The Otay Ranch Mustangs remained undefeated in their two home games at renamed Jose Brosz Stadium after turning a 17-0 deficit at the hands of a physically-larger Point Loma team into an inspirational 19-17 non-league win.
The hosts did all their scoring — after not doing much offensively for most of the game — in the final 6:47 of last Friday’s homecoming contest.
It was the second consecutive game in which defending Metro-Mesa League Otay Ranch secured a victory in the waning stages of a game. The previous week, the Mustangs defeated the visiting Valley Center Jaguars on a touchdown pass from Puka Stewart to Adrian Merino with six seconds to play.
“This group of kids is very special,” Mustang head coach Lance Christensen said. “They have so much heart. They never quit. They’ve done it two weeks in a row now.”
Once again, Stewart (169 rushing yards, 102 passing yards) figured prominently in the comeback victory.
The senior field leader scored on a six-yard run to snap the Pointers’ shutout bid. After the Mustangs received the ball back, Stewart broke off a 38-yard run to the Point Loma 20-yard line with 4:13 to play and moved the ball closer to the goal line with a bolt to the eight-yard line.
The Otay Ranch signal-caller then hit junior receiver Dylan Baca in the end zone for a touchdown with 3:17 remaining in the game.
The Mustangs missed the extra-point conversion, meaning they would need to get the ball back and score a touchdown to win the game.
They did just that in the final 2:17 of the contest.
After forcing the Pointers to punt from their own end zone, Otay Ranch started its final offensive series on its own 35-yard line. Facing a crucial fourth down play, Stewart connected with Baca on a clutch 27-yard gain to the Point Loma 28-yard line with 58 seconds left.
Ten seconds later, the ball rested at the nine-yard line after a sideline run by Stewart. The Mustang quarterback covered the rest of the distance to the end zone on two ensuing carries, finally plunging in from three yards out with 34 seconds to play.
Otay Ranch missed the PAT conversion to lead by just two points, meaning the Pointers could storm back to steal a win on the strength of a field goal.
But the Mustangs proved just as resilient on defense, recording a sack just inside midfield as time expired.
The late offensive explosion by the hosts netted them 360 total yards in the game. Senior Noah Isley rushed 18 times for 90 yards; Baca had two catches for 36 yards.
Senior Miguel Felix led Otay Ranch defensively with 14 tackles while senior linebacker Dylan Zolezzi had 10 tackles, including three for a loss, and one sack. Senior Michael Touchette also recorded three tackles for a loss.
Last Friday’s game appeared out of reach after Point Loma’s J.L. Skinner took a wildcat snap and rushed 69 yards untouched to put the Pointers up 17-0.
The visitors capitalized on a bad snap to score their first touchdown on a one-yard run by Jaeden Gill and tacked on a short field goal by Andy Medina to lead 10-0.
Next up for the Mustangs is a high profile non-league encounter against St. Augustine at San Diego Mesa College. The Saints (3-0) are currently ranked fifth among San Diego Section Division I teams while Otay Ranch is ranked 10th in the division.
Point Loma (1-2) hosts Rancho Bernardo on Friday. The Pointers have lost their two games by a total of three points, including 17-16 to El Camino in the season opener.
High School Scoreboard
Games of Friday, Aug. 31:
Eastlake 21, Santiago (Corona) 10
Otay Ranch 19, Point Loma 17
Hilltop 39, San Ysidro 0
Mar Vista 34, San Jose 0
Escondido 30, Chula Vista 7
Torrey Pines 35, Olympian 0
Rancho Verde 63, Bonita Vista 6
Bishop’s 39, Mater Dei Catholic 33
Francis Parker 42, Montgomery 0
Carlsbad 62, Sweetwater 0
Coronado defeated Castle Park by forfeit
Games of Friday, Sept. 7:
Sweetwater at Lincoln, 6:30 p.m.
Mater Dei Catholic at Kearny, 6:30 p.m.
Grossmont at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
Olympian at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
West Hills at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
Fallbrook at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
San Diego at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
Coronado at Mar Vista, 7 p.m.
Crawford at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
Maranatha Christian at Southwest, 7 p.m.
Otay Ranch vs. St. Augustine at Mesa College, 7 p.m.
Bonita Vista at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
San Diego Section Rankings
MaxPreps/Top 10
Division I: 1. Torrey Pines (3-0), 2. Helix (1-2), 3. La Costa Canyon (3-0), 4. Cathedral Catholic (2-1), 5. St. Augustine (3-0), 6. San Marcos (3-0), 7. Madison (3-0), 8. Eastlake (2-1), 9. Grossmont (1-1), 10, Otay Ranch (2-1)
Division II: 1. Ramona (2-1), 2. Granite Hills (2-0), 3. Lincoln (3-0), 4, Mira Mesa (3-0), 5. Bishop’s (2-1), 6. Vista (2-1), 7. Valley Cener (1-2), 8. Point Loma (1-2), 9. San Pasqual (2-1), 10. Poway (1-2). Others: 11. Mater Dei Catholic (1-2), 13. Bonita Vista (0-3), 14. Olympian (0-3)
Division III: 1. Monte Vista (3-0), 2. Christian (3-0), 3. Central Union (3-0), 4. Santa Fe Christian (2-1), 5. West Hills (3-0), 6. Brawley (2-1), 7. Morse (2-1), 8. University City (2-1), 9. Escondido (2-1), 10. La Jolla (1-2). Others: 12. Hilltop (1-2)
Division IV: 1. San Diego (2-1), 2. Chula Vista (2-1), 3. Kearny (2-0), 4. Santana (2-1), 5. La Jolla Country Day (1-2), 6. Del Norte (2-1), 7. Mar Vista (2-1), 8. Classical Academy (1-1), 9. Sweetwater (0-3), 10, Coronado (3-0). Others: 16. Montgomery (1-2)
Division V: 1. Vincent Memorial (3-0), 2. Francis Parker (3-0), 3. Palo Verde Valley (2-1), 4. Tri-City Christian (2-0), 5. Holtville (2-1), 6. Army-Navy Academy (2-0), 7. Orange Glen (2-0), 8. Maranatha Christian (2-1), 9. Mountain Empire (2-1), 10. Southwest (1-1). Others: 11. Castle Park (1-2), 14. San Ysidro (0-3)
Photo Gallery by Phillip Brents
Homecoming king Jordan Osborn and homecoming queen Jordan Hands (ASB president) pose during halftime ceremonies.
Otay Ranch’s Michael Touchette (11) makes the tackle.
