Eastlake Titans are Metro’s lone survivor in quarterfinals

It’s said that the cream always rises to the top in sporting endeavors. That includes this year’s San Diego Section football playoffs where one Metro Conference team still remains in contention to end its season with a divisional championship.

It’s been a very competitive field with upsets dotting each division thus far.

Of the 11 South County teams that started this year’s postseason tournament, only the Eastlake Titans, the No. 5 seed in the Division IV bracket, is left.

The Titans (6-6) have at least one more assignment when they meet the No. 1 Westvew Wolverines (7-4) in Friday’s semifinals. The winner advances to the division championship game Nov. 29 at noon at Southwestern College.
Four local squads engaged foes in last Friday’s quarterfinals: Eastlake, Hilltop (No. 8 in Division IV), Sweetwater (No. 1 in Division V) and Chula Vista (No. 5 in Division V).

Only the Titans emerged victorious with a 45-27 win at No. 4 Mt. Carmel (4-7) to advance.

Hilltop (8-4) lost 45-28 at Westview while Chula Vista (3-9) dropped a 23-12 matchup at No. 4 Canyon Hills (7-4). Sweetwater (4-7) appeared on the brink of joining Eastlake in the next round after racing to a 21-7 second quarter lead on No. 4 Hoover before the Cardinals (6-6) rallied for what some might call an improbable 52-49 marathon victory that took three hours and 32 minutes to complete.

“It was a game of mistakes and we made too many,” Sweetwater head coach Brandon Burris said matter of factly. “You give up 52 points and you can’t expect to win. We fought to the end.”

The teams combined for 101 points — 28 by Sweetwater in the first half and 31 by Hoover in the second half.

Senior Zane Willis led the Devils with three touchdowns while senior Sean Carlos had two touchdowns. Senior Chris Corpus and junior Abdul Osman each scored one TD. Junior Manny Kramer passed for two touchdowns — both to Carlos.

Osman scored a defensive touchdown on a long interception return to make the score 42-27. After the Cardinals rallied with 19 unanswered points to move in front 46-42, Willis broke loose for a 75-yard TD run to move SuHi in front 49-46 with 4:49 to play in regulation.

But the hosts could not hold onto the lead as the visitors scored their eighth and final touchdown with 1:48 to play.

Hoover’s plunder included three fumbler recoveries, including one for a score, and two interceptions.

Cardinals sophomore signal-caller Hezekiah Manuel had a field day with 345 yards and five TD passes and two rushing scores while finishing the game with 475 total yards (130 rush, 345 pass).

Eastlake played its best game of the season against Mt. Carmel, registering a season-high 45 points and receiving contributions from a list of players.

“It was a total team victory,” assistant coach Ray Ruiz said. “The semifinals this Friday at Westview means everything to our football program, team, coaching staff, school and community. Eastlake is a school with lots of Titan Pride and is deep in football tradition. We are the last team playing football in the Sweetwater Union High School District. We are playing for the entire South Bay.”

Junior David Branco (nine carries, 88 yards) and senior quarterback Tyler Balko (11 carries, 109 yards) combined fr 197 rushing yards in the win over the Sundevils. Branco scored three touchdowns while Balko had one.

Senior Ryan Branco scored in a 48-yard interception return while junior Chris Wilson had one pick for 22 yards.

Junior Tomas Zaldivar caught a 10-yard scoring pass while senior Jake Naiman collected nine kicking points, including a 37-yard field goal.

Senior Isaiah Heard (17 carries, 117 yards) and junior Elijah Richardson (12 carries, 47 yards) each scored touchdown for Chula Vista.

Senior Leo Mendoza (23 carries, 173 yards) scored three TD in Hilltop’s loss.

“We’re proud of the way our kids competed this year,” Chula Vista coach Jimmy Clark III said. “Getting to the second round of the playoffs showed the growth and resilience of this group. Canyon Hills executed well and made a few key plays when they needed them, and even though we came up short, our team never stopped fighting.”

San Diego Section Football Playoffs

Open Division
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 14
(4) Cathedral Catholic 42, (1) Mission Hills 35
(3) Carlsbad 27, (2) La Costa Canyon 23
Championship game: (3) Carlsbad (10-1) vs. (4) Cathedral Catholic (9-2), Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. at Southwestern College

Division I
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 14
(1) Lincoln 51, (9) Poway 41
(4) San Marcos 24, (5) Point Loma 14
(3) Mt. Miguel 26, (6) Oceanside 20
(2) Granite Hills 56, (7) Rancho Bernardo 7
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 21, all games at 7 p.m.
(4) San Marcos (7-4) at (1) Lincoln (9-2)
(3) Mt. Miguel (8-3) at (2) Granite Hills (8-3)
Championship game: Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m., Southwestern College

Division II
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 14
(1) Santa Fe Christian 17, (8) St. Augustine 9
(12) Scripps Ranch 16, (4) El Camino 14
(11) San Diego 33, (3) Mission Bay 19
(2) Steele Canyon 22, (7) Helix 19
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 21, all games 7 p.m.
(12) Scripps Ranch (7-5) at (1) Santa Fe Christian (11-0)
(11) San Diego (7-5) at (2) Steele Canyon (8-3)
Championship game: Nov. 28 at 7 p.m., Southwestern College

Division III
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 14
(1) Central Union 35, (8) Bishop’s 17
(4) University City 48, (5) Madison 42
(6) Christian 31, (3) Ramona 28
(2) Army-Navy Academy 28, (10) Patrick Henry 19
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 21, all games 7 p.m.
(4) University City (6-5) at (1) Central Union (9-2)
(6) Christian (5-7) at (2) Army-Navy Academy (9-1)
Championship game: Nov. 29, 3:30 p.m., Southwestern College

Division IV
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 14
(1) Westview 45, (8) Hilltop 28
(5) Eastlake 45, (4) Mt. Carmel 27
(3) Valley Center 56, (11) Mira Mesa 29
(10) La Jolla Country Day 22, (2) El Capitan 7
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 21, all games 7 p.m.
(5) Eastlake (6-6) at (1) Westview (7-4)
(10) La Jolla Country Day (6-6) at (3) Valley Center (5-6)
Championship game: Nov. 29, noon, Southwestern College

Division V
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 14
(9) Hoover 52, (1) Sweetwater 49
(4) Canyon Hills 23, (5) Chula Vista 12
(3) Monte Vista 21, (6) Fallbrook 10
(2) Morse 38, (7) Santana 0
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 21, all games 7 p.m.
(9) Hoover (6-6) at (4) Canyon Hills (7-4)
(3) Monte Vista (6-5) at (2) Morse (7-4)
Championship game: Nov. 28, 3 p.m., Southwestern College

Division V-AA
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 14
(1) Maranatha Christian 49, (5) Clairemont 6
(2) Palo Verde Valley 46, (3) Mountain Empire 8
Championship game
Saturday, Nov. 22
Escondido High School, 7 p.m.
(1) Maranatha Christian (11-1) vs. (2) Palo Verde Valley (8-4)

Division VI (8 player)
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 14
(1) St. Joseph Academy 64, (4) Francis Parker 16
(2) Borrego Springs 55, (3) Julian 14
Championship game
Saturday, Nov. 22
Escondido High School, 3 p.m.
(1) St. Joseph Academy (9-1) vs. (2) Borrego Springs (9-1)

Girls Flag Football Champions

Saturday, Nov. 8
Escondido High School
Division I: (2) Torrey Pines 20, (5) Westview 13
Division II: (4) Vincent Memorial 40, (3) imperial 34
Division III: (6) Mira Mesa 25, (4) Brawley 0
Division IV: (5) Patrick Henry, (7) Mt. Carmel
Division V: (2) Olympian 25, (12) Canyon Crest Academy 12