Chula Vista High School finally unveils new stadium

It’s been about two years in the making but after last Friday’s unveiling of Chula Vista High School’s new on-campus stadium, few would complain about the wait.

The gala event, which featured the first varsity football game in the school’s new digs, was highlighted with a pre-game alumni walk, band and cheer-leading performances, and a special tribute to former San Diego Section Commissioner Joe Heinz, a CVHS alumnus, who passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 22.

Coaches wore t-shirts emblazoned with the letters “JH.” Buttons bearing the same letters were passed out to fans entering the $42 million stadium.

The Heinz family was invited to take part in the coin toss, including Joe’s wife Jennifer, who serves as the school’s principal.

It was a perfect beginning to a new legacy for the Spartan family.

“It’s totally amazing,” said former CVHS football coach Rex Johnson, who participated in the alumni walk with former CVHS principal Gary Chapman. “They were going to give us a new field but it’s the whole complex and stadium. It’s long overdue.”

Johnson coached 31 years at CVHS, starting as an assistant and serving 11 years as varsity coach.

During his era, the west side school was known as the “Home of Champions.”

With the new field as a motivating force, it still could be.

“It means the world to this school, it’s been a long time coming,” current CVHS football coach and CVHS alumnus Jimmy Clark III said. “The community support has been great. It’s something worth waiting for.”

For those peering down from the stands, the makeover was profound.

Gone were the ugly patches of dirt and uneven terrain. In their pace was an immaculate artificial turf field, bright lighting system and NFL-style goal posts. The stadium also boasted a new synthetic track to replace the dirt lanes. 

Besides football, soccer and potentially lacrosse and field hockey, the new infrastructure should also produce faster times for track and field athletes.

The only thing missing from last Friday’s stadium unveiling as a win for the home team.

The visiting Southwest Raiders won, 31-20, as the teams concluded non-league play.

The Spartans did have the honor of scoring the first touchdown in the new stadium as senior Elijah Richardson took a reverse and broke through the defense for a 39-yard score. Sophomore Asher Richardson, Elijah’s younger brother, had 13 carries for 74 yards and one touchdown.

Richardson finished the game with 11 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

The Raiders countered with a touchdown of their own to lead 7-6 and eventually built a 28-6 lead in the fourth quarter. The hosts challenged with a pair of second-half touchdowns to narrow the score.

Southwest led, 31-=12, on a 36-yard field goal by sophomore Lucas Casas. A late CV TD and onside kick recovery set up an exciting finish.

Junior quarterback Isaac Munoz passed for 228 yards with one touchdown while rushing four times for 17 yards and one score.

Senior Samuel Gonzales rushed 17 times for 100 yards. The Raiders scored three rushing touchdowns: one each by junior Tito Yves (four carries, 24 yards), senior Dylan Garcia (three carries, nine yards) and Munoz.

Senior Elijah Lewis caught an 18-yard scoring pass.

Gonzales had three catches for 74 yards while senior Leo Holguin had seven catches for 55 yards. Senior L Rivera had three catches for 50 yards.

Casas was successful on one field goal and four extra-point conversions for seven kicking points.

“We used to get down if the other team scored the first touchdown in a game, now we realize we’re in a fight and need to keep on fighting,” Southwest coach Domonic Cruz said. “They (the Spartans) are a good running team. We focused on that. We have a running quarterback who is really good with his arm.”

The Raiders last won a league title in 1982. There’s some unfinished business there.

The Raiders improved to 4-3 on the season while the Spartans, playing mostly road games before the stadium opening, saw their record drop to 2-5.

Both teams are set to kick off league play this Friday: Chula Vista at Bonita Vista (3-4 overall) and Southwest at Castle Park (3-4 overall).

“We feel we’re peaking at the right time, we feel we’re on an upward curve,” Clark said.

Next home game is Oct. 23 against Sweetwater.