Crusaders, Mustangs get out of Metro-Mesa League gate at 1-0

Metro-Mesa League play kicked off last Friday with the Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders and Otay Ranch Mustangs coming out on top to take 1-0 league marks into their head-to-head meeting this Friday.

Mater Dei Catholic, the defending league champion, pulled away in their homecoming match against the visiting Chula Vista Spartans to win 27-0, while the Mustangs avoided a 0-1 start in league play with a dramatic 19-16 come-from-behind victory at Sweetwater High School.

“We’re excited to open league play, but our mindset is simple: go 1–0 each week,” Mater Dei Catholic head coach Rashard Cook said. “Last year’s championship doesn’t earn us a single first down this year. Our guys know that. The standard here is preparation, discipline and playing for each other.

“We expect a tough, well-coached league. Everyone circled us on their schedule, and that’s a good thing — it keeps us sharp. If we handle the little things like penalties, situational football, special teams, and taking care of the ball — we’ll win the league again.”

Senior Victor Voneiff and sophomore Xavier Vitela both scored rushing touchdowns while junior Diego Mendoza caught a touchdown pass.

The Crusaders (4-3) held a 348-188 edge in total yards, adding six tackles for losses on defense.

Voneiff completed six of eight passing attempts for 129 yards with one touchdown and one interception while rushing three times for 25 yards.

Vitela had four carries for 58 yards with one touchdown while senior Jordan Dumaran had seven carries for 50 yards.

Vitela’s touchdown — his first of the season — was a study in determination after Spartan defenders seemed to have him stopped, even grabbing his legs, before he managed to break free and head down the sideline for a TD.

Dumaran had two catches for 42 yards while senior Larell Parker had five catches for 70 yards. Junior Reynan Sciababa had one catch for 30 yards while senior J Hawthorne had one catch for 27 yards. Mendoza and sophomore Jasir Fontenot each had one catch for 19 yards.

Voneiff led the team with 154 total yards while Dumaran had 92 all-purpose yards. Freshman Jayden Blondin completed four of seven attempts for 81 yards.

Defensively, sophomore Visi Nava keyed the winners with 11 tackles, including six unassisted stops, while Mendoza collected 10 stops, including seven first hits.

The Crusaders allowed zero passing yards.

“Our focus right now is to stack great practices and keep our edge, win the line of scrimmage and the hidden yards on special teams, keep our team healthy, locked in academically and connected because our culture is our advantage,” Cook said.

“Repeating is a byproduct of doing those things daily. We respect the league and the challenge ahead.”

For Chula Vista, offensive leaders included junior Gabriel Ruiz (17 carries, 73 yards), junior Elijah Richardson (nine carries, 61 yards) and senior Isaiah Heard (14 carries, 52 yards). Defensive leaders included senior Darrion Frisson (seven tackles),  senior Julio Andrade (three tackles for losses, one sack) and senior Daniel Marquez (one interception).

Photos by Jon Bigornia

Horse power: Otay Ranch 19, SuHi 16

Senior Xander Mendez’s second touchdown of the game — a 59-yard catch and run with 5:07 remaining in the fourth quarter — rescued the Mustangs (1-0, 3-4) from a 16-13 Sweetwater lead.

Junior Jaidon Castillo (23 carries, 78 yards) also scored for the Mustangs (1-0, 3-4).

Senior Zane Willis (21 yards) and junior Abdul Osman (75 yards) both caught scoring passes for the Red Devils (0-1, 3-4).  Senior Anthony Peralta had put the Red Devils ahead on a 27-yard field goal.

“We made a lot of mistakes but not enough to cause us to lose the game,” Otay Ranch head coach Howard Bannister III said.

The teams exchanged touchdowns to start the first quarter. Castillo scored on a two-yard run by the extra-point attempt was blocked to leave Otay Ranch with a 6-0 lead. Sweetwater had no problems scoring on its first offensive series as Willis scored on a fourth-down play, but the PAT was blocked to leave the teams in an early 6-6 standoff.

Mendez, the hero of the Mustangs’ 35-31 win over previously unbeaten Olympian on Oct. 3, caught a four-and-22 pass from senior A.J. Lopez (five completions, 148 passing yards) for a 34-yard touchdown to push the visitors ahead 13-6 on the scoreboard.

Osman answered back with a 75-yard catch and sprint in the first minute of the third quarter. The PAT was good and the teams were tied once more, 13-13.

Peralta’s field goal with 8:52 left in the third quarter put the hosts up by three points. The successful try came after two previous misses — one from 37 yards out and another from 30 yards.

But the lead didn’t last overly long as Mendez (two catches, 93 yards) took to the races. The only consolation was a blocked extra-point attempt that left the Devils within three points on the scoreboard.

Sweetwater recovered a fumble late in the game and moved the ball to their opponent’s 34-yard line before throwing an incomplete pass on fourth-and-eight.

The Red Devils stopped themselves on two fourth-down attempts and also lost one fumble.

SuHi senior J Figueroa passed for 138 yards and two touchdowns while senior Chris Corpus rushed 21 times for 117 yards. Osman had three catches for 85 yards.

For Otay Ranch, senior David Smith had one catch for 41 yards while senior Joshua Visser had one catch for 16 yards. Visser and senior Luke Childers (fumble recovery) each had nine tackles to lead the team while senior C Walker logged three tackles for losses.

Senior Sean Carlos collected a team-high 10 tackles in the hard-fought game for the hosts while senior Juan Alvarez had one sack. Junior Joshua Roman and senior A Mariscal each had fumble recoveries in the setback.

Eastlake 28, Vista 14

The Titans (2-4) won their first game since opening night by doubling up the host Panthers (x). The South County visitors scored three rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown.

Junior Eidren Estrelon (15 carries, 146 yards) scored twice on the ground while junior David Branco (six carries, 42 yards) had the other rushing touchdown. Senior Tyler Balko passed for 83 yards and rushed for 30 yards. Senior Sean Stone (four catches, 88 yards) caught the scoring pass.

Junior David Branco led the EHS defensive effort with 21 tackles, including 15 unassisted stops and three tackles for losses. Junior Nicolas Alba followed with 10 tackles. Juniors Andrew Castro and Jovani Ceja each recorded one sack while junior Chris Wilson had a 40-yard interception. Senior Anthony Zavala had two caused fumbles.

San Diego Section
Undefeated Teams

•Imperial                                    (7-0)

•Steele Canyon                       (7-0)

•Santa Fe Christian               (7-0)

•Mission Bay                            (7-0)

•Mission Hills                           (6-0)

•Carlsbad                                  (6-0)

•Rancho Bernardo                 (6-0)

•Point Loma                             (6-0)

San Diego Section Tackle Football Rankings

(Through Oct. 4)

1. Lincoln                                     5-1

2. Cathedral Catholic              5-1

3. Mission Hills                         6-0

4. La Costa Canyon                 5-1

5. Carlsbad                                 6-0

6. Granite Hills                          3-3

7. San Marcos                           5-1

8. Mt. Miguel                             5-2

9. Oceanside                             2-4

10. Poway                                   3-3

11. Rancho Bernardo                6-0

12. Pt. Loma                               6-0

13. Torrey Pines                        3-3

14. Imperial                                 7-0

15. Mater Dei Catholic             4-3

16. El Camino                             2-4

17. Del Norte                              3-3

18. Steele Canyon                    7-0

19. Central Union                      6-1

20. La Jolla                                4-2

21. Grossmont                           5-1

22. San Pasqual                       4-2

23. Scripps Ranch                   4-2

24. Helix                                     1-6

25. Santa Fe Christian            7-0

26. St. Augustine                     2-4

27. Mission Bay                        7-0

28. Holtville                               5-1

29. San Diego                           4-2

30. Ramona                               3-4

31. Olympian                              5-1

32. Army-Navy Academy       5-1

33. Otay Ranch                         3-4

34. Madison                               2-4

35. Patrick Henry                     2-5

36. Bishop’s                               5-1

37. Montgomery                       4-2

38. University City                   4-2

39. Brawley                               2-5

40. Mt. Carmel                          3-4

41. Christian                               1-5

42. La Jolla Country Day       3-4

43. Mira Mesa                           3-3

44. Rancho Buena Vista        4-3

45. El Capitan                           4-3

46. Westview                            2-4

47. Valley Center                     2-5

48. Eastlake                               2-4

49. Fallbrook                             2-5

50. Sweetwater                        3-4

51. Santana                                4-2

52. Escondido                           2-4

53. Morse                                   3-3

54. Coronado                            3-2

55. Calexico                               3-2

56. Coastal Academy              6-1

57. Kearny                                 3-3

58. Chula Vista                         1-6

59. Hoover                                 3-3

60. West Hills                           1-5

61. Valhalla                                 1-5

62. Monte Vista                        1-5

63. Canyon Hills                       3-3

64. Bonita Vista                        2-4

65. Hilltop                                  3-3

66. San Ysidro                          4-2

67. Crawford                             2-4

68. Classical Academy           2-5

69. Vista                                     0-7

70. Vincent Memorial             0-5

71. Southwest                            3-3

72. Southwest El Centro        3-3

73. Mar Vista                             3-3

74. El Cajon Valley                   2-4

75. Escondido Charter            2-4

76. Orange Glen                       1-4

77. Castle Park                         1-5

Girls Flag Football Rankings

(Through Oct. 4)

1. Bonita Vista                            13-0

2. Carlsbad                                 16-4

3. Westview                               13-2

4. Torrey Pines                         14-9

5. Cathedral Catholic              12-2

6. Grossmont                             14-3

7. Mission Hills                         14-3

8. Classical Academy              13-8

9. Vincent Memorial                15-3

10. Steele Canyon                    3-4

11. Granite Hills                         10-2

12. Imperial 16-                          3-2

13. Poway                                    9-6

14. Escondido Charter             11-2

15. San Marcos                         8-6

16. Mater Dei Catholic             11-1

17. Del Norte                              10-4

18. Clairemont                           11-4

19. Calexico                                10-3

20. Helix                                     8-6

21. O’Farrell Charter                11-2

22. Scripps Ranch                   8-6

23. Ramona                               7-8

24. La Costa Canyon              5-5

25. San Ysidro                          9-4

26. University City                   10-5

27. Mira Mesa                           6-8

28. Pt. Loma                              6-6

29. Brawley                               9-11-1

30. Santa Fe Christian           6-1

31. San Dieguito Academy     10-6

32. Out Lady of Peace            8-9

33. Mission Bay                        12-9-1

34. Santana                               7-9

35. Patrick Henry                     5-7

36. Castle Park                         10-3

37. Hilltop                                   6-4

38. El Capitan                           8-6

39. Mt. Carmel                          7-5

40. Otay Ranch                        4-8

41. Kearny                                   10-4-1

42. West Hills                            4-4

43. San Pasqual                       8-4

44. Francis Parker                   3-5

45. Valhalla                                5-7-1

46. Canyon Crest Academy  6-8

47. San Diego                            7-7-1

48. Escondido                           7-9

49. Sage Creek                         6-9

50. Morse                                   4-7-1

51. Rancho Bernardo               3-12

52. Eastlake                               4-9

53. Olympian                             3-10

54. Oceanside                           2-9

55. Central Union                    3-12

56. Southwest El Centro        4-10

57. Lincoln                                 2-10-1

58. Montgomery                       3-3

59. CVLCC                                 3-6

60. Holtville                               5-12

61. Madison                                7-8-1

62. Tri-City Christian              2-4

63. El Cajon Valley                  4-9

64. Logan Memorial                7-8

65. Southwest                          4-8

66. El Camino                            3-10

67. Hoover                                 1-14-1

68. Valley Center                     1-8

69. Coastal Academy              0-7

70. Pacific Ridge                      1-5

71. Chula Vista                          1-7

72. Rancho Buena Vista        1-10

73. Monte Vista                        1-9

74. Sweetwater                        3-9

75. Vista                   0-10

76. Crawford                             1-8

77. Canyon Hills                       1-11

78. Mar Vista                            0-10