Senior quarterback Jaden Mangini has a performance for the ages, accounting for 10 touchdowns, six passing, four rushing, in win over Grossmont

CHULA VISTA —  CHULA VISTA

They very well could have erected a Big Top over Southwestern College’s Devore Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

And standing in the Center Ring directing the La Jolla Country Day School offense would be quarterback Jaden Mangini.

The senior had a performance for the ages, accounting for 10 touchdowns — six passing, four rushing — as the No. 3-seeded Torreys scored a playoff record number of points in beating No. 4 Grossmont 73-34 for the San Diego Section Division 3 championship.

The 73 points are a record for points in a championship game, surpassing 71 by Monte Vista against San Diego in the Division 4 title game in 2017.

“Jaden Mangini is a special cat,” said LJCD coach Tyler Hales. “He’s working out before the sun comes up. And he doesn’t do things for individual glory. He does it for the good of the team, the good of the school.

“Our goal every game is to score 40. We thought we could score, and we got good field position several times.

“Did I see us scoring 70 ... Oh, heck no!”

It would be impossible, however, to ignore Mangini’s numbers.

The quarterback, who is committed to the Naval Academy, rushed 22 times for 115 yards with TD runs of 1, 3, 6 and 38 yards.

Plus, he threw six TD passes — three going to Madden Craig for 34, 39 and 42 yards — and finished with 414 passing yards.

Quentin Cesaire had a 28-yard TD catch, Jordan Hochberg got behind the defense for a 60-yard score and Garrett Ace had a 13-yard TD reception.

“The coaches put us in position to make plays,” Mangini said. “Everything was working and I trusted my guys.

“We just kept powering up. The heart this team has is the key to our success.”

Told that Grossmont has 1,700 more students than LJCD, Mangini said, “We can hang with anyone.”

Playing linebacker, Mangini also had four tackles.

And he came out of the game just before the half with leg cramps.

“I was tired,” he said.

The outcome was actually somewhat close at the half with the Torreys leading 31-22.

But LJCD scored five times in the third quarter, taking away any doubt on the outcome.

“Grossmont had the momentum, so we had to come out in the second half and take charge,” said Craig, who had nine catches for 180 yards. “We had to pick up our game.

“The coaches made some great calls (mostly short passes over the middle to Craig, who turned short gains into big ones).

“Once I got the ball, I turned up field and put on the burners,” said Craig, who had 10 TDs coming into the game.

“Jaden and I are captains, but he’s the guy who connects this team. For all his talent, leadership is what he does best.”

LJCD finished with 575 yards of total offense.

The defense had four interceptions with Craig, Ace, Raithe Lischewski and Jonathan Freedman all getting one.

Isaac Grassi had 10 tackles and a sack. Christopher Hughes had 12 tackles and four sacks and Luke Givens had seven tackles, a sack and forced a fumble, which he recovered.

Grossmont rushed 31 times for 48 yards with 10 plays going for negative yards.

The Foothillers threw for 304 yards, but were 24-of-47 passing with the four interceptions.

Parker Vanderburgh had seven catches for 77 yards and Amari Riley caught five passes for 69.

Zelan Reynolds led the defense with eight tackles and an interception.

john.maffei@sduniontribune.com

CIF DIVISION 3
Championship
at Southwestern College
La Jolla Country Day 73, Grossmont 34
Grossmont 8 14 6 6 — 34
La Jolla Country Day 10 21 35 7 — 73
G – Herber 2 run (Burlaza pass from Herber)
CD – Hochberg 60 pass from Mangini (Sach kick)
CD – FG Sach 29
CD – Ace 13 pass from Mangini (Sach kick)
CD - Mangini 6 run (Sach kick)
CD – Craig 34 pass from Mangini (Sach kick)
G – Herber 1 run (run failed)
G – Vanderburgh 1 pass from Herber (Riley pass from Herber)
CD - Mangini 1 run (Sach kick)
CD – Cesaire 28 pass from Mangini (Sach kick)
CD – Craig 42 pass from Mangini (Sach kick)
CD - Mangini 38 run (Sach kick)
G – Donovan 10 pass from Herber (pass failed)
CD – Craig 39 pass from Mangini (Sach kick)
CD - Mangini 3 run (Sach kick)
G - Burlaza 1 pass from Herber (pass failed)