Prep Football: Titans move to 2-0 for first time since 2011

Last season’s downward spiral for the Poway High football team started in Week 2. The Titans held an early 21-0 lead over Mount Miguel and then lost the game and another eight in a row to finish with a 1-9 record.

Poway coach Damian Gonzalez entered this year hoping his young team learned a few things from that experience. It appears they have at least one lesson down: how to finish.

The Titans chewed up seven minutes on a touchdown drive to start the fourth quarter and then Jared Adelman returned a fumble 49 yards for a score to put the finishing touches on a 24-6 non-league victory over visiting Mount Miguel Friday night.

Chris Butler had four catches for 110 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown reception. He also capped a 16-play, 80-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter with a five-yard touchdown run, as the Titans moved to 2-0 for the first time since 2011.

Trailing 10-6, the Matadors were within two yards of taking the lead with a touchdown late in the third quarter. But Poway’s Dustin Marvin picked off a Mt. Miguel pass to end the threat, setting up the Titans’ stellar finish.

Poway (2-0) dominated the first half, but had just a 10-6 lead to show for it. The Titans took a 10-0 lead when Robbie Sullivan found a streaking Chris Butler for a 46-yard touchdown with 4:47 to go before halftime.

But it took the Matadors (1-1) just over a minute to respond. Benny Valadez dumped off a screen pass to Anthony Gilmore, who raced down the sideline for a 49-yard score.

That helped mask the Matadors’ struggles on offense in the first half, as they picked up just two first downs. The first one didn’t come until there was 1:45 to go before the break.

Meanwhile, Poway racked up 210 yards of offense - 115 of it coming on the ground - and seven first downs in the first half. Shane Gurule’s 40-yard field goal with 1:58 left in the first quarter gave the Titans a 3-0 lead.