The Bonita Vista Barons had dropped 10 consecutive games to the Eastlake Titans over a nine-year period. But not this year: the Barons ended their long drought in the win column against the east side rival by recording a spirited 28-23 victory in the Metro-Mesa League opener for both teams Friday night in front of several thousand fans at Southwestern College.
BVHS coach Chris Thompson and school dignitaries were presented with the Battle for the Boot trophy after the game.
They were surprised how heavy it was and gave it a hearty “welcome back!” serenade upon receiving it.
The last time Bonita Vista had defeated Eastlake on the football field was in 2005.
Thompson wore a smile while helping lift the trophy but his team had sent him through an emotional roller coaster during the course of the game. The Barons built a 22-8 lead but were forced to come back from a 23-22 deficit to post the thrilling last-minute win.
“We’re still a young team,” explained Thompson, whose team improved to 4-2 on the season, 1-0 in league play. “We lost four offensive linemen. This group of offensive linemen is working their butts off to get better. Greg Bell is phenomenal. Our guys wanted this so bad that they kept shooting themselves in the foot. Taking nothing away from Eastlake – Eastlake has been a very good football team for some time now – but the thing is that our guys need to learn to win. We’re trying to do that here.”
Bonita Vista took a big step in that direction in turning back the Titans, who fell to 2-5 on the season with their third consecutive loss. Eastlake, which started the season 1-1 by splitting with a pair of Los Angeles area teams, has gone 1-4 in its five games against top flight San Diego Section competition, the Barons included.
The game started ominously for the hosts, however, when they fumbled a punt to give the Titans (0-1 in league) the ball at the 14-yard line. Eastlake’s Hugo Sanchez recovered the ball and the visitors wasted little time in taking the lead by unwrapping the gift presented to them.
Jax Crawford scored a rushing touchdown from short range and then threw a two-point conversion pass to teammate Myles Wright for a very quick 8-0 Eastlake lead.
But it didn’t take the Barons long to counter punch their opponent as Bell reversed direction on the team’s ensuing series and bolted 80 yards for a matching touchdown. Bonita Vista also recorded a successful two-point conversion from quarterback Anthony Posada to tie the score, 8-8.
The teams settled into a defensive slugfest from there through the rest of the first half.
The Barons opened the second half with the offensive fireworks as Posada connected with Quentin Harrison on a 56-yard catch-and-carry to put the hosts ahead 15-8. Bell then ripped off a 70-yard touchdown run to increase the BV lead to 22-8 with 7:40 left in the third quarter.
But the Titans were not intimidated and went to work to regain the lead over the next quarter.
Nate Sweat capped a first-and-goal from the four-yard line with a burst into the end zone to bring the score to 22-14 after a missed extra-point conversion.
The Barons were later forced to punt from their goal line, with Eastlake receiving good field position at midfield. Titan running back Traylon Reed, who had not played in the last two games, looked formidable in his return. He broke one run to the BV 26-yard line to set up a passing touchdown from EHS quarterback Izzack Morales to receiver Josh Olave on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Eastlake went for the two-point conversion but Morales was stopped short of the goal line to leave the Titans trailing by two points, 22-20.
Bonita Vista appeared to be moving again but a completion near midfield and ensuing fumble gave the ball back to the visitors. A series of penalties by both teams resulted in the ball moving forward and then backward while time tcked off the scoreboard clock.
Reed eventually moved the ball to the Baron four-yard line but the Titans had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Emilio Aldaz with 5:06 remaining in regulation play. Ahead by one point, 23-22, Eastlake kicked off to Bonita Vista – and the fans on both sides of the field held their collective breath.
The Barons started at their own 20-yard line with 4:54 left. Facing third-and-seven, the hosts received new life on a pass interference call that put the ball at the 38-yard line. Bell then ran for a first down to the 50-yard line, and moved the ball ahead five more yards on another run.
Another pass interference penalty on the Titans placed the ball at the Eastlake 30-yard line with 2:27 to play.
At this point, the Barons went backward thanks to ill-time penalties and some great defensive play by the visitors. A motion penalty moved the ball back to the 35-yard line and Bell was then tackled for a loss in the backfield at the 38-yard line. Harrison then caught a screen pass and lost another two yards.
Facing third-and-20, Posada threw an incomplete pass, which left the Barons facing fourth-and-20 with 1:16 left.
An offside penalty moved the ball up five yards, but Bonita Vista still faced fourth-and-15 at the Eastlake 35-yard line with 1:13 remaining.
Posada dropped back, then scrambled forward looking for an open receiver before heaving a pass toward a maze of players near the goal line. Ethan Williams out-jumped his Titan defender and grabbed the ball cleanly as he took a step forward into the end zone.
Eastlake blocked the PAT attempt but the Barons had a five-point lead.
The game was far from over and the final 1:02 was packed with excitement.
Olave returned the kick-off to the 36-yard line with 53.1 seconds left on the clock. Morales completed a pass to the 46-yard line and an ensuing pass interference penalty on the Barons moved the ball ahead to the BV 31-yard line with 44 seconds to go.
Shades of a dramatic comeback appeared on tap to enable the Titans to retain the bragging rights to the schools’ rivalry trophy for another year, especially after Morales completed another pass to the Baron 20-yard line with 35.6 seconds left.
Morales quickly spiked the ball with 31.4 seconds remaining. A subsequent penalty moved the ball back to the 25-yard line and an incomplete pass left Eastlake suddenly facing third-and-15 with 26.5 seconds to play.
Reed inched the ball ahead to the 23-yard line and, while the ball remained in the Titans’ possession, they were down to their final play on fourth down.
An incomplete pass with 11.3 seconds to play ended the Eastlake series – and lengthy Titan win streak over their longtime rivals.
Bell, a transfer from Eastlake, was obviously all smiles after the big victory by his team.
“We showed we have heart,” he said. “We have to keep playing (like this) – all the games from now on are gong to be tough.”
As for beating his former teammates, the BV senior said, “It feels good because I have bragging rights over those guys.”
And the Barons have the boot trophy back in their possession.
Statistics Leaders
Bonita Vista
Anthony Posada – 10 of 13, 158 passing yards, 2 touchdowns
Greg Bell – 14 carries, 216 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns; 2 catches, 15 yards
Quentin Harrison – 4 catches, 57 yards, 1 touchdown
Ethan Williams – 1 catch, 35 yards, 1 touchdown
Diego Torres – 2 sacks, 5 unassisted tackles
Moli Faalogo – 1 caused fumble, 1 sack, 8 unassisted tackles
Chris Boguille – 1 fumble recovery
Eastlake
Izzack Morales – 4 of 16, 51 passing yards, 1 touchdown
Traylon Reed – 23 carries, 120 rushing yards
Nate Sweat – 8 carries, 62 rushing yards, 1 touchdown; 8 tackles, 1 sack
Jax Crawford – 4 carries, 12 yards, 1 touchdown; 1 fumble recovery
Josh Olave – 1 catch 26 yards, 1 touchdown
Hugo Sanchez – 1 fumble recovery
Greg Raby – 1 sack, 5 tackles
Micah Pietila-Wiggs – 5 punts for 39.0 average
Emilio Aldaz – 1 field goal, 22 yards
PREP SCOREBOARD
Friday, Oct. 9
Metro-Mesa League
Bonita Vista 28, Eastlake 23
Olympian 33, Chula Vista 9
Pacific League
Escondido Charter 61, Lutheran 12
Non-League
Mater Dei Catholic 24, Castle Park 12
Granite Hills 28, Hilltop 14
La Jolla Country Day 49, San Ysidro 0
Mar Vista 41, Montgomery 7
Mira Mesa 49, Sweetwater 21
Friday, Oct. 2
Non-League
Otay Ranch 28, Lincoln 21
Castle Park 20, Clairemont 0
Mater Dei Catholic 42, Bishop’s 21
Mar Vista 27, Santana 21
Sweetwater 48, Calexico 18
Helix 38, Bonita Vista 7
Cathedral Catholic 35, Eastlake 19
Morse 30, Chula Vista 13
Crawford 60, Southwest 0
Vincent Memorial 68, Lutheran 22
Eight Man
Ocean View Christian Academy 28, St. Joseph Academy 24
