Titans ride Branco’s four touchdown rushing parade to Metro-best 3-0 start

Now there is just one. 

The Eastlake Titans remain the Metro Conference’s lone undefeated team at 3-0 after defeating the visiting Steele Canyon Cougars, 27-14, in a non-league clash last Friday pitting CIF elites from last season.

Steele Canyon finished runner-up in the San Diego Section Division II championship game while the Titans recorded a runner-up finish in the Division IV final.

Eastlake looks to maybe move up a rung this season.

“It feels great to be 3-0, but the team is humble to be in this position,” EHS head coach Jose Mendoza said.  “Of course, we are pleased with our players’ hard work, which has translated to the field in the run game and on the defensive side of the ball.  

“Our team goal is to improve in all three aspects of the game,  week to week.  David Branco (senior) has led the team on both sides of the ball,  with the help of (seniors) Joesiah Hernandez and Diego Cabrera on the offensive line.   On the defensive side, we have the Ceja brothers (senior Jovani, sophomore Javian) along with (seniors) Noah McCurty and Nicolas Alba.”

It’s been an interesting ride to 3-0.

The Titans remained undefeated despite gaining 53 yards less than their adversary. Chalk it up to well-timed plays. Senior David Branco carried the ball 30 times for 288 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns in a game of keep-away. He ripped off one memorable run for 75 yards.

Junior quarterback Joe Waters completed three of four passing attempts for 35 yards. Two other EHS ball-carriers gained only two yards between them. Senior Eidrin Estrelon had two catches for 27 yards, including one for 21 yards.

Waters checked in with 48 all-purpose yards by adding 13 yards on the ground.

But the big story of the game was Branco, or the name of the game.

On his final marathon run, older brother Ryan Branco waited near the end zone to congratulate him.

The Cougars (1-2) generated 378 yards in total offense.           

Senior quarterback Gavin Caha led Steele Canyon with 326 passing yards and one touchdown and one interception. Otherwise the Titan defense clamped down on the Cougars rushing game by limiting the Jamul visitors to 52 yards on the ground.

Senior Marcus Hunt was the Man of Steele with 108 all-purpose yards (54 rushing and 54 receiving). He caught one touchdown pass. Senior Josiah Stocker had three catches for 109 yards while senior Malcolm Ballard had five catches for 83 yards. Junior Cameron Trujillo had five catches for 65 yards as Caha connected with six different receivers.        

Caha scored on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Cougars struck first on a 54-yard scoring pass from Caha to Hunt. But the two-point conversion failed, leaving the visitors with a vulnerable 6-0 lead.

 Two touchdowns by Branco lifted the Titans into a 14-6 lead in the second quarter. The hosts preserved their eight-point halftime lead with goal-line stand. 

The Cougars came close again to open the second half but misfired on a 30-yard field goal attempt. Branco extended the Eastlake lead to 21-6 with his third score of the game. But Caha’s rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion by Ballard suddenly made it a one score game at 21-14 with plenty of time left in the final quarter.

But the EHS defense rose to the occasion by stopping Steele Canyon once again on fourth down after the visitors had recovered an onside kick. Branco delivered the final blow on his scamper from the 25-yard line to pay dirt to seal the Titan victory.

The Cougars’ missed opportunities throughout the game proved to be their undoing.

Senior Luke Rode keyed the Steele defense with eight tackles.

The EHS defense was even more solid. Senior Jovani Ceja led the winners with nine stops, including six solo tackles, while McCurty logged seven tackles, including five first hits. Alba had six tackles, including five first hits.

The hosts registered four sacks, three by McCurty and one by Jovani Ceja. Senior Jeremiah White also had an interception while Alba blocked a kick.

Senior Christian Vargas averaged 43.3 yards on four kickoffs, including one of 59 yards. His only punt of the game went for 38 yards.

Sophomore Justice Alcantara returned one kickoff 15 yards.

Easltake will attempt to hike its record to 4-0 with a road game Friday at Scripps Ranch (0-2).

South County Football Log

Non-League

Friday, Sept. 4

Eastlake 27, Steele Canyon 14

Otay Ranch 16, Hilltop 0

Montgomery 32, Kearny 26

Southwest 33, Clairemont 19

Mar Vista 44, Calipatria 14

Bishop O’Dowd 34, Mater Dei Catholic 17

Patrick Henry 35, Chula Vista 28

Grossmont 28, Bonita Vista 14

Escondido 35, Sweetwater 33

Crawford 36, San Ysidro 0

Mission Bay 44, Olympian 7

Valhalla 66, Castle Park 0

Nuview Bridge 43, Victory Christian Academy 8

Round up at the Ranch: Mustangs 16, Lancers 0 

The Hilltop Lancers fell from the ranks of the early season unbeatens following last Friday’s non-league loss at Otay Ranch.

Both teams are now 2-1.

Mustang quarterback Caleb Delaughter passed for 180 yards  with one touchdown and one interception while senior Jaidon Castillo carried the ball 13 times for 86 yards and one score. Senior Chris Esquibel tacked on four kicking points, including one field goal and one PAT conversion.

Otay Ranch chalked up 337 offensive yards – 180 passing and 157 rushing.

Senior Brayden Hyman had three catches for 57 yards while senior Caleb Lopez had six catches for 44 yards. Castillo, who led the hosts with 106 all-purpose yards, had one pass grab for 20 yards. Junior Devin Hope scored on a one-yard pass play.

Sophomore Jeremiah Jordan and senior Luke Childers paced the Mustangs defensively with nine tackles each. Jordan was credited with 1.5 sacks while senior Isaiah Sary had one sack among the four registered by the team overall. Senior Aaron Pena, junior Chris Maddox and sophomore Eric Santizo each had one-half sack.

Senior Jordan Epps had one interception.

The Otay Ranch defense limited Hilltop to just 48 total yards in offense — 30 rushing yards and 18 passing yards.

The bulk of that was by senior Lajuan Johnson, who had eight carries for 42 yards. Junior Max Vaquero had eight catches for 28 yards. The longest play from scrimmage for the Lancers in the game measured eight yards.

Hilltop was active on defense. Senior Abraham Matuz led the visitors with 12 tackles, followed by senior Zion Almazon with 11 stops and junior Dante Hernandez with 10 stops.

The Lancers corralled the Mustangs for four sacks, including two by Matuz and one each by Alamzon and junior Roberto Izaquierdo. Johnson had one interception

Hilltop will host undefeated West Hills (3-0) this Friday.

Otay Ranch will have a test at undefeated Patrick Henry (3-0)also this Friday.

Mariners swat Hornets 44-14

Sophomore Michael Mercado passed for 172 yards and three touchdowns to lead Mar Vista past the host Calipatria Hornets, 44-14, in a non-league game last Friday. 

Mercado added one rushing touchdown to his big night to finish with a team-leading 182 total yards. Junior Braylon Shumate was next up with 153 total yards with 92 rushing yards and 61 receiving yards.

Sophomore Jehiel Crawford had three catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns while junior Aaron Shelby had two catches for 25 yards and one score.

Mar Vista totaled 324 offensive yards in the victory.

Sophomore Gael Rico keyed the defensive effort with nine tackles. Seniors Arise Alfred and Noah Hudkins each recorded one sack. Shumate also had one interception.

Rico averaged 39.7 yards on three punts, including a long of 59 yards. Junior Cecil Thomas turned in a 32-yard kickoff return. Shumate averaged 29 yards on two punt returns.

Mar Vista will look to add another “w” to the victory column when it travels to undefeated Valhalla (2-0) this Friday. The new-look Norsemen have outscored their opening two opponents 143-0

Southwest 33, Clairemont 19

The Raiders picked up their first win of the season last Friday in non-league play against the visiting Captains.

Junior Isaac Munoz scored three rushing touchdowns while connecting with seniors Leo Holguin and Leonel Rivera each on receiving touchdowns.

Senior Samuel Gonzales had 19 carries for 116 yards to lead the team with 124 all-purpose yards.He also logged three tackles, one for a loss, one sack and one forced fumble on defense.

Junior Yves Tido collected 17 tackles, two for losses, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass break-up. Senior Elijah Lewis had eight tackles and one pass break-up.

Holguin and senior Sergio Ibarra each had one interception.

Southwest next hosts D-V champion Morse 1-2) this Friday.

Montgomery 32, Kearny 26
Sophomore Reys Bonnett passed for 120 yards and two touchdowns while senior Marquis Benton rushed for 125 yards and two scores to lead the Aztecs to their first win of the season. senior Justin Dunkle had three catches for 63 yards and one receiving touchdown while senior Aidan Flores had one catch for nine yards and a score.

Sophomore Alonso Rodriguez paced the defense with nine tackles. The Aztecs, who generated 311 yards on offense, registered eight tackles for losses and three sacks.

“We are extremely young with 33 of 36 players playing meaningful varsity minutes. just three returning varsity starters,” MOH head coach Freddy Dunkle said.

Montgomery (1-2) will get a chance to even it early season record whe it takes on neighborhood riival Castle Park (1-2) this Friday in the teams’ rivalry Warrior Bowl contest. 

HIGH SCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL

Bonita Vista 32, Torrey Pines 14
  Hilltop 13, Westview 12
  Hilltop 32, Sweetwater 6
  Mar Vista 33, Orange Glen 0
  Castle Park 14, Chula Vista 12
  Chula Vista 27, Orange Glen 7
  Otay Ranch 25, Chula Vista 0
  Otay Ranch 20, Canyon Hills 0
  Otay Ranch 37, Montgomery 0
  Olympian 13, El Capitan 9
  Olympian 30, Valhalla 0
  Eastlake 32, West Hills 1