A reader submitted that a Torrey Pines team coached by Ed Burke should be considered as having the all-time best defense among San Diego Section championship teams.
Burke’s 2003 Falcons posted a 12-1 record, defeated Fallbrook, 7-3, in the Division I finals, scored 369 points, and allowed their 13 opponents only 69 points, an average of 5.3 points a game.
We researched the points allowed of more than 160 San Diego Section champions in all 11-man divisions since the section was formed in 1960. By our calculation Torrey Pines ranks ninth.
However, we eliminated the 1978 Christian team that allowed only 1.7 points in 10 games; number 6 Coronado, and number 8 Julian. Those teams played on a level much lower than Torrey Pines’.
The revised list, showing only six teams above the Falcons:
1–Herb Meyer’s 1984 El Camino Wildcats, who were 13-0, outscored opponents 401-48, and allowed 3.7 points a game.
2—Walt Harvey’s 1961 Crawford team that was 8-0-2, and outscored opponents 182-40 for a 4.0 defensive average.
3—Vic Player’s Marcus Allen-led 1977 Lincoln Hornets, who were 12-0-1 and had a 373-54 scoring advantage, their opponents averaging 4.2.
4—Gene Alim’s 1983 Sweetwater squad that was 13-0 with a 354-64 scoring edge and a 4.9 defensive average.
5—The 1984 Sweetwater Red Devils, who allowed 5.0 points while posting a 13-0 record with a scoring difference of 448-65.
6–In its third season, Rancho Bernardo allowed 5.1 points
However, Torrey Pines’ 2003 squad still looks pretty good.
High school offenses have continued to evolve each year as teams have passed more often and offenses have spread the field, putting increased pressure on defenses.
From 1985 through 2012 no other championship team had a defensive scoring average of better than 6.0. Morse was 14-0 in 1992 and gave up 84 points, a 6.0 average.
This article totally skips over the 1991 Falcons! That Defense was not as good as the 2003 Falcons unit but still the 91 Falcons Defense only gave up 7.5 points per game!
Not to shabby!!
Another very strong Torrey Pines team, but, according to our records, the Falcons allowed 101 points in their 11-game, 8-3 season. That averages to about 9.2 points allowed. If you visit the Football menu and drop down to teams, you can find all of Torrey Pines game results. If you find something amiss, I’ll try to research. Thanks for writing, Andrew.
Hmm – sorry I got my numbers from this article.
link – https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-19-sp-653-story.html
The rest of the top 10 list was as follows: 3. Torrey Pines (8-2 during the regular season) 7.5 points allowed per game; 5. USDHS (9-1) 9.5; 6. (tie) Helix (8-1-1) 9.9; 8. (tie) Chula Vista (8-2) and San Diego (6-3-1) 10.8; 10. Mira Mesa (7-3) 11.4.
thanks for the correction :)
Came across this article and felt a need to respond. If best defense is being qualified as yards per game and considering strength of schedule (points allowed per game is not a true reflection of defensive productivity) La Costa Canyon 2003 was top in the county and easily top 10 during the defined period of this article.
The LCC defense allowed 196.4 yards per game that year, best in San Diego county, ahead of #1 and CIF champions TP.
Proof:
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-the-all-north-county-team-many-top-players-credit-2003dec23-story.html
Take into consideration LCC that year played arguably the most challenging schedule in SD CIF history – who can argue this? Would love to see. Opponents included:
-De La Salle (USA Today #1 National Champions)
-Oceanside (D2 CIF champions)
-Torrey Pines (D1 CIF champions)
-Fallbrook x2 (D1 runner ups)
Not that this really matters because they lost, but LCC held De La Salle to their lowest points and least yardage their national championship year.
Ratings are so subjective. You make good, valid points.
Agreed, but 156 game winning steak (longest in US hs football history is not subjective). No team has ever scheduled a more dominate team in San Diego – again I challenge anybody to argue this. The 2003 season (2004 class) across north county was loaded. TP, Fallbrook, Vista, La Costa were the best four and could have beat each other with the flip of a coin toss. Maybe the most competitive year in the era described. La Costa defense 2009 CIF champions defense also in the running for best defense. This team has Jacob Driver, Kenny Stills (NFL), Paul Quessenbeedy (NFL), and multiple other D1 or D1aa players.
That’s what I get for just grading on points allowed. Thanks again for writing and being interested.
Again all fun and games looking at Sd football history (and some amazing teams there were), but if you understand and respect the game, you would amend your top 6 to include 2003 La Costa team. Opponents averaged less than 100 yards per game rushing. Once SD teams started playing out of county teams (early 2000s) your arguments don’t hold. Perhaps comparing apples and oranges but Marcus Allen dominating against garbage local teams is no comparison to the level of competition in later years. Fun article regardless thanks for writing.
The ’03 Mavericks were 7-4. I didn’t see them but apparently their rush defense wasn’t enough.
I admit to some bias. I went to Lincoln.
Here is a bit of video from DLS / LCC 2003: https://youtu.be/nGcAPzh2z-Q
Rancho Bernardo (1993) Coach: Bill Christopher – 80 pts.; 12-1 ; 6.15 per game; Div I Champs in their 3rd year of existence; 4 shut outs
Good stat, Don, and thanks for reading…and writing.
The 2001 CIF Division 1 Champion Vista team actually only gave up 5.92 points a game. The points RB scored in the title game were from an interception return for a touchdown.
I played on the Chula Vista teams that played against 3 of 5 of those teams and scored 38 points and won a CIF championship and a runner-up I would say that one have the best teams in San Diego.
Are you referring to the 1983 and ’84 teams coached by George Ohnessorgen? I would agree that those Spartan clubs were among the best in that decade.
I’m not sure where Oceansides (75 or 76, not sure) CIF Champs rank,
but they sure did shut out lot of teams. Nicknamed the Fort Knox Defense.
The 1975 team had six shutouts, was 12-1 overall (only loss, 14-6 to Escondido) and defeated Granite Hills, 25-14, in the championship. Coach Herb Meyer took many of the players from that team and won a championship in 1976 at the new El Camino High.
I played on 69 Kearny team 10 games 47 points 5 shutouts and 2 more games only giving up 6 points
Thanks for writing, Mike. You came along at a great point in Kearny history. Birt Slater’s legend lives. I presented John Shaw at the Kearny Hall of Fame event in the school gym a couple months back. There wwere lots of Komets from your generation on hand.
Rick,
Regarding your article on the best defenses of all time the 1971 Patrick Henry season should be listed 4th. We went 11-1 that year outscoring the opposition 267-53 an average of 4.42 points per game. We had 5 shutouts and never allowed more than 8 points in any game. Sadly, we lost to Grossmont 8-7 in the championship game, but it was a great season.
Bob Dexter
PS – I became aware of your great website from Henrik.
No complaint’s, these things are so hard to put together. EJ is considered the finest player ever to play at La Jolla. I have to say you got it right for the 99.999 or perfect. I missed the championship part of the best defense. Thanks
The 1973 Kearny team also gave up 69 points over 13 games, 1969 gave up 50 points for the season. I would think point differential would be a good measure. Giving up under 100 points in a season and is wonderful. Love the site, just splendid, you have touched so many lives Rick and we are grateful for it.
Thanks for the comments, Stephen. We deserved criticism for players such as Watson who were left off, but I think the players chosen all deserved to be on one of the three squads. Maybe we should have had additional teams, but I think there would have been just as many complaints.
Regarding your note about the 1969 Komets, our records show that Kearny gave up 78 points in 13 games, while scoring 345. We didn’t mention the 1970 team and its 50-point total on defense, because the reader’s question took into account only teams that won San Diego Section championships. Maybe it could be answered more clearly.
Who holds the team record for least points allowed in a San Diego CIF football season? I believe the 2003 Torrey Pines Falcons should recieve some much needed props for going 12-1, winning the championship at the Q, while holding opponents to 69 total points over 13 games. Thats 5.3 points/game. That has to be a record right? Thats unheard of!
Scott: Good question. I’m researching it right now, going back and checking all of the San Diego-CIF champions records. i know that Torrey Pines will rank at the top or very high.
Read the article I just posted. The Falcons and their legendary coach are near the top.