CV Spartans set opening date for new campus stadium

The days are counting down for the Chula Vista Spartans as they prepare to inaugurate their new campus stadium. The opening date has now been set for Oct. 9 against the Southwest Raiders in a non-league match-up.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to showcase the new facility and have the community join us for that milestone event,” CVHS head football coach and athletic director Jimmy Clark III said.

The Spartans enter Friday’s non-league game at Olympian High School with a 0-4 record. But that record is deceiving. The team is likely better than the record indicates.

“As for the season so far, we have improved each week and continue to see positive growth from our team,” Clark said. “We did an outstanding job competing against Patrick Henry (35-28 loss on Sept. 4), and that performance reinforced the progress we’ve been making. We believe we’ve turned a corner in all three phases of the game, with improvements in offense, defense and special teams that are beginning to show up consistently on the field.

“We’re excited about the direction the program is heading and look forward to continuing that momentum throughout the season.”

The Spartans scored four touchdowns against the undefeated Patriots, including three rushing scores from sophomore Asher Richardson and one receiving touchdown form senior Jaylen Clark. Junior Alexis Amador tacked on four successful PAT conversions.

Richardson rushed 16 times for 125 yards while senior E Richardson had 19 carries for 112 yards. As a team, Chula Vista logged 263 rushing yards on 39 carries, an average of 6.7 yards per attempt. A Richardson averaged 7.8 yards per carry, including one bolt for 22 yards. Elijah Richardson broke off a 32-yarder.

Junior quarterback Isaiah Orta completed 10 of 15 passes for 89 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Clark had nine catches for 82 yards, averaging 9.1 yards  per catch with a long of 19 yards.

As a team, the Spartans racked up 351 total yards in offense. Defensively, junior Alfred Francis led the team with seven tackles, including fvie solo stops, while sophomore Jaden Smith recorded one sack.

Chula Vista came closest to earning its first win of the season last Friday in a “home” game at Montgomery High School against the undefeated Santana Sultans.

The Spartans led from the get-go, building an early 14-0 first quarter lead, until Santana kicker Brenden Varner split the uprights on a 23-yard field goal with 11.2 seconds remaining in the game to allow the Sultans to remain undefeated on the season at 4-0.

It was so close but no cigar.

But the team continues to grow.  That first win now seems imminent.

“We’re really proud of the way the team has continued to improve each week,” Clark said. “Up front, we start three sophomores on the offensive line and they got off to a slow start adjusting to the speed and physicality of varsity football. However, they’ve really come into their own and have shown tremendous growth from week to week. 

“We also made a couple of adjustments at other positions that helped solidify our run game and gave us better balance offensively.

“What has impressed us most is the players’ ability to take coaching, make adjustments, and then go out and execute. They’ve stayed bought in and continued to improve despite some tough early challenges.

“We know we’ve played a very demanding schedule and have narrowly missed out on a few wins against quality opponents. While that’s frustrating in the moment, we believe those experiences will pay dividends as we enter league play and hopefully make a playoff run. The competition we’ve faced has prepared our players for the level of football they’ll see moving forward.

“Asher has been outstanding. His competitiveness, versatility, and play-making ability continue to make a huge impact, and we’re excited to see what he can do as league play begins in a couple of weeks.”

Cardiac kids
The Sultans had to contend with Richardson, whose breakaway speed presented problems for the Santana defense all game long. Richardson rushed 33 times for 236 yards and four touchdowns to put the Spartans in position to pick up their first win of the season. 

Chula Vista opened the game with a 45-yard kickoff return by senior Gabriel Ruiz to set up Richardson for a five-yard touchdown run for an early 7-0 lead. The Spartan lead grew to 14-0 when Richardson scored from one yard out following a blocked punt.

The Sultans started scoring thereafter while playing catch-up.

A 48-yard catch by senior Ethan Smith on the last play of the first quarter set up Santana on the two-yard line. Junior Julian Mayers scored from there on the first play of the second quarter to make it a 14-6 game after the hosts blocked the extra-point attempt.

Senior Koko Thornton stymied the Spartans with an interception on a deep pass down the sideline. The Sultans reversed field as Thornton hauled in a 13-yard scoring pass from senior Ethan Miller to cut the deficit to 14-12. Thornton was denied on the two-point conversion run to keep it a two-point game.

But the Santana defense couldn’t contain the nimble Richardson, who was suddenly at the Santana six-yard line following a 30-yard return. Junior Jaidyn Davies bowled in from five yards put to put Chula Vista in front 21-12 following the successful extra-point conversion by Amador.

An interception by Clark ended the first half.

The Sultans completed their comeback with a 25-14 scoring edge in the second half.

Thornton was next on the scoreboard on a 14-yard run with 6:41 remaining in third quarter but he was denied again on a two-point conversion to leave the score at 21-18.

Richardson again found himself in the end zone for a 28-18 CV lead with 4:35 to play in the quarter.

A 30-yard bomb set up senior Denton Goar for a touchdown at the back of the endzone. This time the two-point conversion was good to Smith as Santana crept back to within two points on the scoreboard at 28-26.

But Richardson once again made it a foot race down field, eventually scoring on a three-yard run to hike the Spartan lead to 35-26.

Santana did the rest of the scoring in the game.

Goar hauled in a seven-yard TD catch with 4:24 to play and Thornton tacked on the two-point conversion to narrow the Chula Vista lead to one precarious point at 35-34.

The Spartans regained the momentum on a 40-yard return. But a bad snap pushed the Spartans into third-and-15 and a punt with 2:40 to play.

The Sultans took over possession at their own 23-yard line. Mayers moved the ball 10 yards for a first down but a short run and two incomplete passes forced Santana into fourth-and-eight.

Mayers carried the ball to the 50-yard line for a clutch first down. An incompletion followed and then a completion to Goar to the CV 34 with1:20 left.

Goar caught another aerial to the nine-yard line with 53.9 seconds remaining and Mayers then carried to the three-yard line with 42.7 seconds left. Thornton kept the momentum going with a carry to the one-yard line with 22.4 seconds on the clock.

But the Sultans could not score on first-and-goal or second-and-goal or third-and goal as the ball remained at the one-yard-line. A motion penalty on fourth down with 15.7 seconds left moved the ball back to the six-yard line. There was only one option left: attempt a field goal from the 13-yard line.

Problem: Varner had yet to successfully kick a field goal in three previous games and already had a PAT blocked on Santana’s first touchdown.  

The pressure was on. Would the Sultans’ final drive of the game end in disappointment or victory? Would Chula Vista get its first win?

The snap was good but the kick was low.

It was hard to determine at first in the dim lighting at the far end of the Montgomery High School field if the Spartans had blocked Varner once again or if the ball had sailed either wide or fell short.

But Santana players came out of the pile-up at the line of scrimmage with arms raised. The ball had somehow found a way through the uprights.

37-35 Sultans.

But the game was not over. The Spartans returned the ensuing kickoff to the 43-yard line with 6.8 seconds to play in the non-league contest. Another big play and the hosts would be conceivably in field goal range if not in the end zone on another spectacular run by Richardson.

But the Satana defense sacked Orta to take care of matters and end the game.

Snatched from the jaw of defeat.

Varner said he felt confident stepping up to the ball.

“It wasn’t my best kick but it went through,” he noted with a smile and perhaps also with a sigh of relief. ‘I have to credit my offensive line. We were down in the first quarter but we knew we had plenty of time left in the game to come back. We did a lot of scoring in the last three quarters.”

Santana has a bye until hosting Fallbrook on Sept. 25.

Miller completed 31 of 43 passing attempts for 362 yards with four touchdowns and one interception while Mayers rushed 24 times for 130 yards and one touchdown.

Santana scored five touchdowns overall in the game plus one field goal and a pair of two-point conversions.

Goar caught 11 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns while Thornton had 12 catches for 99 yards and two scores. Varner had three catches for 48 yards in a dual role.

“The defense made a huge stop at the end and the offense got it together,” Sultans head coach Tim Estes said. “We had an error (penalty) and couldn’t score. But we still found a way to get to 4-0.”

Photo Gallery by Phillip Brents

Undefeated Titans (4-0) enjoying fun ride

Senior David Branco has remained the name of the game for the undefeated Eastlake Titans. It’s added up to a 4-0 start.

Branco racked up 206 all-purpose yards (out of 256 for the team) and scored all three Eastlake touchdowns in last Friday’s 21-13 road win at Scripps Ranch High School. 

Branco rushed for 172 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 34 yards, one of which went for a touchdown.

He continued his flair for the dramatic with one sprint from the line of scrimmage measuring 56 yards and one catch that moved the sticks 25 yards.

Junior quarterback Joe Waters completed four of 10 attempts for 37 yards with one touchdown. Junior R.J. Yamasaki was next with five carries for 22 yards.

Thus far, opposing defenses have been unable to stop Branco, who has clearly taken the team on his back in the early season.

In the process, the Titans have moved up the section rankings ladder to No. 20 — the top rung among Metro Conference teams.

“We’re very fortunate to keep on rolling,” EHS head coach Jose Mendoza said.   “The team is very excited on the win streak but not satisfied. We are in our first part of a three-part season. Part 1: non-League. Part 2: league. Part 3: playoffs.  

“I remind the players that the first two parts are very influential to the third.  Key components of our success rely on our offensive line and defensive line,  hard work and dedication, that allows our skill guys to perform at a high level.”

While Branco may fuel the skilled players on offense at present, the Titans’ skilled players on defense continue to perform.

Senior Nicolas Alba led the defense with nine tackles while Branco, a major two-way contributor, logged eight stops. Junior Stephen Guevara III was next up with seven tackles, followed by seniors Chris Wilson and Jeremiah White with six stops each.

Senior Jovani Ceja and Branco each recorded one sack (Ceja for 12 yards). Overall, Eastlake registered nine tackles for losses to keep the Falcons winless (0-3).

The Titans hope to keep the momentum going with this Friday’s homecoming game against the Vista Panthers (0-4).

Bonita Vista 14, El Capitan 7

The Barons picked up their first win of the season after a 0-3 start as junior Ta’Vyon Moore rushed for 70 yards and one touchdown and senior Charlie Finch returned an intercepted pass for a defensive touchdown to slip past host El Capitan, 14-7, last Friday in non-league play.

Bonita Vista won by just generating 122 yards in total offense. 

Seniors Chase Holden and Angel Cortes keyed the defense with seven tackles apiece while senior Diego De La Fuente and sophomore Lukas Yaomoto shared one sack.

Senior quarterback Anthony Lorenz competed nine of 17 passing attempts for 42 yards. He also rushed four times for 15 yards.

Moore caught one pass for 10 yards while senior Cole Margetts had two catches for 14 yards.

Both Bonita Vista and El Capitan are 1-3. 

The Barons next host Hoover (3-1) this Friday in non-league play.

Photo/Jon Bigornia

For now, the Eastlake Titans are the Metro’ Conference’s top-ranked team.

Lancers drop OT thriller to Wolf Pack, 27-20

A run to the left pylon in overtime by junior Evan Dorris kept the West Hills Wolf Pack unbeaten with a dramatic 27-20 win at Hilltop last Friday in non-league play.

It was the second consecutive loss for the Lancers after a 2-0 start. West Hills improved to 4-0.

“It was a back and forth, up and down game,” Hilltop head coach Bryan Wagner said. “They scored first in overtime and we had a few chances to tie it, but we could not punch it in. I think our guys played very well and we definitely could have won that game considering we had three of our main players on offense and defense on the sideline.

“We have Westview this week (home Friday against the 2-2 Wolverines) and we are treating it like a playoff game.”

Senior Octavio Bonilla opened scoring on a quarterback keeper to push Hilltop to an early 7-0 lead. He launched an 80-yard touchdown pass to senior Lajuan Johnson to go in front by three points. 

Junior Max Vaquero pushed the Lancers back in front 20-17 on an 18-yard scoring run.

Hilltop moved the ball to the five-yard line in overtime but failed to score.

Senior Zion Almazon led the Lancers with 12 unassisted tackles while senior Markus Sapiera had one interception.

Warrior Bowl goes to Aztecs 35-0

The Montgomery Aztecs defeated the host Castle Park Trojans, 35-0, in the renewal of the teams’ neighborhood rivalry game last Friday. Sophomore Reyes Bonnett passed for 140 yards and three touchdowns — two to senior Justin Dunkle (two catches, 53 yards) and one to senior Aidan Flores (one catch, eight yards). The visitors also received two rushing TDs — one each from senior Marquis Benton (10 carries, 124 yards) and Ronnie Joiner-Castanon (three carries, 19 yards).

San Diego Section Football Rankings

(Through Week 4)

1. Carlsbad 4-0

2. Mission Hills 3-1

3. Cathedral Catholic 1-2

4. San Marcos 2-1

5. La Costa Canyon 2-2

6. Granite Hills 2-1

7. Point Loma 4-0

8. Santa Fe Christian 4-0

9. Lincoln 1-3

10. Helix 3-1

11. Torrey Pines 3-1

12. Oceanside 1-3

13. Rancho Bernardo 3-1

14. Poway 2-2

15. Del Norte 3-1

16. St. Augustine 0-3

17. Patrick Henry 4-0

18.La Jolla 1-3

19. El Camino 0-3

20. Eastlake 4-0

21. Scripps Ranch 0-3

22. Christian 3-0

23. Grossmont 3-1

24. Steele Canyon 1-2

25. University City 2-2

26. Santana 4-0

27. Ramona 2-2

28. Mission Bay 2-2

29. Imperial 3-1

30. Maranatha Christian 4-0

31. Valhalla 3-0

32. Valley Center 2-2

33. Mater Dei Catholic 0-4

34. West Hills 4-0

35. Holtville 2-2

36. Centeral Union 3-1

37. Otay Ranch 2-2

38. Bishop’s 2-1

39. San Pasqual 2-2

40. Morse 2-2

41. Mt. Miguel 1-2

42. Mira Mesa 3-1

43. Westview 2-2

44. Hoover 3-1

45. Madison 3-1