POWAY — When the regular season closed, Poway High School’s football team was 3-7 and stuck on a six-game losing streak, five of the losses coming by 24, 18, 29, 19 and 17 points.

Yet the Titans, knowing they had been steeled by the rugged Avocado League, were not discouraged.

“We all took it as a brand new season,” said senior quarterback Ty Hurst.  “Everyone was 0-0. A fresh start.”

Since then, the Titans (6-7) have been on a roll, racking up three straight lopsided wins. (Average score: 51-19). Poway whipped Mater Dei Catholic 62-24 to win the CIF San Diego Section Division 2 championship, and come 6 p.m. Saturday, will play host to Arcardia Rio Hondo Prep (12-1) in the Division 3-A Southern California Regional championship.

One key to Poway’s about-face has been the play of junior running back Luke Jorgensen and Hurst.

Offensively, the Titans are the epitome of balance, having attempted 278 passes and run the ball 270 times.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Jorgensen handles the bulk of the ground duties, having rushed for 1,156 yards and scored a team-leading 18 touchdowns. At 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, Hurst is your protypical pocket passer, having thrown for 2,264 yards and 21 TDs against nine interceptions.

As for Jorgensen, Poway head coach Brandon Harris has dubbed him “Jedi.”

“He’s a freak of nature,” said Harris. “He just does magical things. His balance is otherworldly.”

Here’s how complete a football player Jorgensen is: he plays on the kickoff coverage and punt return teams, having blocked three punts, one with his facemask.

Sitting in the Poway bleachers, watching the girls soccer team practice this week, Jorgensen, who also plays basketball and volleyball, said, “Blocking punts is one of the most fun things in football. It turns the game around. It’s so exciting when you successfully pull it off. It gets the whole team fired up. It’s a game-changing thing.”

But it’s with the ball tucked in the crook of his elbow when Jorgensen most impacts a game.

His running style is straight up. Think Eric Dickerson or Derrick Henry. He’s a blend of power, shiftiness and speed.

“He’s got good speed. He doesn’t have elite speed,” said Harris. “But he doesn’t get caught from behind.”

Log onto the internet and track down Jorgensen’s highlights, and you’ll see multiple long runs to the end zone, defensive backs not saddled with lugging a football giving chase and not catching up. His longest TD run this season covered 94 yards.

“The offense runs through Jorgensen,” said Point Loma coach Ryan Price, whose team fell to Poway 28-7 in the playoff quarterfinals. “He’s a downhill, physical, tough runner.”

Of Hurst, Price said, “He’s got some zip on the ball. He’s definitely got some upside.”

Regarding Jorgensen, Harris said: “Get guys in space, and he can make them miss. But he’s at his best when he’s getting downhill, running on top of people.”

The San Diego Section is loaded with talented quarterbacks — Lincoln’s Akili Smith Jr. (signed with Oregon), Mission Hills’ Troy Huhn (Penn State commit) and San Marcos’ Kreet Makihele (3,452 yards passing, 44 TDs and nine interceptions) among them.

But few throw a prettier spiral than Hurst, who’s blessed with a big arm.

“He can make all the throws,” said Harris. “He’s got a lively arm and can spin it. He can throw the deep out, the post, can fit it in a tight window and has all the arm angles.”

Harris said Hurst has drawn some interest, mentioning Oregon State, UC Davis and Northern Arizona. In a moment of reflection, Hurst said he’s not certain he wants to play college football.

“Sometimes,” he said, “I don’t know what the best choice is. I just need to have a good talk with Coach Harris.”

“Ty is a very understated guy,” said Harris. “He has very tempered expectations. But in a real quiet moment, that’s when his eyes light up and he says he wants to play college football. He just doesn’t want to say it too loud.”

While Jorgensen and Hurst are drawing headlines, other players have carried key roles for the Titans. Colin McCann is Hurst’s go-to receiver and when he lines up on defense is a lock-down cover guy.

“He turns the faucet off,” said Harris.

Jake Tsay keys the defense at nose guard.

“He can’t be blocked,” said Harris.

And 6-6, 195-pound defensive end James Clifford, who harkens memories of former Raiders linebacker Ted Hendricks, has been terrorizing quarterbacks.

“My thing with them is I ask them, ‘Do you like football or do you love it?’” said Harris. “I want guys who love it, every aspect. The film room, the weight room, the scouting report. And you know what? I’ve got a lot of guys who love football, who love to work.”

Originally Published: December 5, 2024 at 8:29 AM PST