Much of the first couple games in a season is a head coach discovering how his team reacts to stressful situations.
San Marcos’ Tom Carroll now knows his team is built to withstand adversity.
A nearly 45-minute delay waiting for an ambulance for injured running back Koaia Sonognini tested the mental resolve of both teams, but it was the Knights who played as if nothing happened.
Visiting San Marcos struck for two quick scores after the delay and never looked back, cruising to a 41-21 win over Mira Mesa on Friday night.
The duo of quarterback Kreet Makihele and wide receiver Jace Nix was an unstoppable force for the Knights (2-0).
They connected seven times for 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Makihele went 13-for-18 for 203 yards and three huge touchdowns.
It was a game with a second straight long delay to start the season for the hosts. In a Week Zero loss at Etiwanda, Mira Mesa faced an extended midgame delay, seeing its 21-10 lead evaporate in a 31-21 loss.
The Knights defense set up the first score when senior defensive end Jake Vorhees’ swarming rush knocked the ball out of Mira Mesa senior quarterback Tyson Lin’s hands deep in Marauders territory. Xavier Beltran recovered at the 10, setting up Tabari Lane’s 4-yard touchdown run two plays later.
The Marauders struck back with a quick 76-yard drive. Line ed for 57 of them, culminating in a 1-yard sneak for the tying score.
He hit Amari Sanders for a 29-yard gain and earned two more first downs with his legs.
Line ed for the Maruaders (0-2) other two scores as well, both on power 1-yard QB sneaks. However, the Knights held him to only nine completions on 28 attempts.
Following the extended game delay, San Marcos (2-0) went to the air to get warmed up again. Makihele went to the air for a 9-yard gain, and then the Knights pulled off a trick play when Makihele handed off to Elijah Maritnez, who connected with Nix for a 34-yard gain. Two plays later, Makihele hit Nix for a 20-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead.
Following a four-and-out, the Knights quick-strike offense went to the air again. Back-to-back completions by Makihele, first to Nix and then a 28-yarder to Brady Pohl for a score and a 21-7 lead into halftime.
That delay didn’t slow the Knights either. The Makihele-to-Nix combination struck again, this time a 48-yard back-breaker for a 28-7 lead out of the break. Brady Hustead added a 14-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Pohl hauled in four catches for 58 yards. The Knights defense added three sacks as it pressured Line all night.
