LA JOLLA – Back in August, Torrey Pines High School freshman quarterback Izzie Dieter had a big arm, but at just 14 and with limited football experience, was a raw talent.
Early in the season, during a timeout, head coach Ryland Wickman told her to “look for the seam.”
“What’s a seam?” she asked.
Fast forward to November. With time running out in the Division I semifinal against Mission Hills, Dieter launched a 40-yard pass that receiver Becca Clayton caught in the end zone to send Torrey Pines to the championship game, which they won three days later.
“She did a wonderful job,” Wickman said. “She obviously has the physical skills, and at just 14, she’s very young — even for a freshman. But she learned a lot throughout the year.”
Torrey Pines carried that semifinal momentum into the championship on Nov. 8, defeating San Diego’s Westview High 20-13 at Escondido High and claiming the Falcons’ first title after three straight championship game appearances.
“The girls were just super excited, and winning [the semifinal] game like that really helped, especially with the quick turnaround in these playoffs. We played on Wednesday and then again on Saturday. That kind of win gave our team the confidence heading into the [title] game.”
Junior running back Alexa Avila powered the Falcons with two touchdowns, including an 80-yard sprint on a direct snap, while senior receiver Catherine Toneli added the team’s third score against Westview. Dieter finished with 24 completions for nearly 300 yards, Avila caught nine passes for 99 yards and Toneli added five for 78 yards.
“We started well — we were up 14-0 — but then the other team made it a game. At halftime, it was 14-13,” Wickman said. “In the second half, we pulled away to win. Our defense shut out every team in the second half of the playoffs.”
On Westview’s final three possessions, with a chance to tie, Torrey Pines forced turnovers, highlighted by senior Kate Flynn snagging two key interceptions.
“The nice thing about our season is how we approached it,” Wickman said. “I scheduled a lot of tough games, and yes, we had some losses, but I think that helped prepare the girls for the later part of the season.”
Torrey Pines finished the season with a 19-10 record, with Wickman calling the championship win, “[Getting] the monkey off my back” after falling short in the previous two title games.
“We have 15 seniors, so it was nice with that team to actually finish it and for them to make some history,” Wickman said.
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