Match-up of early season unbeatens pits 3-0 Eagles, Sultans

The San Diego Section high school football playoffs are nearly two months away but some genuine intrigue is already starting to develop.

The Santana Sultans will host the Olympian Eagles Friday at 7 p.m. Both teams sport impressive 3-0 starts to the new season.

Olympian posted a once-in-a-decade 44-17 win at Eastlake High School last week while Santana kept its motor running with a 28-7 non-league win at Hilltop High School.

It’s a good early-season test for both combatants as league play is just around the corner as the schedule nears midseason.

Santana kicks off Grossmont Valley League play Oct. 3 against El Cajon Valley; Olympian kicks off Metro-South Bay League action Oct. 17.

There’s still a few more games for tune-ups.

As far as the San Diego Section rankings go, Olympian entered the week ranked at No. 44 while Santana was No. 49. If the playoff started today, both teams would be near the top of the Division IV tier.

The Sultans finished 2-3 in Grossmont Valley League play last season en route to an overall 7-5 mark and trip to the second round of the Division V section playoffs, falling 14-0 to the host Bonita Vista Barons, the No. 2 seed, after eliminating the 10th-seeded Kearny Komets by a 33-18 score in the opening round.

Santana entered the playoffs as the No. 7 seed and finished among the top eight teams in the division.

Olympian finished 1-2 in Metro-South Bay League play, 3-7 overall, and did not qualify for the section playoffs.

It’s thus been a whirlwind start to the season for the Eagles under new head coach Lew Barnes, a three-year NFL veteran with the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs. He was selected by the Bears in the fifth round of the 1986 NFL Draft, the 138th player overall.

A Lincoln Prep graduate, Barnes was among the first wave of San Diego County players to crash the program at the University of Oregon. He played in 31 career NFL games returning 102 kicks for 1,066 yards (10.4 average).

He appeared in 32 games with the Ducks (1983-85) with 18 receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown to his credit.

Under his tutelage, Olympian has already matched its win total of last season. In fact, the last time the Eagles defeated Eastlake was in 2016.

The once-in-a-decade victory was obviously one to savor for the entire program.

The visiting Eagles steadily built a lead on the host Titans, soaring ahead 20-3 at halftime.
Olympian amassed an armada of touchdowns: three receiving, two rushing and one on an interception return.

Senior quarterback Jared Fuentes passed for 365 yards with touchdown passes to senior Patricio Flatts (three catches, 93 yards), junior Gio Ware (two catches, 164 yards) and senior Mikey Talavera (two catches, eight yards). Fuentes, who also rushed three times for 11 yards, finished the game with a 130 QB efficiency rating.

Juniors Walter Ignacio (14 carries, 26 yards) and Jeremiah Delgado Faucher (one carry, two yards) scored rushing touchdowns.

Fuentes topped the team with 376 total offensive yards.

Senior Jorgani Estrada returned an intercepted pass 35 yards for a touchdown while senior Eisuke Simmons collected eight kicking points in the game — five on PAT conversions and a field goal.

Olympian out-gained Eastlake 412-212 in total yards.

Junior David Branco (nine carries, 60 yards) scored both Eastlake touchdowns, both on rushing plays. The Titans were held to 68 passing yards.

Junior Chris Wilson had one interception for Eastlake.

The Titans hit the road this Friday for Santa Maria to take on St. Joseph (2-1). The Knights are coming off an 31-6 victory against Hanford (1-2).

Fuentes has passed for 818 yards with eight touchdowns against just one interception while Flatts, Estrada and Talavera each have caught two scoring passes.

Ignacio and junior Jonah Zamora each have three rushing touchdowns.

Purple Nation
It’s said that defense wins championships, it certainly wins games. The Sultans’ 3-0 record is a testament to that to start the season.

“Our defense has played outstanding in those three games,” SHS head coach Tim Estes said. “We’ve given up 14 points total in those three games. That shows you how strong our defense is.”

Offensively, the Sultans have been no slouch, either.

“We had nine guys catch passes in our first game, five in our second game and six guys catch passes against Hilltop,” Estes said. “We have four or five guys who can run the ball.”
It’s been a multi-pronged effort. “It’s been a team effort,” Estes underscored.

In the latest win, junior quarterback Ethan Miler completed 16 of 23 passing attempts for 235 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, finishing the non-league game with a solid 142.2 quarterback efficiency rating.

Junior Kolten Thornton had five catches for 89 yards and one touchdown (a 52-yard sideline breakaway) while junior Denton Goar had four catches for 38 yards and one touchdown. Senior Caleb Carnes had two catches for 36 yards and one touchdown.

Junior Ethan Smith had one catch for 30 yards to advance the sticks. Additionally, junior Josh Pehl had five catches for 37 yards.

Sophomore Julian Mayers led the Sultans on the ground with 43 rushing yards on 11 carries.

Goar tacked on 91 yards in kick returns to finish the contest with 129 all-purpose yards.
The Sultans out-gained the Lancers (1-2) 250-198 in total yards.

Senior Jordyn Gillissie keyed the visitors with nine tackles while sophomore Tatum Morehouse added eight defensive stops. Santana recorded four sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Morehouse, Carnes and junior Evan Liesche were each credited with one sack while seniors Cohen Waider and Grayson Wolf shared one sack.

Junior Anthony Terry and Mayers each made fumble recoveries.

Morehouse punted four times for a 41.0-yard average with a long of 54 yards. He dropped two punts inside the Hilltop 20-yard line.

Senior Liam McGhen tacked on four extra-point conversions.

For the Lancers, senior Alejandro Carranza completed five of eight passing attempts for 99 yards with a 143.5 QB rating. Senior Julian Moran had three catches for 111 yards and one touchdown while senior Leo Mendoza rushed 13 times for 62 yards. Both players broke off one long gainer.

Moran keyed the hosts with 128 all-purpose yards. Senior Micah Hopkins tallied one sack. Senior Manuel Pablos averaged 46.0 yards on two kickoffs and 32.5 yards on four punts while recording one PAT conversion.

Miller has passed for 589 yards with seven touchdowns versus two picks while Mayers has rushed for 147 yards with one TD. Thornton has 16 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns while Goar has chalked up a team-leading 245 all-purpose yards, including 119 yards on kick returns.

Both Goar and Thornton each have one interception on defense.

Gillissie tops the defense with 20 tacklers and 5.5 sacks.

Hilltop keys up this Friday for the annual Kiwanis Bowl matchup against the Chula Vista Spartans. Both teams are 1-2.

Chula Vista is coming off a 17-14 non-league loss last Friday to El Capitan, which had been shut out in its opening two games. Senior Isaiah Heard (14 carries, 36 yards/one catch, 72 yards) scored both touchdowns for the Spartans.

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)

High School Cross Country Scoreboard

Vaquero Stampede

Saturday, Aug. 23 at Lindo Lake Park

Division 1

Boys Junior/Senior
Top 25 individuals (2 miles): 1. Parker McDevitt (Westview) 10:17.02, 2. Luis Naranjo (Grossmont) 10:19.17, 3. Charlie Nosti (San Pasqual) 10:37.10, 4. Myles Cata (Grossmont) 10:38.36, 5. Cameron Iverson (Westview) 10:38.99, 6. Sam Rohrer (Liberty Charter) 10:42.50, 7. Devin Etheridge (Mission Vista) 10:48.20, 8. Elias Acosta (El Capitan) 10:48.36, 9. Daniel Namgoong (Westview) 10:54.22, 10. Tobias Rivera Garcia (Westview) 10:56.45, 11. Jaden Jacobo (Mission Vista) 10:57.70, 12. Kaden Williams (Eastlake) 11:00.61, 13. Brady Albright (Eastlake) 11:03.64, 14. Caleb Acosta (Liberty Charter) 11:11.59, 15. Lucas Ayala (Westview) 11:17.64, 16. Noah Redman (El Capitan) 11:22.12, 17. Jack Merideth (San Pasqual) 11:26.21, 18. Cade Willhoit (Mission Vista) 11:28.97. 19. Tyce Barker (El Capitan) 11:29.07, 20. Vetter Edwards (San Pasqual) 11:30.47, 21. Esteban Villanueva (Eastlake) 11:31.36, 22. Josh Silva (Oceanside) 11:31.63, 23. Diego Moreno (Steele Canyon) 11:32.08, 24. Alex Giordan (Steele Canyon) 11:36.19, 25. Michael Lopez (Steele Canyon) 11:37.50. Entrants: 74

Team scores: 1. Westview 40, 2. Mission Vista 89, 3. El Capitan 101, 4. Grossmont 118, 5. Eastlake 125, 6. Steele Canyon 137, 7. San Pasqual 142, 8. Liberty Charter 148

Girls Junior/Senior
Top 25 individuals (2 miles): 1. Jaelyn Williams (Eastlake) 12:00.57, 2. Malia Guillen (Oceanside) 12:23.08, 3. Delaney Hennigan (Westview) 12:27.52, 4. Jaylynn Erickson (Mission Vista) 12:31.41, 5. Jane Telliard (Grossmont) 12:43.90, 6. Ruby Zaky (Mission Vista) 12:51.10, 7. Isabella Nazario (Eastlake) 12:53.04, 8. Cora Lottermoser (El Capitan) 12:54.89. 9. Ashlan Forster (El Capitan) 12:55.66, 10. Danica Ferrez (Steele Canyon) 12:59.42, 11. Aubree Boinus (El Capitan) 13:08.49, 12. Tasi Tydningco (Westview) 13:41.06, 13. Kaitlyn Baldwin (Steele Canyon) 13:41.58, 14. Delilah Camacho (Mission Vista) 13:42.34, 15. Malia Hirsch (Mission Vista) 13:46.82, 16. Ashlynn Montes (El Capitan) 13:47.69, 17. Daya Dann (Grossmont) 13:47.72, 18. Angie Rodriguez (Grossmont) 13:47.94, 19. Kiara Uthaixai (San Pasqual) 13:50.15, 20. Abbey Patstone (Steele Canyon) 13:58.24, 21. McKensi Goulette (Grossmont) 14:09.36, 22. Jazlyn Pena (San Pasqual) 14:09.73, 23. Lily Tippitt (San Pasqual) 14:09.74, 24. Asha Mohammed (Eastlake) 14:13.85, 25. Billi Readinger (Mission Vista) 14:15.94. Entrants: 47

Team scores: 1. Mission Vista 40, 2. El Capitan 45, 3. Steele Canyon 64, 4. Westview 67

Boys Frosh/Soph
Top 15 individuals (2 miles): 1. Jack Keddington (Westview) 11;)2.93, 2. Kenrick Gunn (Westview) 11:03.83, 3. Buddy Espinoza (Oceanside) 11:18.11, 4. Carlos Montenegro (Eastlake) 11:19.32, 5. Erick Vega (San Pasqual) 11:19.33, 6. Sergio Propst (Eastlake) 11:19.38, 7. Padraic Kerns (Eastlake) 11:19.65, 8. Isaac Peral (Mission Vista) 11:31.30, 9. Tomio Ishio (Westview) 11:42.98, 10. Jake Rogers (Steele Canyon) 11:48.06, 11. Dalvin Karchem (Mission Vista) 11:48.80, 12. Tyler Carr (Oceanside) 11:49.24, 13. Noah Cante (Eastlake) 11:54.53, 14. Austin Eades (San Pasqual) 12:01.96, 15. Cameron Rhew (Westview) 12:03.05. Entrants: 99

Team scores: 1. Westview 45, 2. Eastlake 75, 3. Mission Vista 79, 4. San Pasqual 81, 5. Oceanside 112, 6. El Capitan 133, 7. Steele Canyon 148, 8. Grossmont 243

Girls Frosh/Soph
Top 10 individuals (2 miles): 1. Sophie Sagi (Westview) 12:25.38, 2. Lynn Pham (Westview) 12:53.29, 3. Poema Strong (High Tech High San Diego) 12:58.15, 4. Aomi Nebel (High Tech High San Diego) 13:03.71, 5. Reese Gordon (High Tech High San Diego) 13:18.03, 6. Edie Evans (High Tech High San Diego) 13:24.02, 7. Jade Gordon (High Tech High San Diego) 13:25.68, 8. Nivedya Krishnan (Westview) 13:32.53, 9. Aubrie Johnson (Oceanside) 13:33.50. 10. Aliya Khalighi (High Tech High San Diego) 13:33.73. Others: 19. Caitlin Davis (Steele Canyon) 14:02.68, 21. Riley McGhen (El Capitan) 14:18.41, 23. Evie Bustamante (Eastlake) 14:56.03, 32. Jaylynn Alonzo (Eastlake) 15:46.77, 33. Capri Ball (Eastlake) 15:53.50, 35. Amelia Dutra (Steele Canyon) 16:17.47, 37. Grace Binsfield (Steele Canyon) 16:209.47, 38. LaBella Franco (El Capitan) 16:24.55, 39. Kenzie Jensen (El Capitan) 16:53.44. Entrants: 63

Team scores: 1. High Tech High San Diego 25, 2, Westview 32, 3. Mission Vista 96, 4. Steele Canyon 120, 5. San Pasqual 125

Division 1I

Boys Junior/Senior
Top 25 individuals (2 miles): 1. Amadeous Lozano (Sweetwater) 10:45.14, 2. George Mesa (Ramona) 10:51.87, 3. Chrystian Barrales-Garcia (Canyon Springs) 10:55.45, 4. William George (Ramona) 10:57.32, 5. Jack Digenan (Granite Hills) 10:58.27, 6. David Hernandez (Canyon Springs) 11:02.86, 7. Daniel Anthony Hernandez (Hilltop) 11:25.65, 8. George Hayton (Hilltop) 11:26.21, 9. Brix Jared Baracena (Sweetwater) 11:36.89, 10. Jose Mariscal (Mt. Miguel) 11:37.13, 11. Armando Leon (Sweetwater) 11:41.69, 12. Lukas Brown (Bonita Vista) 11:44.40, 13. Brady Sutherland (Hilltop) 11:50.58, 14. Iker Quintero (Mt. Miguel) 11:56.15, 15. Ethan Heredia (Bonita Vista) 12:00.22, 16. Armando Nunez (Sweetwater) 12:04.77, 17. David Gonzalez (Mt. Miguel) 12:08.70, 18. Julian Mason (Bonita Vista) 12:09.78, 19. Raul Garza (Canyon Springs) 12:10.74, 20. Nathan Ruiz (Canyon Springs) 12:14.41, 21. Angel Marin (Bonita Vista) 12:15.78, 22. Michael Moura (High Tech high San Diego) 12:20.84, 23. Sage Traba (Bonita Vista) 12:21.09, 24. Robert Phillippi (Monte Vista) 12:25.10, 25. Pablo Gomez (Hilltop) 12:26.65. Entrants: 78

Team scores: 1. Sweetwater 56, 2. Canyon Springs 65, 3. Hilltop 75, 4. Bonita Vista 78, 5. Mt. Miguel 102, 6. Granite Hills 137, 7. Monte Vista 175

Girls Junior/Senior
Top 25 individuals (2 miles): 1. Jaslynn Harris (Granite Hills) 13:12.02, 2. Renee Khuong (Bonita Vista) 13:20.83, 3. Kamilah Cone (Hilltop) 14:20.93, 4. Jazmin Cervantes (Canyon Springs) 14:22.60, 5. Roxanne Ocampo (Mt. Miguel) 14:25.85, 6. Cadelyn Belasco (Liberty Charter (14:27.29, 7. Jayde Esparza (Canyon Springs) 14:36.62, 8. Josephine Knapp (Granite Hills) 14:36.42. 9. Brianna Mateo-Victoriano (Sweetwater) 14:37.94, 10. Cambrey Belasco (Liberty Charter) 14:43.72, 11. Melanie Cisneros (Hilltop) 14:43.88, 12. Nora Traba (Bonita Vista) 14:49.80, 13. Sofia Saldivar (Hilltop) 15:11.56, 14. Lesly Cedillo (Granite Hills) 15:16.32, 15. Kylie Coleman (Granite Hills) 15:71.91. 16. Lily Urbina (Hilltop) 15:19.93, 17. Joselyn Lopez (Canyon Springs) 15:27.89, 18. Isaballa Arcadi (Ramona) 15:30.95, 19. Sophia Ambriz (Bonita Vista) 15:31.23, 20. Jasbel Gutierrez (Canyon Springs) 15:35.19, 21. Chloe McCrea (Monte Vista) 15:45.91, 22. Ezri Wagnell (Liberty Charter) 15:49.91, 23. Yareli Aguilar Diaz (Hilltop) 16:10.69, 24. Esmeralda Rodriguez (Bonita Vista) 16:11.77, 25. Zayrha Zarate (Granite Hills) 16:20.56. Entrants: 50

Team scores: 1. Granite Hills 57, 2. Hilltop 60, 3. Canyon Springs 74, 4. Bonita Vista 76, 5. Liberty Charter 100, 6. Sweetwater 118

Boys Frosh/Soph
Team scores: 1. Bonita Vista 47, 2. High Tech High San Diego 69, 3. Ramona 70, 4. Liberty Charter 104, 5. Hilltop 124. 6. Canyon Springs 142, 7. Granite Hills 147, 8. Sweetwater 207, 9. Santana 257. Top individual (2 miles): Brandon DiPietrtro (Ramona) 11:20.75. Entrants: 106