Eastlake High School’s football team was shut out in its first game of the season against Torrey Pines. In their second game of the season against Hilltop last Friday, the Titans scored 21 points in the first quarter en route to recording a 57-7 non-league win to give them their first win of the new season.
After not being able to reach the end zone in their season opener, a 13-0 loss to the visiting Falcons, Eastlake came out on offense looking like a completely different team than what it displayed the previous week.
Coach John McFadden was creative with his play calls, giving the Hilltop defense lots of reverse running plays to deal with.
On their first scoring drive, the Titans ran three reverse running plays that concluded with a six-yard touchdown run from senior Ryzhon McCoy.
Two drives later, fellow senior A.J. Hernandez gave Eastlake a two-touchdown lead when he scored from three yards out.
It wasn’t just the running game that bounced back for the Titans, their aerial attack was on full display against Hilltop.
Minutes before the first quarter expired, quarterback Richie Colmonero threw a 66-yard touchdown bomb to Adrian Hinojosa (two catches, 100 yards) that put Eastlake ahead 21-0.
A week after being held to just 115 yards, Colmonero threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns.
“I think we played a little bit better on offense than we did last week,” McFadden said. “But I still wasn’t really happy with our execution.”
Just like in the game against Torrey Pines, Eastlake’s defense was stout all night long against the Lancers. Hilltop quarterback Joey Castillo came out throwing 52 times for 230 yards but was held to one touchdown.
At halftime, Eastlake held a 27-point lead and never looked back, winning in convincing fashion. This Friday, Eastlake (1-1) hosts powerhouse Santiago (1-1) from Corona.
“We need to clean up our mistakes for our next game — Santiago is as good, if not better, than Torrey Pines,” McFadden said.
Meanwhile, Hilltop will search for its first win of the season this Friday at San Ysidro in a matchup of winless 0-2 teams.
Stat attack
- Eastlake racked up 431 rushing yards and 641 total yards. Zachary Ertzner had two carries for 101 yards and one touchdown while Parker Merrifield rushed seven times for 70 yards.
- The Titans scored seven rushing touchdowns — one each by McCoy, Hernandez, Roman Coe, Darius De Los Reyes, Mateo La, Hinojosa and Ertzner. D.J. Del Fierro totaled nine kicking points – six (of seven) PAT conversions and one field goal.
- Josh McCurty and A. Alvarado III led Eastlake with five tackles each while Luis Santos, Herman Ramirez and S. Sanchez each recorded one sack for the Titans. Also for Eastlake, Andrew Kamo and La each recorded interceptions.
- Colmonero was intercepted three times — one each by Marko Aki, Joel Olivares and Marcos Deanda.
- Hilltop collected 234 total yards. Jeremiah Serrano had 11 catches for 106 yards; Micaiah Iuli scored the Lancers’ lone TD on a 29-yard pass.
Photo gallery by Jon Bigornia
Prep Kick-off 2018
Friday Night Lights
Friday, Aug. 24
Non-League
Eastlake 57, Hilltop 7
Otay Ranch 17, Valley Center 13
Mar Vista 42, Castle Park 6
Chula Vista 20, Mt. Miguel 7
Mater Dei Catholic 37, El Capitan 35
Poway 14, Olympian 0
Madison 62, Bonita Vista 0
Classical Academy 24, Montgomery 18
Fallbrook 30, Sweetwater 12
Vincent Memorial 46, Southwest 27
Mountain Empire 35, San Ysidro 0
Friday, Aug. 31
Non-League
Hilltop at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
Santiago (Corona) at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
Point Loma at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
Torrey Pines at Olympian, 7 p.m.
Bishop’s at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
Coronado at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
Francis Parker at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
Maranatha Christian at Southwest, 7 p.m.
Chula Vista at Escondido, 7 p.m.
Sweetwater at Carlsbad, 7 p.m.
Bonita Vista at Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley), 7 p.m.
Mar Vista at San Jose, 7 p.m.
San Diego Section Football Rankings
MaxPreps/Top 10
Division I: 1. Torrey Pines (2-0), 2. Helix (1-1), 3. San Marcos (2-0), 4. Madison (2-0), 5. La Costa Canyon (2-0), 6. St. Augustine (2-0), 7. Eastlake (1-1), 8. Cathedral Catholic (1-1), 9. Grossmont (1-1), 10. Mission Hills (0-2). Others: 11. Otay Ranch (1-1)
Division II: 1. Ramona (1-1), 2. Granite Hills (2-0), 3. Valley Center (1-1), 4. Lincoln (2-0), 5. Bishop’s (1-1), 6. Mira Mesa (2-0), 7. Point Loma (1-1), 8. Southwest El Centro (0-1), 9. Westview (1-1), 10. Poway (1-1). Others: 12. Mater Dei Catholic (1-1), 14. Olympian (0-2), 15. Bonita Vista (0-2)
Division III: 1. Monte Vista (2-0), 2. West Hills (2-0), 3. Christian (2-0), 4. Santa Fe Christian (1-1), 5. Central Union (2-0), 6. Brawley (1-1), 7. University City (1-1), 8. Morse (2-0), 9. Rancho Buena Vista (1-1), 10. Escondido. Others: 14. Hilltop (0-2)
Division IV: 1. San Diego (1-1), 2. Chula Vista (2-0), 3. Kearny (1-0), 4. Santana (2-0), 5. Classical Academy (1-1), 6. La Jolla Country Day (0-2), 7. Sweetwater (0-2), 8. Del Norte (1-1), 9. Mar Vista (1-1), 10. Fallbrook (2-0). Others: 13. Montgomery (1-1)
Division V: 1. Vincent Memorial (2-0), 2. Tri-City Christian (2-0), 3. Francis Parker (2-0), 4. Palo Verde Valley (1-1), 5. Orange Glen (2-0), 6. Holtville (1-1), 7. Maranatha Christian (1-1), 8. Mountain Empire (1-1), 9. Army-Navy Academy (1-0), 10. Southwest (1-1). Others: 12. Castle Park (0-2), 15. San Ysidro (0-2)
Eight-man records: Calvary Christian Academy (1-0), Ocean View Christian Academy (0-0), Victory Christian Academy (0-1)
