Van Nuys, CA — R.J. Maria is not a prototypical quarterback. But the 5-foot-9 senior has proven himself to be a record-setting quarterback over the past three seasons. This week, Pacifica High’s all-time leading passer will get the chance to prove that he’s a state championship quarterback. Maria completed 15 of 20 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for another score as the Pacifica football team routed host Lake Balboa-Birmingham, 51-23, in the CIF Division 2-A state regional bowl on Saturday night at Rick Prizant Stadium. “He’s just mature,” Pacifica offensive coordinator Eric Diaz. “A lot of times he’ll tell me what he sees on the field and what he wants to call and I’ll trust him. “It all goes into game planning. … We’re on the same page.” Pacifica (14-1) advances to play undefeated McClymonds (11-0) in the CIF Division 2-A state championship bowl this Saturday at noon at Cerritos College in Norwalk. Maria running Diaz’s offense, distributing the ball to the Tritons’ offensive weaponry, has made Pacifica the No. 1 offense in the state of California for much of its high-tempo, high-octane season. It has now scored 49 points or more nine times this season. “That’s his three-year starter,” Pacifica coach Mike Moon said of Diaz and Maria. “I don’t touch the offense. The reality is, I let them do their thing and they do a great job. He’s done a great job all along. To get this record, is a testament to his knowledge, his preparation, his ability to grind and get after it and his relationship with his players.” By its first offensive series of the second half on Saturday, when Malik Sherrod’s 1-yard run pushed the Tritons ahead 38-7 to all but put the game to rest, Pacifica became the highest-scoring offense in Ventura County history. Pacifica’s 750 points breaks the 4-year-old mark of 731 Camarillo set on the way to the Division 2-AA title game in 2015. “Three years ago, we were 2-8,” Diaz said. “Everyone was like, ‘What is going on at Pacifica?’ And (Maria’s) a three-year starter now. What else can you ask for? He’s like a coach on the field. I can’t ask for anything better.” Sherrod rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries and Kyrie Wilson caught seven passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns as Pacifica, on its first trip to the state regionals, flexed its skill position depth. It lost star running back Michael Johnson III in the sectional semifinal win at Crespi. It lost starting receiver Savonne Perris-Farmer in the sectional final win at La Serna. Which is why Pacifica’s top cornerback, Nohl Williams, started at receiver, pulling in four passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. “Nohl is probably one of our best receivers,” Diaz said. “But if we wanted to make a deep run, we needed him to be a lock-down corner." With the season extended to regionals, Williams was asked to fill two roles. “I told him, ‘It’s your time to shine,' " said Diaz. "People are going to see how good you are on both sides of the ball.” Williams also had two of Pacifica’s three interceptions before leaving during fourth quarter to take a recruiting trip to UC Davis. “That’s a testament to our offense,” Moon said. “Next man up. … Championship football teams can’t fall apart when they have one or two guys out. “One thing that we’ve had this year that we haven’t had in the past is depth.” Pacifica’s depth will further be tested this Saturday. Junior Vika Aina, its lone two-way lineman, was ejected from the game and will miss the state title game. “Our only two-way starter on the line,” Moon said. “It is what it is.” One week after fumbling away the opening kickoff, Pacifica fumbled away the ball on an errant snap on the first play from scrimmage. Three plays later, Birmingham, the L.A. City Section Open Division champion, took a 7-0 lead on Jackson Dadich’s 6-yard pass to 6-foot-4 sophomore Arlis Boardingham. “Those were two of the best wideouts we’ve seen,” said Moon of Boardingham and senior Mason White. But Pacifica scored the next 38 points to take control. Scooter Carranza’s 29-yard field goal, Brad Bichard’s 4-yard run, Maria’s 1-yard keeper and Wilson’s 10-yard touchdown catch capped the next four possessions to give the Tritons a 24-7 lead with 8:01 left in the half. Maria’s 45-yard scoring strike to Williams pushed the lead to 31-7 at the half and Sherrod’s 1-yard run capped a nine-play, 61-yard drive to open the second half to make it 38-7. As Moon was accepting the CIF State regional plaque, his players began chanting, “We want state!” They’re going to have to earn it. Next up for the Tritons is the school of Bill Russell, Curt Flood, MC Hammer and, more recently, Marcus Peters. McClymonds, coached by Peters’ father Michael, has won three straight state championships, winning Division 5-A in 2016, 5-AA in 2017 and 4-A in 2018. “It’s going to be a challenge,” Moon said. “I looked at both teams. I told myself I wasn’t going to look ahead. But I did. They’re a good football team. Obviously, we have a challenge ahead of us.” Blast Athletics congratulates the Pacifica High School Football team, Coach Moon and his staff, AD Ray Camacho and all those who support and believe in this program. 2019 CIF State Division 2a State Regional Bowl High School Football Champions!! 🏆🏈🏈