San Diego U-T Preps

SAN MARCOS — The Rancho Bernardo High football team is headed to its first San Diego Section championship game since 2001.

The Broncos (10-2) raced to a 21-0 first-quarter lead and smothered the high-powered offense of host San Marcos (10-2) en route to a surprising 42-10 rout Friday in a Division II semifinal game.

Third-seeded Rancho Bernardo will have a chance to capture its first section championship since 1995 when it faces top-seeded and undefeated El Capitan on Dec. 6 at Southwestern College.

“It’s crazy,” said offensive lineman Austin Lucht, who helped pave the way for a Broncos ground attack that finished with 299 yards and three touchdowns. “Who would have thought we would be going to the title game, especially after going 2-19 the last two seasons?”

The Broncos reached the end zone on four of their five first-half possessions. Meanwhile, the Knights punted four times and had a pass intercepted at the RB goal line by Nathan Powell.

“This was not how I expected the game to go,” said Broncos coach Tristan McCoy, who was a star linebacker the last time the program won a section title (1995). “I was worried about their offense.”

RB quarterback Tucker Reed tossed three touchdown passes. Anthony Barnum rushed for 175 yards and two TDs.