With the San Diego County Football Officials Association undergoing an injection of new blood, the 2022 high school football schedule has been stretched and tweaked to accommodate a shortage of youth football officials.
According to a report last month on KGTV, membership in the organization had plummeted from 400 pre-pandemic to about 270.
Recruitment during the pandemic has been a top reason for the lower numbers. Association members are responsible for officiating both youth football and high school games.
Thus, traditional Friday night high school games will no longer be that traditional with teams playing on Thursday and Saturday this season to accommodate the downturn of game officials. It’s not a wholesale changeover, but it’s noticeable.
As in Week 1.
The Sweetwater Red Devils will kick off their season with a non-league road game at Mt. Miguel High School on Thursday, Aug. 18. Kick-off is 6:30 p.m.
Sweetwater will host Mission Bay in another Thursday game on Sept. 8 while the Matadors will play another Thursday game on Sept. 1 against the visiting Montgomery Aztecs.
Montgomery will turn around and play a Thursday night game at El Cajon Valley High School on Sept. 8.
Sweetwater head coach Ervin Hernandez said the move forward a day will affect the team’s daily routine, but not by that much.
“We’ve had to adjust our practice schedule but it’s nothing that we can’t handle,” he said. “But we’ll go from there.”
So will the Matadors.
Red and Gray
Sweetwater is riding back-to-back league championships after winning the Metro-Pacific League title during the 2021 spring season and Metro-South Bay League championship during the 2021 fall season.
Over that span, the Red Devils have accumulated an 11-4 record, including an undefeated 5-0 mark during the 2021 spring season (3-0 in league play) and a 6-4 record last season (4-0 in league play).
Sweetwater experienced the highs and lows of the playoff rollercoaster, however. The sixth-seeded Red Devils ran over visiting 11th-seeded Valhalla, 73-6, in the opening round of the Division IV playoffs before suffering a 15-0 shutout loss to third-seeded Coronado in the ensuing quarterfinals.
Sweetwater remains in the Metro-South Bay League this season, though the split back into three divisions has placed the Red Devils against Hilltop, Montgomery and Olympian in a slight reconfiguration.
The Red Devils remain in Division IV as well, though some movement has occurred there as well with teams either dropping from Division III or coming up from Division V in a bid for competitive balance.
With a number of key returners and impact newcomers, the National City bunch appears well stocked to make a defense of its title and perhaps move up the divisional seeding for the playoffs.
“We are returning most of our offensive line, which will be one of our strengths,” Hernandez said. “Our defensive secondary is all returning and that is also a strength.”
There are some key losses to graduation to overcome — actually, huge losses.
Fabian Venegas (1,064 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns), Javier Sanchez (791 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns) and Carlos Hopper (622 rushing yards, seven total touchdowns) all have left the Devils.
But the SuHi head coach is not despondent over that fact.
“We are expecting Julian Ramos (senior running back/defensive lineman) and Cesar Guerra (senior running back/linebacker) to take the lead in rushing and Xzavier Crews (junior receiver/defensive back) to take the lead in catching and rushing as well. Gilbert Garcia (senior receiver/defensive back), Izell Wright (junior tight end/defensive lineman) and Gabriel Gomez (senior receiver/defensive back)will also help open the passing game at wide receiver.”
Crews is the team’s speedster while coming off the spring track and field season.
“We have one of our leading tacklers, Cesar Guerra, returning at linebacker and Izell Wright should be a force on the defensive line this season,” Hernandez said.
Guerra ranked third on the team with 44 tackles, while Wright had three sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Sophomore quarterback Zaryan Crews tops the list of impact newcomers. The SuHi coach is looking for Crews to compete in not only throwing the ball but running the ball as well.
The Crews-to-Crews brotherly connection could be interesting to follow as the season develops.
“It’s fun,” Xzavier Crews said. “This season is going to be great, especially playing with my brother.”
Junior offensive lineman/linebacker Carlos Delgado (6-0, 230) is another top returner on the team.
Size doesn’t appear to be too much of a problem with Herrera (5-9, 250), Guerra (5-9, 175), Wright (5-11, 190), Xzavier Crews (6-0, 175), Ramos (5-8, 180), Garcia (5-9,175) and Gomez (5-10, 160) tipping the scales in moderate but not overly muscle-bound fashion.
“I’m really happy to be back, I really want to make it to the next level,” Guerra said. “We’re starting a little slower but I blame it on the heat. So far it’s not exactly what we wanted but it’s still good.”
This will be Herrera’s fourth year on the team, a fact he’s very proud of.
“It’s been amazing since my freshman year when I got pulled up to varsity,” he said. “It’s been fun playing at the next level.”
Like other returning Red Devils, he is very proud of being back-to-back league champions.
“In the games, we all stuck together, we didn’t collapse as a unit,” Herrera said. “I think that’s what made us back-to-back league champions.”
Matador pride
Mt. Miguel finished 4-5 last season with two games not played because of COVID-19 protocols.
The Matadors and Red Devils were scheduled to play last year but scheduling could not be arranged, and the game was not played. They will get a chance to renew acquaintances next Thursday in Spring Valley.
Mt. Miguel finished with a winning 3-2 record in Grossmont Valley League play in 2021 with win over neighborhood rival Monte Vista (41-0), El Cajon Valley (47-16) and Valhalla (27-13) and losses to West Hills (35-6) and El Capitan (35-28).
The Matadors also did not play Santana High School last year.
Despite the loss of two regular season games, Mt. Miguel did qualify for the San Diego Section Division IV playoffs, earning the No. 9 seed in a highly competitive 26-20 loss against eighth-seeded La Jolla Country Day.
Underclassmen helped lead the way for the Matadors last season.
Jeremiah Castillo passed for 365 yards with four touchdowns in eight games last season as a sophomore while also scoring four rushing touchdowns and making one touchdown catch.
Davian McGowan had 420 rushing yards as a sophomore.
Departed senior Ruben Hernandez topped Mount Miguel last season with 870 all-purpose yards in seven games to go with a team-leading 14 touchdowns.
Castillo ranked second on the team with 561 all-purpose yards while McGowan ranked third with 462 all-purpose yards.
Hernandez set the pace with 995 total offensive yards (720 rushing, 125 passing and 150 receiving), followed by Castillo with 864 total yards (391 rushing, 365 passing and 108 receiving).
Hernandez earned first team all-league honors as a running back while Castillo earned first team all-league honors as a defensive back. Tyler Lopez received second team defensive honors as a sophomore .
Actually, Thursday games are not that uncommon.
The Matadors also opened last season with a Thursday game at Patrick Henry, a 42-7 setback.
Top-seeded Patrick Henry went on to defeat second-seeded University City, 49-21, in last year’s CIF championship game.
Following the season opener against Sweetwater, Mount Miguel returns to the South Bay the following week to battle the Chula Vista Spartans on Aug. 26.
Both Sweetwater and Chula Vista are Division IV opponents, making the outcome of those back-to-back games key for the Matadors in terms of playoff seeding.
Other Division IV opponents on Sweetwater’s schedule this season include Coronado, Mission Bay, Monte Vista, Hilltop, Montgomery and Chula Vista.
Mt. Miguel also plays divisional matchups against Montgomery, Monte Vista and Valhalla.
Metro Conference 2022 High School Football Schedule Log
Metro-Mesa League
Bonita Vista Barons
August
19: Bonita Vista at Morse. 7 p.m.
September
2: Bonita Vista at Redwood City Sequoia, 7 p.m.
9: Bonita Vista vs. Hilltop at Southwestern College, 6:30 p.m.
16: Bonita Vista at Patrick Henry, 6:30 p.m.
23: Bonita Vista vs. Vincent Memorial at Southwestern College, 6:30 p.m.
30: Bonita Vista vs. Mar Vista at Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.
October
6: Bonita Vista vs. Olympian at Southwestern College, 6:30 p.m.
14: Bonita Vista at Eastlake, 6:30 p.m.
21: Bonita Vista at Mater Dei Catholic, 6:30 p.m.
28: Bonita Vista vs. Otay Ranch at Southwestern College, 7 p.m.
Eastlake Titans
August
19: Apple Valley at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
26: Poway at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
September
2: La Habra at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
9: Granite Hills at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
16: Villa Park at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
23: Eastlake at Oakley Freedom, 7 p.m.
October
7: Eastlake at Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.
14: Bonita Vista at Eastlake, 6:30 p.m.
20: Eastlake at Otay Ranch, 6:30 p.m.
27: Mater Dei Catholic at Eastlake, 6:30 p.m.
Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders
August
20: Cathedral Catholic at Mater Dei Catholic, 6 p.m.
26: Carlsbad at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
September
2: Mater Dei Catholic at Red Mountain (Mesa, Ariz.), 4 p.m.
10: Mater Dei Catholic at Lincoln, 7 p.m.
23: Mater Dei Catholic vs. St. Augustine at Mesa College, 7 p.m.
30: Mater Dei Catholic at Central Union, 7 p.m.
October
6: Mater Dei Catholic at Hilltop, 6:30 p.m.
14: Otay Ranch at Mater Dei Catholic, 6:30 p.m.
21: Bonita Vista at Mater Dei Catholic, 6:30 p.m.
27: Mater Dei Catholic at Eastlake, 6:30 p.m.
Otay Ranch Mustangs
August
19: Madison at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
26: Otay Ranch at Helix, 7 p.m.
September
2: Otay Ranch at Mira Mesa, 7 p.m.
9: Central Union at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
16: Otay Ranch at San Diego, 7 p.m.
30: Olympian at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
October
7: Sweetwater at Otay Ranch, 6:30 p.m.
14: Otay Ranch at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
20: Eastlake at Otay Ranch, 6:30 p.m.
28: Bonita Vista vs. Otay Ranch at Southwestern College, 6:30 p.m.
Metro-South Bay League
Hilltop Lancers
August
19: Valhalla at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
26: El Capitan at Hilltop, 6:30 p.m.
September
1: Hilltop at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
9: Bonita Vista vs. Hilltop at Southwestern College, 6:30 p.m.
15: San Ysidro at Hilltop, 6:30 p.m.
23: Hilltop at Escondido, 7 p.m.
October
6: Mater Dei Catholic at Hilltop, 6:30 p.m.
14: Hilltop at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
21: Hilltop at Olympian, 6:30 p.m.
28: Montgomery at Hilltop, 6:30 p.m.
Montgomery Aztecs
August
19: Coronado at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
26: Santana at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
September
1: Montgomery at Mt. Miguel, 7 p.m.
8: Montgomery at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
16: Mission Bay at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
22: Montgomery at Castle Park, 6:30 p.m.
October
7: Eastlake at Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.
14: Montgomery at Olympian, 6:30 p.m.
21: Sweetwater at Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.
28: Montgomery at Hilltop, 6:30 p.m.
Olympian Eagles
August
19: Olympian at Westview, 7 p.m.
26: Olympian at San Pasqual, 7 p.m.
September
2: Olympian at West Hills, 7 p.m.
9: Valhalla at Olympian, 7 p.m.
16: Chula Vista at Olympian, 6:30 p.m.
30: Olympian at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
October
6: Bonita Vista vs. Olympian at Southwestern College, 6:30 p.m.
14: Montgomery at Olympian, 6:30 p.m.
21: Hilltop at Olympian, 6:30 p.m.
28: Olympian at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
Sweetwater Red Devils
August
18: Sweetwater at Mt. Miguel, 7 p.m.
26: Coronado at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
September
2: Canyon Hills at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
8: Mission Bay at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
16: Monte Vista at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
23: Sweetwater at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
October
7: Sweetwater at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
14: Hilltop at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
21: Sweetwater at Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.
28: Olympian at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
Metro-Pacific League
Castle Park Trojans
August
19: Castle Park at Rancho Buena Vista, 7 p.m.
25: Calexico at Castle Park, 6:30 p.m.
September
2: Castle Park at Orange Glen, 6:30 p.m.
9: Castle Park at Vincent Memorial, 6:30 p.m.
16: Castle Park at Crawford, 7 p.m.
22: Montgomery at Castle Park, 6:30 p.m.
30: Southwest at Castle Park, 6:30 p.m.
October
13: Castle Park vs. San Ysidro at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
21: Mar Vista at Castle Park, 6:30 p.m.
28: Castle Park at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
Chula Vista Spartans
August
20: Chula Vista at La Jolla Country Day, 7 p.m.
26: Mt. Miguel at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
September
1: Hilltop at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
9: Chula Vista at Canyon Hills, 7 p.m.
16: Chula Vista at Olympian, 6:30 p.m.
23: Sweetwater at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
30: San Ysidro at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
October
7: Mar Vista at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
21: Chula Vista at Southwest, 7 p.m.
28: Castle Park at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
Mar Vista Mariners
August
20: Mar Vista at Crawford, 5 p.m.
27: Mar Vista vs. Mission Bay at Montgomery, 5 p.m.
September
3: Mar Vista at Morse, 5 p.m.
9: Mar Vista at Coronado, 6:30 p.m.
17: Mar Vista at Clairemont, 7 p.m.
30: Bonita Vista at Mar Vista, 6:30 p.m.
October
7: Mar Vista at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
14: Southwest at Mar Vista, 6:30 p.m.
21: Mar Vista at Castle Park, 6:30 p.m.
28: Mar Vista at San Ysidro, 6:30 p.m.
San Ysidro Cougars
August
19: San Ysidro vs. Kearny at Olympian, 6:30 p.m.
26: San Ysidro vs. Tri-City Christian at Olympian, 6:30 p.m.
September
1: San Ysidro at Fallbrook, 7 p.m.
9: San Ysidro at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
15: San Ysidro at Hilltop, 6:30 p.m.
23: San Ysidro at Crawford, 6:30 p.m.
30: San Ysidro at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
October
7: San Ysidro at Southwest, 6:30 p.m.
13: San Ysidro vs. Castle Park at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
28: Mar Vista at San Ysidro, 6:30 p.m.
Southwest Raiders
August
19: Tri-City Christian at Southwest, 7 p.m.
26: Southwest at Mountain Empire, 7 p.m.
September
2: Southwest at Kearny, 7 p.m.
9: Southwest at Clairemont, 7 p.m.
16: Calipatria at Southwest, 7 p.m.
23: O’Farrell Charter at Southwest, 4:30 p.m.
30: Southwest at Castle Park, 6:30 p.m.
October
7: San Ysidro at Southwest. 6:30 p.m.
14: Southwest at Mar Vista, 6:30 p.m.
21: Chula Vista at Southwest, 7 p.m.
Schedule Highlights
September is the biggest month for high school football with 54 Friday night games, plus five Thursday night games and four Saturday games for Metro Conference teams.
Montgomery High School will play three Thursday night games — Sept. 1 at Mt. Miguel, Sept. 8 at El Cajon Valey and Sept. 22 at Castle Park.
Castle Park will also play three Thursday night games. Besides the game against Montgomery, the Trojans will host Calexico on Aug. 25 and play San Ysidro at Chula Vista High School on Oct. 13.
San Ysidro has three Thursday games — Sept. 1 at Fallbrook, Sept. 15 at Hilltop and Oct. 13 against Chula Vista.
Mater Dei Catholic will play two Thursday games (Oct. 6 at Hilltop and Oct. 27 at Eastlake) and two Saturday games (Aug. 20 against Cathedral Catholic and Sept. 10 at Lincoln).
Eastlake will play two Thursday game at the end of the season — Oct. 20 at Otay Ranch and Oct. 27 hosting Mater Dei Catholic.
Hilltop will play two Thursday home games (Sept. 15 against San Ysidro and Oct. 6 against Mater Dei Catholic).
Mar Vista will play four Saturday games (Aug. 20 at Crawford, Aug. 27 vs. Mission Bay at Montgomery High School, Sept. 3 at. Morse and Sept. 17 at Clairemont).
Chula Vista will play a Saturday game at La Jolla Country Day on Aug. 20 to kick off the season.
The regular season schedule ends before Halloween this year in a very odd twist. The final regular season game for Metro Conference teams is Oct. 28.
Games are subject to change.
