Rancho Santa Margarita, CA — In front of a spirited Tesoro Stadium home crowd, Head Coach Mike Zangl’s debut at the helm of the Varsity squad, saw his Titans secure a commanding 34-13 victory over the Murrieta Mesa Rams on Friday. Tesoro’s offense was particularly dominant. The Titans racked up 602 total yards, with a school record 525 of those coming via the air behind senior quarterback Cash O’Byrne. O’Byrne orchestrated a masterful passing attack, connecting with multiple receivers for significant gains throughout the contest, while keeping the Rams defense in check with 28 yards rushing on three quarterback keeper carries as well. Tanner Silber was one of the many standout performers amongst the wide receivers, amassing 106 receiving yards, featuring an eye popping grab at the end of the first quarter, pinning the ball against a Rams defenders back while being interfered with. Braiden Vaca led the team with 128 receiving yards, Isaiah Abbott caught seven balls for 108 yards and a score, junior Brayden White scored on a 2nd half flea flicker and senior Campbell Schamel added 92 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Titans. The passing game was crucial in Tesoro’s win, with O’Byrne spreading the ball effectively among his receivers, leading to five receiving touchdowns overall, another school record. O’Byrne, Wyatt Brady, Nic Brubaker led the Titans ground attack, which tallied 77 yards on 17 carries in the game. The Titan defense played a critical role in securing the victory. The Titans’ defense effectively shut down Murrieta Mesa’s offense, limiting them to just 246 total yards. Tesoro’s defensive line was particularly dominant, recording three sacks and consistently putting pressure on Murrieta Mesa’s quarterback. Grant Haefner and Luke Travis led the charge on defense, with Haefner recording a sack and Travis contributing 1.5 sacks. The Titans’ defense also managed to contain Murrieta Mesa’s running game, holding them to just 80 rushing yards. In total, Tesoro’s defense tallied eight tackles, with Haefner and Travis standing out with key plays that stifled Murrieta Mesa’s offensive efforts. Tesoro’s defensive performance was marked by their ability to prevent big plays and force the Rams to fight for every yard, ultimately holding them to just two touchdowns and pinning their ears back when the lead continued to grow in the 2nd half. Next up for Tesoro is a home game this Friday, August 30th against San Marcos High School.