Kiwanis Bowl storyline: Lancers steal 13-7 overtime win

by Phillip Brents

The Chula Vista Kiwanis Bowl first kicked off in 2002 with a 49-14 win by the Chula Vista Spartans over the Hilltop Lancers. The Spartans dominated the cross-town rivalry with three opening wins and a 7-1 record in the first eight meetings between the teams.

The rivalry game began to gain stature as the win-loss record began to even out. Five straight wins by Hilltop narrowed Chula Vista’s lead in the series to 10-8 by 2019. Wins in 2021 and 2022 further narrowed the Spartans’ grip on the trophy to 11-10.
The 2022 game may have been the most dramatic as the Lancers scored on the last play of the game to spirit away a dramatic 21-19 victory.

Last Friday’s contest was the 24th game in the series and it bucked tradition as no other game had ever ended in a tie.
The teams did their best to avert that with a series of takeaways and turnovers in the dying seconds of what proved to be a 7-7 deadlock as regulation time ran out. But a rule change several years ago mandated that no game end in a tie to facilitate state playoff qualification. A collegiate-style overtime period would determine a tie-breaker.

The Hilltop Lancers exult in the afterglow of their exciting 13-7 overtime win over the rival Chula Vista Spartans in last Friday’s Chula Vista Kiwanis Bowl game. Photo by Phillip Brents

The ball would be placed on the 25-yard line and each team would have a series to score, either by kicking a field goal or scoring a touchdown. If the score remained tied, a second overtime session would follow, and so forth, until a clear winner was determined.

The Spartans got the ball first and drove to the Hilltop 12-yard line before fumbling the ball on an attempted reverse.

That gave the ball to the Lancers, who connected on a sideline pass from senior Alejandro Carranza to senior Julian Moran to place the ball at the CV 10-yard line. A couple running plays moved the ball to the eight-yard line before senior Leo Mendoza scored his second touchdown of the game to give the hosts a 13-7 non-league win.

Needless to say, the Lancers celebrated the OT touchdown with gusto.

Hilltop has won eight of the last 11 games, but Chula Vista still leads the series 13-11.

The game is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Chula Vista. The winning team receives a $1,500 donation from the local service club while the runner-up team receives $1,000.

Neither team is really a loser, especially with community spirit soundly on display.

“Both teams played hard,” Hilltop coach Bryan Wagner said. “It could have gone either way.”

Hilltop’s MVP defensive player Damian Moreno (24) and MVP offensive player Leo Mendoza (11) pose with their trophies with head coach Bryan Wagner (far left) and school principal Bill Walsh. Photo by Phillip Brents

Each team also received an offensive and defensive MVP selection.

Mendoza was the Lancers’ Offensive MVP pick with 134 rushing yards on 26 carries and two touchdowns while senior Damian Moreno earned the team’s Defensive MVP award with eight tackles. Moreno also won last year’s Defensive MVP team award.

“We had to work hard to win,” Mendoza said.

Chula Vista’s Offensive MVP was senior Oberon Tamashiro with 54 yards on eight carries and one touchdown. The Spartans’ Defensive MVP was senior Darrion Frisson with 12 tackles (seven unassisted) and two sacks.

Hilltop scored first on a one-yard run 48 seconds into the second quarter. Tamashiro scored on a three-yard run near the end of the third quarter to tie the game.

The Spartans missed a 27-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter and had a pass intercepted in the end zone by Hilltop senior Julian Moran with three seconds to play.

“We didn’t finish,” Tamashiro said.

Kiwanis Bowl History

2002: Chula Vista 44, Hilltop 14

2003: Chula Vista 57, Hilltop 37

2004: Chula Vista 27, Hilltop 20

2005: Hilltop 32, Chula Vista 13

2006: Chula Vista 47, Hilltop 7

2007: Chula Vista 42, Hilltop 19

2008: Chula Vista 47, Hilltop 8

2009: Chula Vista 49, Hilltop 18

2010: Hilltop 35, Chula Vista 14

2011: Chula Vista 17, Hilltop 10

2012: Chula Vista 42, Hilltop 20

2013: Hilltop 21, Chula Vista 7

2014: Chula Vista 36, Hilltop 27

2015: Hilltop 35, Chula Vista 33

2016: Hilltop 38, Chula Vista 16

2017: Hilltio 29, Chula Vista 6

2018: Hilltop 37, Chula Vista 0

2019: Hilltop 35, Chula Vista 29

2021 (spring): Chula Vista 42, Hilltop 21

2021 (fall): Hilltop 24, Chula Vista 0

2022: Hilltop 21, Chula Vista 19

2023: Chula Vista 48, Hilltop 27

2024: Chula Vista 26, Hilltop 7

2025: Hilltop 13, Chula Vista 7 (OT)

Chula Vista leads series 13-11

Rivalry Game Schedule

Battle for the Boot (Aug. 22): Eastlake 21, Bonita Vista 0

Kiwanis Bowl (Sept. 12): Hilltop 13, Chula Vista 7 (OT)

Battle of the O’s Sept. 26): Otay Ranch at Olympian

Battle for the Bell (Oct. 17): Mar Vista vs. Southwest

Legacy of Pride (Oct. 17): Chula Vista at Sweetwater

Battle of the Golden Shovel (Oct. 24): Southwest at San Ysidro

South County Football Log

Tackle Football

Non-League

Friday, Sept. 12

Hilltop 13, Chula Vista 7 (OT)

Olympian 35, Santana 9

Montgomery 28, Hoover 19

Southwest 63, Tri-City Christian 0

San Ysidro 27, Mountain Empire 19

El Capitan 21, Bonita Vista 7

St. Joseph (Santa Maria) 42, Eastlake 0

Patrick Henry 25, Otay Ranch 10

Madison 46, Sweetwater 19

Rancho Buena Vista 48, Mar Vista 8

Rock Academy 55, Castle Park 40

Sunset League

Victory Christian Academy 28, Foothills Christian 6

Friday, Sept. 19

Non-League

Sweetwater vs. Southwest at San Ysidro, 6:30 p.m.

Chula Vista vs. Olympian at Hilltop, 6:30 p.m.

St. Augustine at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.

Grossmont at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.

Eastlake at Pt. Loma, 7 p.m.

Bonita Vista at Vincent Memorial, 7 p.m.

Montgomery at Rancho Christian, 7 p.m.

Castle Park at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.

San Ysidro at Hoover, 7 p.m.

Hilltop at Westview, 7:15 p.m.

Coastal Academy at Victory Christian Academy, 7 p.m.

San Diego Section Rankings

(Through Sept. 13)

1. Lincoln 3-1

2. Cathedral Catholic 3-0

3. La Costa Canyon 4-0

4. Carlsbad 4-0

5. Mission Hills 4-0

6. Granite Hills 3-1

7. San Marcos 3-1

8. El Camino 1-2

9. Mt. Miguel 3-1

10. Poway 2-2

11. Mater Dei Catholic 1-3

12. Rancho Bernardo 3-0

13. Torrey Pines 2-2

14. Pt. Loma 3-0

15. Helix 1-3

16. Oceanside 1-3

17. Del Norte 1-2

18. St. Augustine 1-3

19. Madison 1-3

20. Central Union 4-0

21. La Jolla 3-1

22. Imperial 4-0

23. University City 3-1

24. Steele Canyon 4-0

25. Bishop’s 3-0

26. Santa Fe Christian 4-0

27. Scripps Ranch 2-2

28. San Pasqual 2-1

29. Mission Bay 4-0

30. Christian 1-2

Others: 39. Olympian (4-0), 42. Montgomery (3-1), 43. Eastlake (1-3), 44. Otay Ranch (1-3), 51. Chula Vista (1-3), 53. Bonita Vista (0-4), 54. Sweetwater (1-3), 66. Hilltop (2-2), 74. Mar Vista (3-1), 75. Southwest (3-1), 79. San Ysidro (2-2), 82. Castle Park (1-3), 85. Victory Christian Academy (1-2)

College Football

Non-conference

Saturday, Sept. 13

Antelope Valley 28, Grossmont 26

Southwestern College 38, Long Beach City 14

Citrus 21, San Diego Mesa 18

Pasadena City 24, Palomar 23

Best of the rest: Undefeated section tackle football teams dwindle to 16

Sixteen teams remain undefeated through the opening four weeks of play in the 2025 San Diego Section tackle football season.

The lone South County team is Olympian after the Eagles downed the host Santana Sultans, 35-9 last Friday in Santee.

The perfect 4-0 start has allowed Olympian to jump up the early season rankings to No. 39 from No. 44 last week, which would place the Chula Vista team in the middle of the Division IV tier if the playoffs started today.

The Eagles continue to trail Mater Dei Catholic in the section rankings. The Crusaders (1-3) dropped to No. 11 from No. 8 after coming up short, 45-13, last Friday against No. 7 San Marcos.

Mater Dei Catholic would be included among Division I teams if the playoffs opened today.

Lincoln, which suffered its first loss to the season, 34-24, to Mission Viejo last Friday at home, remains No. 1 in the section rankings ahead of No. 2 Cathedral Catholic (3-0), No. 3 La Costa Canyon (4-0) and No. 4 Carlsbad (4-0).

Those top four-ranked teams would constitute the section’s Open Division playoff tier at present.

Mission Hills (4-0) entered the week ranked at No. 5, followed by Granite Hills (3-1) at No. 6. Those teams flipped positions after Granite Hills came up short, 31-21, at the North County school last Friday in a matchup of early season unbeatens.

El Camino (1-2), Mt. Miguel (3-1) and Poway (2-2) round out the section’s current top 10.

But there’s still a long way to go until the playoffs start. Seeding will not be accomplished until the final regular season game is in the books.

Still the ones

Of the section’s 16 unbeaten teams, 10 sport 4-0 records: No. 3 La Costa Canyon, No. 4 Carlsbad, No. 5 Mission Hills, No. 20 Central Union, No. 22 Imperial, No. 24 Steele Canyon, No. 26 Santa Fe Christian, No. 29 Mission Bay, No. 39 Olympian and No. 46 Army-Navy Academy.

The leaves six teams with 3-0 marks: No. 2 Cathedral Catholic, No. 12 Rancho Bernardo, No. 14 Point Loma, No. 25 Bishop’s, No. 33 San Diego and No. 35 Mira Mesa.

There are a host of teams with 3-1 early season records: No. 1 Lincoln, No. 6 Granite Hills, No. 7 San Marcos, No. 9 Mt. Miguel, No. 21 La Jolla, No. 23 University City, No. 42 Montgomery, No. 50 Santana, No. 59 Calexico, No. 64 Monte Vista, No. 70 Maranatha Christian, No. 71 Coastal Academy, No, 74 Mar Vista, No. 75 Southwest and No. 86 Mountain Empire.

The rankings will work themselves out as teams play more games.

Olympian 35, Santana 9

Last Friday’s game in Santee between the host Sultans and Eagles, billed as a showdown of early undefeated 3-0 teams, left one team smarting after a 35-9 non-league setback.

It was new territory for the Sultans this season in accepting their first loss after a solid start in non-league play.

The Eagles came out of the gridiron scrap soaring with a perfect 4-0 record.

The contest was knotted 7-7 through the first quarter before Olympian took a 21-7 halftime lead on the only two touchdowns in the second quarter.

The Sultans racked up a defensive two-point safety in the third quarter, but the Eagles countered with the only two touchdowns in the second half.

Olympian led 28-9 entering the fourth quarter.

Senior Jayden Fuentes led the victorious Eagles with 189 passing yards and four touchdowns, including two to junior Walter Ignacio (three catches, 50 yards) and one each to seniors Jorgani Estrada (five catches, 100 yards) and Patricio Flatts (two catches, 15 yards).

Ignacio notched 103 yards in all-purpose yards (53 rushing, 50 receiving) while Fuentes had 197 total yards,

Junior Jeremiah Delgado Faucher had two carries for 41 yards and logged 11 tackles, including three for losses, while senior Emi Martin Del Campo also had 11 tackles. Senior Dylan Loe and Ignacio each recorded one interception on defense.

Santana’s lone touchdown in the game came on a pass play to junior Denton Goar (five catches, 58 yards).

Goar tallied 164 all-purpose yards by adding 104 yards on kick returns. The Sultans amassed 221 yards on kick returns, including 77 yards by junior Kolten Thornton and 38 yards by senior Maddox Esoo.

Raiders romp

Junior Samuel Gonzales had eight carries for 92 yards and four touchdowns to lead Southwest’s 63-0 romp at Tri-City Christian last Friday to notch the Raiders’ consecutive win in non-league play following a season-opening loss.

Sophomore Joseph Ellis had four carries for 64 yards and a touchdown, a 20-yard catch for a touchdown and two sacks and a fumble recovery to highlight the defensive effort.

Sophomore Darrel Moss had two tackles and a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown. Junior Sergio Ibarra had one sack.

Senior Asael Ortega was nine-for-nine on PAT conversions.

Girls Flag Football Scoreboard: Lady Barons on top at 9-0

San Diego Section Rankings

(Through Sept. 14)

1. Bonita Vista 9-0

2. Carlsbad 12-2

3. Torrey Pines 12-4

4. Westview 7-2

5. Mission Hills 10-2

6. Classical Academy 10-7

7. Grossmont 11-2

8. Imperial 13-1-2

9. Cathedral Catholic 8-2

10. Calexico 8-1

11.Steele Canyon 9-2

12. Escondido Charter 7-1

13. Mater Dei Catholic 7-0

14. Granite Hills 6-1

15. Vincent Memorial 7-4

16. Poway 6-5

17. San Marcos 5-4

18. Clairemont 7-2

19. Helix 6-3

20. Castle Park 7-1

21. Del Norte 4-4

22. La Costa Canyon 3-3

23. Santana 5-5

24. O’Farrell Charter 5-1

25. San Dieguito Academy 7-3

26. San Ysidro 5-3

27. Brawley 6-9-1

28. Mira Mesa 4-6

29. El Capitan 6-4

Others: 43. West Hills 1-2, 50. El Cajon Valley 3-4, 57. Valhalla 1-5-1, 65. Monte Vista 1-5

Southwestern speeds past Long Beach City, 38-14, for 3-0 start

Take note Jaguars football fans: Southwestern College is on the rise!

The Jags moved up several positions to No. 9 in the weekly state community college poll on the heels of a 3-0 start aided by last weekend’s 38-14 non-conference win at Long Beach City College.

In three games to kick off the 2025 season, the Jags have outscored their opponents 135-48, including an epic 71-10 win at Orange Coast College on Sept. 6. SWC is averaging 45.0 points per game.

The Jaguars host No. 21 Mt. San Jacinto College (2-1) on Saturday, 1 p.m. kickoff.

Southwestern is averaging 469.7 offensive yards per game, including a prolific 286.7 passing yards per game.

Can the Mounties provide a roadblock to a 4-0 start?

The Jags will need to continue to play disciplined football if they are to remain among the state’s top 10 teams.

Southwestern out-rushed Long Beach City 167-76, though the Vikings held a 331-215 edge in the passing department. The Jags defense made its presence felt with three fumble recoveries and three sacks to counterbalance the numbers.

Brayten Silbor passed for 215 yards and three touchdowns and rushed five times for 23 yards and one touchdown to have a part in four scores overall in the game.

Josiah Jefferson, who has committed to Utah, had five catches for 86 yards and one touchdown. Clint Thomas Jr. had three catches for 68 yards and one touchdown while Caleb Blocker had two catches for 40 yards and one score.

Jamarei Ashby-Phan led SWC on the ground with 13 carries for 94 yards while Blocker added eight carries for 34 yards. Jamar Johnson (eight carries, 16 yards) scored the Jags’ lone rushing TD.

Thomas opened scoring on a 48-yard catch while Jefferson (Mater Dei Catholic) scored on an 11-yard pass and Silbor entered the end zone from one yard out for a 21-0 Southwestern lead.

Jacob Cuevas added a 38-yard field goal and Silbor hit Blocker on a 34-yard pass play for a 28-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. Johnson closed out scoring on a one-yard run after the hosts had pulled to within 31-14 on the scoreboard.

Dylan Eads (Christian) led the Jags with eight tackles. Carson Curtis, Nick Joseph and Elijah Dennis each recorded sacks.

Conference play begins this week with the Southwestern-Mt. San Jacinto contest.

State JC Football Rankings

1. San Mateo 3-0

2. Mt. SAC 3-0

3. Butte 3-0

4. Golden West 3-0

5. Ventura 3-0

6. Diablo Valley 3-0

7. Modesto 2-1

8. Riverside City 2-1

9. Southwestern 3-0