Flag Football: Torrey Pines defeats Mira Mesa, advances to CIF semifinals

A 44-yard touchdown pass put Torrey Pines High School ahead by 12 points in the final minutes of Wednesday’s CIF quarterfinal. The Falcons defeated Mira Mesa 19-7 to advance to the Open Division semifinals.

Torrey Pines has made the CIF San Diego Section Division 1 title game three times in a row. The team won the championship last season. Flag football became an official CIF sport in 2023, and the Falcons have been a top contender since.

The first half was low-scoring. Defenses from both teams recorded five combined sacks. Torrey Pines took a 6-0 lead with 61 seconds left in the second quarter. Sophomore quarterback Izzie Dieter threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Lilou Briere on fourth down from the 8-yard line. Mira Mesa tied the game at 6-6 with a 4-yard rush by quarterback Vyanna Ta. The Marauders kicked a PAT to lead 7-6 at halftime.

Coach Ryland Wickman said his players were finding their rhythm at the right time. He noted that Dieter remained calm throughout the first half. After the break, Torrey Pines regained the lead. Cornerback Morgan Price intercepted a pass and returned it to the Mira Mesa 4-yard line. Three plays later, Dieter threw a 10-yard touchdown to Cambry Wamstad. That gave Torrey Pines a 13-7 lead.

Wickman praised Dieter’s ability to adjust to a double rush from Mira Mesa. He said her late-game reads were a key factor in the turnaround. With under three minutes left, senior safety Kate Conway intercepted a pass from Ta and returned it to midfield. Conway said she saw the quarterback’s eyes and jumped the route without hesitation.

On the next possession, Dieter hit Becca Clayton for a 44-yard touchdown. That score extended the lead to 19-7. Dieter said the coach told her Clayton would be open in the middle. She said she stayed calm and trusted her offense to complete the play.

The Falcons will now prepare for the CIF Open Division semifinals.