripps Ranch looked sharp, like a playoff team peaking at the right time. The team played with more intensity than in the regular season. Their timing and reflexes had improved. Quarterback Luke Durkin’s passes were even more precise. The line blocked more intensely and completely.
The running game was powerful and effort was sustained. Tackling was more aggressive. The fans could hear the pads popping where they sat in the stands. The kick coverage had more hustle, and placekicker Matt Killam was perfect on all extra point attempts. The remarkable season continues.

The Scripps Ranch Pop Warner 14U football team defeated San Marcos 20-0 in the championship game at La Costa Canyon on Nov. 2.

A large contingent of Scripps Ranch fans cheered the underdog Falcons as the players avenged their only loss this season against the same team that beat them earlier 20-8. It was a sweet championship victory for the team, parents, cheerleaders and family members as well as the entire Scripps Ranch Pop Warner Football and Cheer Association.

The Scripps Ranch 14U football team defeated Vista 18-8 on Oct. 26 to earn its place in the championship game.

Winning a gold medal for your country is a dream of many but a reality for only a few.

Robin Harris, who has been the tennis director at the Scripps Ranch Swim & Racquet Club since 1987, recently represented the gold medal-winning USA team in an international tennis competition in Lisbon, Portugal. The Alice Marble Cup is for women ages 60 to 64. It is an International Tennis Federation (ITF) sponsored event.

“There were over 30 countries represented in the competition,” Harris explained. “We beat France in the finals to win the gold medal.”

The two-week event began with the team competition the first week followed by a second week of individuals trying to win medals. Teams consisted of four people. A match consists of two singles and one doubles.

The process for even making the team is a challenge and it happens every year. Nobody is guaranteed a spot on the team just because they played the previous year.

“You have to apply to be on the team and then the USTA (United States Tennis Association) makes the final selections based on your playing record and related factors for that year,” Harris said. “Basically, for every one position on the team, there are four or five people applying.”

This is not a competition where seniors play for a couple of hours a day once the teams arrive at the venue and then socialize.

“We were up every morning at 5:30 and practicing as soon as possible because once the matches begin at eight, there are no other courts available to practice,” Harris stated. “Typically, our days end around seven in the evening and then we get up the next day and do it all over again.”

She also picked up silver medals in the individual competitions in the women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Harris, who last year was the only female in the class inducted into the Southern California Tennis Association Senior Hall of Fame, is not sure about whether she will compete next year. The many challenges are large considering the time commitment, practicing and the fact participants are responsible for some of their expenses. But, she is grateful for this year’s experiences.

“There is an opening ceremony with kids carrying flags for each participating country. It is kind of like an old people’s Olympics,” she said. “Plus, I had never been to Portugal before and was not sure if and when I would have the chance to return. Then, for some rest and relaxation after the competition, we went to Spain and I had never been to that country either. It was a fun experience.”

The Scripps Ranch High School varsity football will get a week off as the CIF San Diego Section Division III championship playoff top seeded team before playing in a quarterfinal game on Nov. 15 against the first-round winner of the game between Valhalla and West Hills. The Falcons will need to win three games in the post-season to claim the Division III championship.

Scripps Ranch finished a historic regular season by defeating Mission Bay High School 38-6 on Nov. 1 in front of a packed house at home. The Falcons are undefeated with a perfect 10-0 record.

Scripps Ranch was led by its stingy defense that kept Mission Bay bottled up most of the game. The Falcons offense was highlighted by an effective running attack that cut through the Buccaneers’ defense like a hot knife through butter on many plays. Photos on this page are from the game against Mission Bay.

The Scripps Ranch High School varsity football team captured the CIF San Diego City League title on Oct. 25 in a 64-8 home victory against Patrick Henry High School. The team’s 9-0 record is such a big accomplishment not only because the team is undefeated, but also because it has earned the school its first league varsity football championship in 25 years.

Next, Scripps Ranch will strive to keep its 2019 season record perfect as it takes on Mission Bay High School at home in the last regular season game of the year on Friday, Nov. 1, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The game against Patrick Henry had fans scratching heir heads as the opposing team put up a quick eight points in the first quarter. The first quarter had the momentum of the game going in Patrick Henry’s favor. Then, in the Falcons’ first series of downs of the game, the team fumbled the football.

Patrick Henry’s offense looked threatening as it lined up in three and four wide receiver sets, pressing the Falcons deep coverage. Patrick Henry completed several quick passes to the outside with the receiver suddenly traversing the field toward the middle inside of a downfield blocker. But the Scripps Ranch defenders came up with big tackles to limit the progress of such tactics.

Scripps Ranch managed to come back and take the lead late in the first half, continually driving down the field despite several penalties. Meanwhile, the officials failed to throw penalty flags for personal fouls on the Patrick Henry defense during some highly questionable plays revealing what many Falcons fans deemed poor sportsmanship on several occasions.

None of this affected the outcome since the Falcons scored late in the second quarter repeatedly. Next thing you know, the Scripps Ranch offense had the ball again with less than 2 minutes remaining in the first half, and scored once more, this time on a perfectly executed quick screen to the right flank. The receiver bolted downfield with three blockers leading the way for another touchdown, essentially putting the game away before the first half ended.

The Falcons defense played more consistently as the game progressed, not allowing Patrick Henry any more points the rest of the game. The Scripps Ranch offense came alive as well, and there was no more doubt as to the outcome in the second half.

This week, a victory against the Buccaneers would end a perfect regular season at 10 wins and no losses for the Falcons, and prepare the team for playoff action as the number one seed into November as Scripps Ranch drives for a CIF San Diego Championship.   

Undefeated this season, the Scripps Ranch High School football team’s on-field success is on display for everyone to see. Less obvious, but also a source of team pride, is the team’s academic success. A recent grade check showed the team’s average GPA to be 3.71.

The high marks are the result of hard work by the student athletes and the prioritization of academic success by head football coach Marlon Gardinera.

“A high school coach doesn’t just coach football,” Gardinera said. “As a matter of fact, I think it’s about 25 percent of my job.”

Now in his third year as head coach, Gardinera played baseball at Oklahoma State and football at Mission Bay High School. He’s the father of two sons in local schools, one being Falcons running back Nicholas Gardinera. With experience as both a student athlete and a father, Gardinera said he created a “school first” policy because success in sports can be fleeting.

“Football is fun, sports are fun, but they’re temporary,” Gardinera said. “Very few people get to do them for the rest of their life, and even then, the rest of your life as a professional (football player) is, on average, five years.”

He brought that same idea to the Falcons football team.

“The goal when I got here was that I want to prepare these boys for life,” Gardinera said. “The idea was using the lessons football teaches to make sure these kids were successful on and off the field for the next step in their life, whether that’s a trade school, college or the military.

Of course, winning on the field was also important.

“I wanted to bring the academic excellence we’ve grown to love at Scripps Ranch to the football field. But the football players couldn’t suffer academically as a result of that,” he said.

Putting his ideas and ideals into motion, Gardinera started by raising the bar on the required GPA to be on the Falcons team to 3.0, higher than the CIF minimum of 2.5.

“We don’t need average,” he said. “If you have a C, any C, you don’t need to practice football; you need to practice school. And we’re serious about that.”

The other parts of the approach include mandatory study hall time, weekly grade checks by the coach and, when needed, improvement plans.

“If a kid has a C, we don’t throw them off the football team. We put together a plan immediately to get that C up,” he said. “That typically includes study hall and peer tutoring. I and other coaches will also ask, ‘Have you met with your teacher? How often?’”

Additionally, teachers pitch in to help students develop planning and notetaking skills. Sometimes students help each other, as in the case of older students who have already taken the classes and therefore know what needs to be done.

“We throw everything at it to get the kids grades up, to improve study habits and get them right,” Gardinera said.

Some players still struggle.

“When I realize or can Identify that effort is a part of it, I remove them from football,” the coach said. “Some kids are allowed to practice, but they can’t play. Some, because they’re not using their time wisely and haven’t made school a priority, they don’t need football. They need school. That’s why we’re there.”

Gardinera also meets with counselors and teachers to discusses student progress, and he’s always on the lookout for any behavioral issues that may arise.

“We tell the kids early on: if you wear our gear, if you wear that jersey on Friday, you represent us all,” he said. “Every decision you make, your choices, your behavior, it reflects on all of us, and we won’t tolerate anything but your best.”

In academic efforts, the comradery of teammates has also provided strong motivation.

“It’s the brotherhood,” the coach said. “They are their brother’s keeper and they don’t want to let each other down. They don’t want to miss out.”

Gardinera believes the work ethic instilled by high academic requirements has definitely shown on the football field, where the team has come back from a 2-8 and 6-4 records the previous year to this season’s 9-0 record.

“If you can convince a kid that school comes first, that details matter, that hard work matters, that time spent matters; if you can convince them of that, the hope, the goal, the purpose is that they transfer that work experience to everything,” he said. “As I think everybody can see right now, they’re translating doing everything right to the football field. Hard work is hard work, whether it’s football or studying for a big exam.”

The team’s success on the gridiron and in the classroom earned Gardinera Chargers Coach of the Week honors recently, which included $1,000 for the Falcons football program.

“If you’re on the right track and the culture is going in the right direction, you’re going to get better, Gardinera said. “It really just culminated all at the same time.”

The Scripps Ranch Pop Warner 14U football team has advanced in post season competition and will play for the championship at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2 at La Costa Canyon High School, 1 Maverick Way in Carlsbad.

The Scripps Ranch 14U football team defeated Vista 18-8 on Oct. 26 to earn a place in the championship game.

Two other Scripps Ranch Pop Warner football teams were in playoff action on Oct. 26. The Scripps Ranch 10U team lost to Carlsbad 6-31. The Scripps Ranch 12U team lost to Temecula 12-31.

The Scripps Ranch High School varsity football team will strive to add another victory to its perfect 8-0 record during this incredibly successful season as it takes on Patrick Henry High School at home on Friday, Oct. 25 with kickoff starting at 6:30 p.m.

The Falcons added victory number 8 last week as the team traveled to San Diego High School for a 34-6 road win on Oct. 18. Photos on this page are from the San Diego High game.

Meanwhile, head coach Marlon Gardinera proudly announced that his team collectively reached an academic goal of 3.71 GPA, which met his team goal. Gardinera stated that football is a game, but achieving high standards is most important for his student athletes because it will help advance their chances of gaining higher education which will serve them throughout their lives.

The Scripps Ranch High School varsity football team will attempt to gain another victory during this incredibly successful season as it travels to take on San Diego High School tonight, Friday, Oct. 18, with kickoff starting at 6:30 p.m. at 1405 Park Blvd.

The Falcons started the year with seven victories in a row, including a 45-0 Homecoming romp over Crawford High on Oct. 11 as seen in these photos.

Scripps Ranch opened up its offense during the victory against Crawford High, and the Falcons defense was incredible, as it has been all season. Crawford’s quarterback seemed to be getting sacked nearly every time he attempted a pass, their running appeared to be going backwards and it was a miracle that the Crawford punter avoided having his kicks blocked because the Falcons came very close each time.

Fans really have something to cheer about Friday as the Scripps Ranch High School varsity football team brings its perfect 6-0 record to the Falcons’ Homecoming football game against Crawford High School during what has become a very special season.

Last week, the Falcons kept their record clean with a 34-13 victory at Kearny High on Oct. 4. Kearny came to the game to play, and that they did. Kearny caused Scripps Ranch to fumble the football on the first play of the game. The result set-up Kearny for a touchdown. Scripps Ranch struggled a little in the first quarter but was finally able to find a rhythm in the second quarter that continued to the end of the game. Fortunately, the Scripps Ranch defense came through again to keep the opponents in check. (Photos on this page are from the victory against Kearny High.)

The Scripps Ranch High School Homecoming game against Crawford High is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 11 at Scripps Ranch.  

Ask any high school coach and they will tell you their ideal team is one with senior leadership and experience, depth and new talent.

That describes this year’s Scripps Ranch High School girls varsity golf team, according to head coach Todd Wilson.

“We have three seniors, a junior, sophomore and talented freshman who make up our top six players on varsity,” he said. “The seniors have played together all four years on varsity. Everyone is really clicking, practicing and playing together. They are having a great time.”

Last year’s team finished in second place in the CIF Division 1 competition, but Wilson is hoping for the ultimate prize this season, a state championship. Individual players can make it to the state championship but, in order for a team to qualify, it must win the CIF Championship.

“This team has the opportunity to be the best one we have ever had at the school,” Wilson said. “To win CIF and then have a chance to play at Poppy Hills (the site of this year’s state championship, located in Pebble Beach) would be awesome.”

Wilson believes in keeping coaching strategies clear and simple in order to coach the team to that level of success.

“Golf is a head game. To play well you must have a very short memory. The more you stress over a shot, it will affect your final score,” he explained. “So many matches are decided by just a shot or two.”

Also important to Wilson are the number of players who, after leaving Scripps Ranch High School, continue to play golf as well as those who are able to compete at the next level. This year’s seniors – Napua Glossner, Zoee Lynch and Kathleen Keomahazonz – are no exception.

“Each of those girls are pursuing college scholarship offers and will have options to choose from,” Wilson said. 

Following behind them are junior Ruhee Pandit, sophomore Isabella Ranches and freshman Kiana Glossner, Napua’s younger sister.

“We also have a junior varsity team. So, combined with varsity, there are 14 girls playing golf for the high school – which is fantastic,” Wilson said. “This is a lifetime sport and I would encourage, whether it is the parents or the kids or both, to contact me if they are interested in playing on the golf team. You do not have to be a Tiger Woods to play on a high school golf team.”

Unlike almost any other high school sport, league rules prevent golf fans, family or friends, from watching team matches in person.

“You can watch the players tee off on the first hole, but that is it,” Wilson explained. “It is not like the PGA Tour where you can follow players around on the course.”

Three teams for Scripps Ranch Pop Warner & Cheer hosted opponents for football games at Scripps Ranch High School under a sunny sky on Saturday, Sept. 21. First, the Scripps Ranch 10u team played San Marcos. Then, the Falcons 12u team played La Costa Canyon, and the local 14u team played Vista. Photos on this page are from the 12u game against La Costa Canyon. As always, the Scripps Ranch Pop Warner cheer teams were on hand to provide much appreciated team spirit and great routines.

RESULTS:
The Falcons 10u team battled hard against San Marcos but lost 7-18.?
The Falcons 12u team dominated against La Costa Canyon 34-12.?
The Falcons team 14u defeated Vista 26-22.