SAN MARCOS — After a back-and-forth, score-filled first half, Carlsbad High School put together a grind-it-out, time-consuming, fourth-quarter drive that sealed a 31-17 upset win over Mission Hills in a key Avocado West League game.

“We misfired on a couple of pass plays in the third quarter, but our defense was holding them,” Carlsbad coach Thadd MacNeal said after his No. 5-ranked Lancers beat the No. 3-ranked Grizzlies.

“Then we put together a nice drive in the fourth quarter to kind of take control.”

Leading 24-17, but with the game still very much in doubt, Carlsbad (7-0, 2-0) put together a 10-play, 91-yard drive that ate up 5 minutes and 6 seconds, with quarterback Eli MacNeal hitting Rocky Cummings with a 17-yard scoring pass.

It was the only the second pass in a drive that fea

See Full Page