All season long, 6-foot-2, 285-pound defensive tackle Junior Togiaso has wanted to carry the ball.

Last night against Mountain Empire, the La Jolla Country Day sophomore got a chance to finally show what he could do when he got his hands on the football.

The junior picked up a fumble and rumbled 39 yards for a touchdown, making LJCD's 38-6 San Diego Section Division V first-round playoff victory at home that much sweeter.

“It feels really great to finally get a run,” Togiaso said. “I've been asking coaches to give me the rock and let me play some fullback. When I finally got the ball, to go all the way with it, it feels really great.”

Togiaso finished the night with three tackles and made sure after the game that coach Jeff Hutzler knew the two-way lineman could get it done on offense if needed.

“I know I'm never going to hear the end of it,” Hutzler said. “He's been telling me he's going to score a touchdown all year and he got one. He was just on the money tonight.”

Togiaso wasn't the only player on the money. LJCD held Mountain Empire's offense scoreless, allowed less than 230 total yards and picked up 172 rushing yards on offense.

The Torreys scored on their four first-half possessions and punted only once. Running back Montell Allen picked up 72 yards on nine carries in the first quarter and scored on a two-yard run before being taken out at halftime to rest for next week's playoff game.

“It was a little boring for me,” Johnson said of being pulled with a 35-point lead. “I want to be in there every second because I love the game, but it feels pretty good to know that my coach wants to save me for the next game and get me ready for the next week.”

While Hutzler had the intentions of taking out most of his starters at halftime, he couldn't pull quarterback Derek Hatfield soon enough. Hatfield, who ran for 47 yards and scored two first-half touchdowns, suffered a separated shoulder and may not play in next week's playoff matchup with Army-Navy. His backup, Ruben Pena, went down with an ankle injury in the third quarter and is also questionable for next week's game.

Despite the uncertainty at the quarterback position, Allen said a second-round playoff victory against the Warriors on Friday is already in the bag.

“We're coming out and getting a win against Army-Navy,” Allen said. “I am guaranteeing a win.”