Mariners sting Hornets, 47-46, roll record to 3-0

Mar Vista High School’s football team is quickly treading into generally unfamiliar territory — a 3-0 start for the first time since 2016.

Two players, in particular, have become catalysts of this season’s surge — sophomore linebacker/running back/punter Luke Everett and senior wide receiver/cornerback/return specialist Ciontae Fewell.

The Mariners improved to 3-0 following last Friday’s palpitating 47-46 non-league victory against the Calipatria Hornets at Bonita Vista High School.

The Hornets led 38-34 entering the final quarter before the Imperial Beach team rallied to out-score the visitors from Imperial County 13-8 to snatch the dramatic come-from-behind win.

Fewell had three catches for 130 yards with one touchdown and tacked on 145 yards in kick returns, including an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, while Everett rushed four times for 57 yards and led the team with 19 tackles, including two stops for losses and one sack.

Fewell, who has been building his game since his sophomore season, showcases his versatility and value in every phase of the game, according to MVHS head coach Sergio Villalva.

Fewell has 13 catches for 347 receiving yards and five touchdowns and 219 kick-return yards with one kickoff return for a touchdown while making 16 tackles on defense. He tops the team with 566 all-purpose yards.

Everett has already placed his name on the national leaderboard by pacing Mar Vista defensively with 46 tackles (12th in the nation) to go with one sack and one caused fumble. On offense, he’s contributed a team-leading 304 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

That’s not all. He handles the team’s punting duties, booming five punts for 257 yards (51.8 yards per punt). He punted once for 60 yards in the team’s latest win. “Numbers that are rarely seen at the high school level,” Villalva said.

It’s a one-two punch that’s been difficult for opponents to overcome.

The Mariners stormed the beach with 651 yards in all-purpose yards against Calipatria (0-2). Fewell had 275 of them while sophomore Braylon Shumate was just behind at 250 yards (95 rushing, 323 receiving and 58 on kick returns). Shumate stung the Hornets with three touchdowns — one rushing, one receiving and one on a 65-yard interception return.
But there’s more to the IB squad than just these two players.

Sophomore Holden Bell passed for 212 yards with three touchdowns — one each to Fewell, Shumate and senior Steven Santos (two catches, 48 yards). Senior Gabriel Sanchez had 15 tackles while sophomore Aaron Shelby had 12 stops and one sack. Junior Julian Davis logged one pick.

The Mariners host the Rancho Buena Vista Longhorns (2-1) Friday at Sweetwater High School, 6:30 p.m.

Crusaders score first win of season

The Mater Dei Catholic High School football team is no longer winless on the season following a 31-6 non-league win in Oakland against the Bishop O’Dowd Dragons last Friday.
The big win erased a frustrating 0-2 start for the Crusaders while playing a challenging early season schedule.

Junior quarterback Jackson Munford scored a 150.7 efficiency rating by completing 14 of 19 attempts for 245 passing yards and two touchdowns. Senior Jordan Dumaran rushed 16 times for 135 yards and scored twice on the ground.

Junior Diego Mendoza (six catches, 145 yards) caught both touchdown passes.
The Crusaders kicked off the season with a 52-7 non-league loss at No. 2 Cathedral Catholic and followed with a 52-17 non-league setback at No. 5 Granite Hills.

Despite the 1-2 record, Mater Dei Catholic holds down the No. 8 ranking among San Diego Section teams.

The Crusaders finished as Division I runners-up in last year’s section playoffs.

Mater Dei Catholic hosts No. 7 San Marcos (2-1) this Friday at 7 p.m. as non-league play continues.

Home games follow against defending Division III champion St. Augustine on Sept. 19 and Helix Charter on Sept. 26.

The Crusaders kick off defense of their Metro-Mesa League championship Oct. 3.

Aztecs, Raiders hike early season records to 2-1 with key victories

The Montgomery Aztecs and Southwest Raiders both hiked their early season football records to 2-1 with timely non-league wins last Friday.

Montgomery defeated Patrick Henry, 35-14, in a game played at San Ysidro High School while Southwest won 21-13 at Clairemont.

Sophomore Isaiah Mena-Malijan passed for 181 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Aztecs while senior Isaac Espinosa (three carries, 37 yards) scored one rushing touchdown. Junior Marquis Benton (five catches, 55 yards), senior Vili Trollinger (four catches, 70 yards) and sophomore Qassim Williams (two catches, 25 yards) each caught scoring passes.

Montgomery racked up 483 yards in all-purpose offense against the Patriots (0-3). Williams had 90 yards in kick returns (with one touchdown) while Trollinger had 18 yards on an interception return.

The Aztecs recorded three picks in the game, including those also by sophomore Jordan Gonzales and John Ingram (25 yards). Senior Mikey Silva, sophomore Diego Ramirez and senior Jeremiah Laoang each had fumble recoveries. Sophomore Andrew Tapia had two sacks.

Sophomore Isaac Munoz passed for one touchdown and rushed for the go-ahead touchdown on offense and made tackles on the last two plays on defense to lead the Raiders back onto the field in victory formation.

Munoz completed three of six passing attempts for 32 yards, connecting with senior Diego Valencia for a touchdown. Munoz rushed four times for 26 yards.

Junior Leo Holguin started behind center, passing for 111 yards. Sophomore Darrell Moss rushed 10 times for 105 yards and one touchdown.

The Raiders had two sacks and an interception (Valencia) on defense.

Montgomery hosts Hoover (2-0) this Friday at Olympian High School while Southwest is on the road this Friday at Tri-City Christian (0-2).

South County Prep Football Log

Friday, Sept. 5
Non-League
Olympian 44, Eastlake 17
Mater Dei Catholic 31, Bishop O’Dowd 6
Mar Vista 47, Calipatria 46
Montgomery 35, Patrick Henry 14
Southwest 21, Clairemont 13
University City 33, Bonita Vista 14
Santana 28, Hilltop 7
El Capitan 17, Chula Vista 14
San Diego 50, Otay Ranch 0
Escondido 23, Sweetwater 13
Monte Vista 49, Castle Park 12
Crawford 41, San Ysidro 16

Friday, Sept. 12
Chula Vista at Hilltop 6:30 p.m.
Mar Vista vs. Rancho Buena Vista at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
Sweetwater at Madison, 6:30 p.m.
San Marcos at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
Patrick Henry at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
Montgomery vs. Hoover at Olympian, 7 p.m.
Olympian at Santana, 7 p.m.
Mountain Empire at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
Victory Christian Academy at Foothills Christian, 7 p.m.
Eastlake at St. Joseph (Santa Maria), 7 p.m.
Bonita Vista at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
Southwest at Tri-City Christian, 7 p.m.
Castle Park at Rock Academy, 7 p.m.

San Diego Section Rankings
(Through Sept. 6)
1. Lincoln (3-0)
2. Cathedral Catholic (3-0)
3. La Costa Canyon (3-0)
4. Carlsbad (3-0)
5. Granite Hills (3-0)
6. Mission Hills (3-0)
7. San Marcos (2-1)
8. Mater Dei Catholic (1-2)
9. El Camino (1-2)
10. Helix (1-2)
11. Torrey Pines (2-1)
12. Rancho Bernardo (3-0)
13. Poway (2-1)
14. Mt. Miguel (2-1)
15. Pt. Loma (3-0)
16. De Norte (1-2)
17. St. Augustine (0-3)
18. Oceanside (0-3)
19. Central Union (3-0)
20. Madison (0-3)
21. University City (3-0)
22. Bishop’s (2-0)
23. Santa Fe Christian (3-0)
24. Imperial (3-0)
25. La Jolla (2-1)
26. Scripps Ranch (1-2)
27. San Pasqual (2-1)
28. Steele Canyon (3-0)
29. Christian (1-1)
30. Grossmont (2-0)
Others: 41, Otay Ranch (1-2), 42. Eastlake (1-2), 43. Montgomery (2-1), 44. Olympian (3-0), 46. Chula Vista (1-2), 52. Bonita Vista (0-3), 58. Sweetwater (1-2), 6 69. Hilltop (1-2), 75. Mar Vista (3-0), 76. Southwest (2-1), 78. San Ysidro (1-2), 79. Castle Park (1-2), 87. Victory Christian Academy (0-2)