Torrey Pines logged a 21-7 defeat of Saint Augustine Friday night in the Southern California Varsity Red San Diego division.

On a rainy, cold night at Ed Burke Field at Torrey Pines HS, it took a while for both teams to really open it up. Saint Augustine started the game on the front foot, sending the opening kickoff deep and pinning Torrey Pines in their own 22 for most of the first eight minutes. 

But then Torrey Pines turned it around. HS All American lock Blake Richards-Smith - playing No. 8 on the night he broke through for a long, rambling run that got TP over halfway. Thundering along in support was lock Tanner Wyandt, who took the offload from Richards-Smith to cap off the movement, and score the opening try of the game. Flanker and captain Jackson Baere put the conversion over, and Torrey Pines led 7-0.

Back to what seemed to be working for Saint Augustine - pin Torrey Pines deep and keep up the pressure. That put the Saints right on the Torrey Pines line, and twice they made it over the tryline only to be held up in-goal. Two more times, knock-ons near paydirt halted an attack. Those were crucial chances for Saint Augustine, as the teams changed ends with Torrey Pines up 7-0.

Beau Morgans gets some attention from James Downey, and offloads Caleb Wilson. Anna Scipione photo.

In the second half, with the rain having stopped, Saint Augustine twice jumped in to take loose balls through for potential tries. Both times, referee Jeff Nolan called the Saints back for being offside. Still the Saints pressures, with center Andrew Alves asking serious questions of the TP defense. Alves made several breaks, but Torrey Pines fullback Jack Nelson kept hauling him in.

Eventually, it was Torrey Pines that would score next. Once they were able to get some consistent possession they powered through and Richards-Smith scored. Baere kicked the conversion and it was 14-0.

Saint Augustine replied quickly. Flyhalf and HS All American James Downey slices through from ten meters out, and cut the TP lead in half at 14-7. Alves came close to tying it up, putting together another long run that was stopped by a pile of Torrey Pines tacklers. Downey, meanwhile, made several key plays for Saint Augstine, matched in part by similar clutch moments by Torrey Pines scrumhalf Beau Morgans. The two seemed to be at the center of key steals, and setting up their teammates for big plays.

Finally it was Morgans who put the dagger in. With less than five minutes to go, Morgans cut through to put Torrey Pines in scoring position. After a couple of scrums progressively closer to the Saints' line, Morgans took the final scrum win and scampered around the left side to score in the corner. Baere kicked his third conversion to finish it off 21-7.

Too many mistakes, said Saint Augustine Coach Ian Denham, and the Saints also rued the first-half scoring chances which went unclaimed.

For Falcons Coach Matt Sandoval, it was about being patient.

“For playing the majority of the game in our half, [I am] not only are we pleased, but surprised at the result," said Sandoval. "A great defensive effort.”

It was an impressive win for Torrey Pines, which will play Poway need Saturday. Saint Augustine, which had won all of their preseason games, now sits at 0-1 and looks ahead to Cathedral Catholic, which beat Del Norte 37-21 on Friday.