Pacifica delivers knockout blow to Foothill

TUSTIN - Pacifica used an offensive run and tough defense to stun No. 1 seed Foothill, 35-7, in a CIF-SS Southwest Division playoff game Friday night at Tustin High. (Full game stats.)

The Mariners (6-5) will play Tustin next week in the second round.

Quarterback Raymond Huizar led an early aerial attack that caught the Knights (9-2) off guard, and Josh Brannon taxed the Knights' defense for three second-half touchdowns. He finished with 171 yards on 30 carries.

“From the moment we got our seed we knew if we put it all together we could beat any team in this division from top to bottom,” Huizar said. “All we did was execute our game plan.”

Foothill’s defense stopped Pacifica’s first two drives with a forced fumble and a sack, respectively. Zach Griffith then drove the team 67 yards and found Nick Falbo in the end zone on a 6-yard pass for a 7-0 lead.

Huizar then found Josh Gulley for a 5-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter and Pacifica took the lead on a double-reverse pass from Wesley Harris to Clay Leonard with 6:05 left in the first half.

Pacifica had two second-half interceptions — one in the end zone — and forced a late fumble to seal the victory.

Griffith finished with 241 yards passing and one touchdown. Huizar had 149 yards passing.

• Click here for full game stats and links to season totals and team rosters.