CARLSBAD — Throwing long with little success most of the game, Torrey Pines High School sophomore quarterback Lauren Johnson finally found Catherine Tonelli behind the defense.
The result was a 45-yard touchdown, a play that finally gave the Falcons the lead on the way to a 12-6 flag football win over Mission Hills in a first-place Avocado League showdown at La Costa Canyon.
The win moves No. 5-ranked Torrey Pines to 14-7 overall and 5-0 in league play. Mission Hills, ranked No. 9 in the county, falls to 9-3, 4-1.
“My receivers are so fast,” Johnson said. “Catherine just beat the defense.”
Mission Hills led 6-0 on a 4-yard TD from Isabella Medina to Lyndsey Rogers, and the Wolverines were looking to extend the lead at the end of half.
Taking possession with 5:18 left in the half, Mission Hills got a big gainer on a long from Medina to Maleena Nava.
But a sack by Kathryn Janis — one of five sacks for Junis in the game — forced Mission Hills to punt.
Torrey Pines got the ball with 1:38 to play in the half, converted a fourth-and-1 on a from Johnson to Tonelli and scored with 26 seconds to play on a seven-yard from Johnson to Presley Garcia.
“The beginning of the game was kind of rough,” Johnson said. “But I trusted my receivers. I knew we had what it takes to win. And our defense really showed up today.”
In addition to Janis’ five sacks, Reese Rohrbach and Lauren Mills broke up es in the end zone and Mills killed a Mission Hills drive with an interception.
“I love rushing the quarterback,” Janis said. “I usually key the running back. I look at the running back and when she vacates her spot, that’s where I go. This was a really good win against a good team.”
In addition to her long TD, Tonelli had a pair of catches of Torrey Pines’ first scoring drive.
“I knew we could play better than we did most of that first half,” Tonelli said. “I believe in Lauren. I know she’ll get me a good ball. We’re a really close team. Our coaches are really positive. We had a team pasta lunch in the coach’s classroom today.
“It’s really a lot of fun.”
Mission Hills has a number of basketball players on its flag football team. Johnson plays softball for Torrey Pines and Tonelli and Janis play lacrosse.
Torrey Pines finishes its regular season Tuesday against No. 6 La Costa Canyon. That day, Mission Hills plays at crosstown rival San Marcos.
“This was two really good teams playing,” said Mission Hills coach Neil Jamison. “Who knows? We could meet again in the playoffs.”
