Six South County high school football teams qualified for this year’s San Diego Section divisional playoffs. After a week of opening action, four still remain in contention for championship banners.
Two of the four Metro Conference teams still active hail from the Metro-South Bay League and one each from the Metro-Mesa League and Metro-Pacific League.
The Metro-Mesa League is represented by the sixth-seeded Bonita Vista Barons (Division IV).
The Metro-South Bay League is represented by the seventh-seeded Olympian Eagles (Division IV) and second-seeded Sweetwater Red Devils (Division V).
The Metro-Pacific League is represented by the second-seeded Chula Vista Spartans (Division IV).
Bonita Vista (35-0 over 11th-seeded Coronado), Olympian (31-15 over 10th-seeded Escondido Charter) and Sweetwater (42-20 over seventh-seeded Southwest El Centro) all won a first-round game while Chula Vista had a bye.
Two South County teams failed to advance: eighth-seeded Mater Dei Catholic (Division I) and 11th-seeded Eastlake (Division II).
Turn out the lights
Mater Dei Catholic was among four higher-seeded teams that suffered upset losses last Friday in the 19 games that were played. The Crusaders (6-4) saw their bid for a third consecutive state championship bid thwarted by a 27-0 shutout loss to ninth-seeded Madison (5-6).
The visiting Warhawks set the tone on the first play of the game when senior Jaylon Brown broke through the Mater Dei Catholic defense for an 88-yard sideline scoring run. Brown scored again in the first quarter on an eight-run to lift Madison to a 14-0 lead.
A trick play helped set up another Warhawks’ score via a fake punt as senior James Tivao took the wildcat snap and gained the first down. Tivao later scored on the drive to push Madison to a 20-0 lead.
Tivao wrapped up scoring on a 17-yard run in the fourth quarter.
The hosts did not give up and had their moments but were somehow denied entry into the end zone throughout the high-profile match-up.
Seniors Jordan Jackson and Isaiah Buxton each had interceptions. Jackson returned his pick 35 yards while Buxton had a 55-yard return.
But the Crusaders could not take advantage of either turnover to score.
Senior Diego Rodriguez-Diaz and Junior Joey Castillo co-led Mater Dei Catholic with seven tackles. Rodriguez-Diaz also recorded one sack.
The Warhawks advance to tackle top-seeded Torrey Pines (7-3) in the quarterfinals.
Eastlake (4-7) exited the postseason following 14-13 setback at sixth-seeded Central Union (9-2).
Sophomore quarterback Tyler Balko took center stage for the underdog Titans by completing 21 of 35 passing attempts for 185 yards and two touchdowns — one each to senior Michael Martin (13 catches, 126 yards) and junior Zivan Carranza (four catches, 44 yards).
Eastlake rushed for 65 yards, including 36 yards on six carries by junior Kingston Schaaf and 33 yards on 11 carries by junior William Schmitz.
Sophomore Isaiah Rodriguez keyed the visitors with 205 all-purpose yards (14 receiving, 116 kick returns, 75 punt returns) to keep the game close.
The Titans scored in the final 15 seconds of play and elected to go for a two-point conversion to win the game outright rather than extend it into overtime with an extra-point kick. The two-point conversion railed, ending the season for the visitors.
Junior linebacker Josiel Rodriguez keyed the CU defense with 11 tackles, a blocked punt, blocked kick and caused fumble while senior Malachi O’Con recorded eight tackles and one sack.
The Spartans advance to play at third-seeded La Jolla (8-2).
Senior Luke Schwenke paced the EHS defense with 15 tackles while senior Blake Schweer logged 12 defensive stops. Junior Landon Albano had 11 tackles while Schaaf had 10 stops, including three tackles for losses.
Seniors Austin Michael and Caleb Addleman each had one sack while Martin and Schwenke each had one interception. Schwenke also had a fumble recovery.
Next up
All quarterfinal games in Division IV will take place on Friday, Nov. 10, starting at 7 p.m.
The Division V semifinals are also scheduled Friday at the same time.
Chula Vista (8-2) will host Olympian (7-4) in an all-Metro quarterfinal, meaning that one of the local squads will advance to the division semifinals.
Sweetwater (5-6) will host third-seeded El Cajon Valley (5-6) in a semifinal match-up with the winner advancing to face the winner between top-seeded Vincent Memorial Catholic (8-3) and fourth-seeded Hoover (7-4).
Bonita Vista (7-4) will play at third-seeded Westview (6-4), with the winner advancing to meet the Chula Vista-Olympian winner.
Soaring Eagles
Olympian won its first playoff game in six years with a complete performance against Escondido Charter (4-7). Sophomore quarterback Jayden Fuentes led with charge offensively with 284 passing yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing).
Fuentes spread the ball around to seniors Jake Marcial (five catches, 97 yards), Emi Lozano (10 catches, 88 yards), Chaz Vejar (four catches, 51 yards) and A.J. Cadriel (three catches, 46 yards). Cadriel caught a touchdown pass.
Fuentes and senior Ceejay Clavier each scored rushing touchdowns as the hosts collected 64 rushing yards, including 20 on six carries by senior Coby Dunn.
Defensively, the Eagles held Escondido Charter to 48 yards rushing. Seniors Tristan Anderson and Matthew Latimer each had sacks.
“It was a team effort up front with defensive linemen Aidan Flores and Riley Baloy leading the charge,” OHS coach Brad Carter said. “Defensive back Isiah Grissom opened up the game in the second quarter with an interception score for a touchdown.
“On special teams (senior) kicker Josh Carranza was four-for-four on PATs and made a 37-yard field goal. We are very excited to travel to Chula Vista High School on Friday.”
Chula Vista defeated Olympian, 27-89, in a midseason non-league game behind touchdown runs from junior La’Darrione Perkins (12 carries, 38 yards), junior Izaac Baca (five carries, 32 yards) and senior Paul Alvarez (24 carries, 125 yards). Baca also threw a scoring pass to junior Elijah Gillespie (four catches, 96 yards).
Baca has passed for 1,750 yards and 23 touchdowns. Perkins has rushed for 11 touchdowns and Alvarez for 10 scores. Gillespie has 15 TD catches.
Bonita bounce
The Barons bounced the Islanders (3-8) out of the playoffs with an all-around offensive and defensive effort in the school’s first on-campus postseason game. The hosts led 21-0 at halftime and tacked on two more touchdowns in the second half. Coronado threatened to reach the end zone in the final minute of the game, but the BV defense held.
“Our kids played hard, we didn’t make any mistakes that stopped our momentum,” Bonita Vista head coach Tyler Arciaga said. “Coronado played very hard until the end. We came out a little sloppy. It’s always nice to get a playoff win. They’re hard to come by.”
Senior Caden Ada-Tannehill rushed for three touchdowns and passed for another to lead the Barons, who rushed for 238 yards. Ada-Tannehill had 22 carries for 162 yards. Senior Carlos Ochoa rushed eight times for 24 yards and one touchdown while senior Julian Cota had an eight-yard touchdown catch.
The hosts recorded two sacks and an interception by senior Austin Snook. Junior Richie Rojas was five-for-five on PAT conversions.
Westview leaders include junior quarterback Mason Walsh with 1,859 passing yards and 22 touchdowns and junior Amare Gomez with eight rushing touchdowns.
Red hots
Sweetwater extended its winning streak to three games with the win over the Braves (5-6). The Red Devils are hot at the right time of the season. If they keep steamrollering opponents with their ferocious run attack and can minimize mistakes, an appearance in the Division V championship game is not out of the question.
But SuHi head coach Ervin Hernandez would rather take one game at a time or, as he puts it, “win the day.”
Sweetwater rushed for 494 yards and six touchdowns, led by senior Carlos Delgado (187 yards, three touchdowns), senior Xzavier Crews (83 yards, two touchdowns) and senior Izell Wright (125 yards, one touchdown). Junior quarterback Zarayan Crews rushed for 64 yards without throwing a pass.
Xzavier Crews (972 rushing yards) and Delgado (705 rushing yards) have each scored nine touchdowns this season.
“All the credit should go to our offensive linemen led by Angel Cota, Victor Nunez De La Cruz, Fernando Cruz, Joey Rauda, Carlos Martinez and tight end Chris Turner,” Hernandez said. “They don’t get enough credit and definitely don’t see their names in the paper. We emphasize physicality in practice, and it showed last Friday.
“Our coaching staff did a great job breaking everything down and making adjustments throughout the game. It’s a brand new week, so we just need to win the day leading up to Friday. It’s also great hosting and staying in National City. Our focus will continue to be on what we can control and expecting excellence in practice.”
San Diego Section
Championship Games
Open Division
Saturday, Nov. 18 at Snapdragon Stadium, 7 p.m.
Division I
Friday, Nov. 24 at Southwestern College, 7 p.m.
Division II
Saturday, Nov. 25 at Southwestern College,7 p.m.
Division III
Saturday, Nov. 25 at Southwestern College, 2 p.m.
Division IV
Friday, Nov. 24 at Southwestern College, 2 p.m.
Division V
Friday, Nov. 17 at Escondido High School, 7:30 p.m.
Division V-AA
Saturday, Nov. 18 at Escondido High School, 1 p.m.
Division VI (8-person)
Friday, Nov. 17 at Escondido High School, 4:30 p.m.
Eight Metro teams qualify for girls flag football playoffs
The inaugural San Diego Section girls flag football playoffs were penciled in last weekend with, surprise, eight Metro Conference teams sprinkled through the two divisional format.
Division I entrants included top-seeded Bonita Vista (16-1), third-seeded Grossmont (11-4), seventh-seeded San Ysidro (12-9), ninth-seeded Hilltop (10-6) and 11th-seeded Olympian (9-5).
Division II entrants included sixth-seeded Mater Dei Catholic (9-7), 10th-seeded Chula Vista Learning Community Charter (6-7) and 12th-seeded Castle Park (8-5).
Opening round games took place Tuesday, with teams advancing to quarterfinal match-ups on Thursday. Semifinals are scheduled Tuesday, Nov. 14, with championship games to follow Thursday, Nov. 16 at Escondido High School (6 p.m. for Division II and 7:30 p.m. for Division I).
Metro-Mesa League champion Bonita Vista received a bye in the first round and is scheduled to host eighth-seeded Scripps Ranch (9-9) on Thursday. The Bonita Vista-Scripps Ranch winner will meet Thursday’s winner between fourth-seeded Calexico (16-2) and fifth-seeded San Dieguito Academy (8-2).
Scripps Ranch edged host Hilltop, 13-12, in Tuesday’s opening round while San Dieguito Academy eliminated 12th-seeded San Diego (7-7) by a score of 28-6. Calexico received a bye.
Olympian emerged as a 12-7 upset win over sixth-seeded Mira Mesa (12-9) in the opening round and advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinal at Grossmont, the runner-up team in the Metro-Mesa League standings.
San Ysidro ended its season with an 18-6 upset loss to 10th-seeded Brawley (16-4).
Torrey Pines (14-0) received the No. 2 seed in the Division I bracket.
Mater Dei Catholic defeated 11th-seeded Kearny (8-7) by a score of 31-14 to advance to Thursday’s game at third-seeded Cathedral Catholic (11-2).
CVLCC ended its season after bowing, 24-18, at seventh-seeded Mission Bay (8-3) while Castle Park dropped a 20-0 decision at fifth-seeded La Costa Canyon (6-3).
Coastal Academy (14-2) received the No. 1 seed in Division I while Morse (9-3) received the No. 2 seed.
Stat attack
•Junior Olivia Grant and senor Alexandria Yorba each scored touchdowns for Hilltop in Tuesday’s playoff loss to the Lady Falcons, who received scores from senior Arianna Harris and sophomore Paige Mountain.
•SYHS senior Victoria Figueroa passed for 239 yards and one touchdown to senior Amaya Moreno (nine catches, 88 yards). Sophomore Kristine Fadriquela had nine catches for 100 yards in the loss to the Lady Wildcats.
