Anything can happen in a rivalry game, so it was time to forget about season records entering last Friday’s Battle of the O’s contest between the host Olympian Eagles and Otay Ranch Mustangs, neighbors nestled in eastern Chula Vista.
The Eagles entered the game with a 1-5 record, including back-to-back losses in which the team had been outscored 81-19, as well as injuries to several players, while the Mustangs were 3-3 and riding the momentum of a 37-0 non-league victory in their preceding game against the Valhalla Norsemen.
The matchup turned into a defensive battle, with the defending Metro-Mesa League champion Mustangs holding a 3-0 lead at halftime. The game’s defensive theme extended into the second half before both teams began to produce points.
Otay Ranch rolled up a 22-0 lead before the Eagles responded with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
“It was a hard fought game by both teams,” Mustang head coach Lance Christensen stressed. “The Battle of the O’s is always a challenging game and I am happy that we were able to come out on top. I was very proud of how my kids competed.”
Manuel Martinez kicked a 24-yard field goal for the only points by either team in the first half. That came in the second quarter.
Otay Ranch tacked on 12 points in the third quarter. Quarterback Jonte (Puka) Stewart) electrified the crowd with a cross-field touchdown pass to Marwan (Boogie) Phillips to give the Mustangs a 15-0 lead heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter turned into a shootout between the teams as Olympian out-scored the visitors 16-14.
Arnold Escano, pushed into the role of Eagles quarterback due to injury, threw a pair of touchdown passes — one each to Damarian Thornton and Berry Buxton — to lead the visitors on the scoreboard. Escano also tossed a pair of successful two-point conversion passes to Anthony Gilpin Jr.
Stewart turned in the more productive performance with 198 yards in total offense — 129 passing yards and 69 rushing yards. He threw one touchdown pass while rushing for another score.
Noah Isley led the Mustangs on the ground with 17 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns.
Dylan Zolezzi keyed Otay Ranch defensively with nine tackles, including three tackles for a loss, one sack and one caused fumble.
Steven Filippi had one interception for 10 yards while Kiki Moran had one fumble recovery for two yards.
Defensive leaders for the Eagles included Jared Desmond with 19 tackles, Renz Casiano and Gilpin with 11 tackles each, and Jimmy Mena and Angel Huerta with 10 tackles each.
Diego Sanchez, Shaihi Baker and Desmond each logged sacks. Sanchez also had one fumble recovery while Buxton had one interception.
Otay Ranch head coach Lance Christensen gets the ceremonial water bucket dunk treatment following the Mustangs’ rivalry game win. Photos by Jon Bigornia
Red Devils blank Cougars, 56-0, extend win streak to two games
After dropping its first four games by a combined score of 207-19 the Sweetwater High School football team has reversed course by posting commanding wins in its last two games by a combined score of 91-0.
The Red Devils shut out the visiting San Ysidro Cougars, 56-0, last Friday to extend their modest winning streak to two games.
Sweetwater plays a key non-league game this Friday at Montgomery. Both teams will be vying for seeding position in the upcoming San Diego Section Division IV playoffs.
“The team is getting better every week and a great team chemistry seems to be forming,” Sweetwater head coach Bryan Wagner said. “Offensively we are improving and playing for each other with a purpose. Defensively we are moving past the basics and we are able to attack the opposition. We are building momentum and getting ready for league play.”
Sweetwater built a 28-0 first quarter lead and led, 49-0, at halftime to keep the Cougars (0-7) winless on the season.
The Devils racked up 305 rushing yards and 342 total offensive yards in the victory.
Luciano Estopier led the SuHi rushing attack with 137 yards on seven carries, averaging 19.6 yards per carry.
Joe Urenda averaged 16.3 yards per carry with 49 yards on three rushing attempts while Charles Tongco rushed 11 times for 57 yards.
Isaiah Atayde had three carries for 35 yards (11.7 yards per carry) while Julian Torres caught two passes for 31 yards.
Urenda scored the opening two touchdowns for the hosts, both on nine-yard runs, while Estopier broke away for an 82-yard touchdown run to make the score 21-0. Estopier later scored on a short run, as did Atayde.
The Sweetwater defense held San Ysidro to 101 total yards — 101 rushing yards and zero passing yards.
Marcus Bowman, who was 0-for-5 in the passing department, led the Cougars on the ground with 79 yards on five carries.
The Red Devils recovered three fumbles.
Camilo Marizcal led San Ysidro defensively with 10 tackles while Alajandro Caracoza had two sacks.
The Cougars, the only team in the section to lose all seven of its games so far this season, have a bye until opening Metro-Pacific League play on Oct. 12 with a home game against the Southwest Raiders (3-3).
Montgomery is 2-4 on the season following last Friday’s 21-17 non-league setback to visiting Vincent Memorial, last year’s Division V champion.
The Aztecs have been competitive against the majority of their opponents this season, defeating Hoover (12-6) and Army-Navy Academy (23-3) while dropping contests to Classical Academy (24-18) and Vincent Memorial by narrow margins.
Montgomery’s only losses by lopsided margins have been to Francis Parker (42-0) and San Diego (40-6).
Keoa Gumataotao leads the Aztecs with 652 passing yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions. He also has rushed for 140 yards and one touchdown.
Xavier Brown tops Montgomery ground-gainers with 183 rushing yards on 42 carries while freshman Christian Venegas (160 yards, 29 carries) tops the team with five rushing touchdowns.
Agelu Meredith leads the Otay Mesa team with nine catches for 187 yards.
For Sweetwater, Estopier has rushed for 599 yards this season while Torres leads the team with 131 receiving yards.
Luciano Estopier recorded a breakout game in Sweetwater’s win over visiting San Ysidro. Photo by Phillip Brents
Prep Football Kickoff
Friday Night Lights
Metro-Mesa League
Friday, Sept. 28
Otay Ranch 29, Olympian 16
Mater Dei Catholic 42, Bonita Vista 7
Friday, Oct. 5
Bonita Vista at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
Eastlake at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
Non-League
Friday, Sept. 28
Sweetwater 56, San Ysidro 0
Hilltop 21, Mountain Empire 14
Monte Vista 28, Chula Vista 6
Holtville 21, Southwest 18
Vincent Memorial 21, Montgomery 17
Friday, Oct. 5
Sweetwater at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
Mar Vista at Southwest, 7 p.m.
Castle Park at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
Eight-Man
Friday, Sept. 28
Foothills Christian 68, Calvary Christian Academy 0
St. Joseph Academy 58, Ocean View Christian Academy 20
Borrego Springs 50, Victory Christian Academy 36
Friday, Oct. 5
St. Joseph Academy at Victory Christian Academy, 7 p.m.
Calvary Christian Academy at Julian, 7 p.m.
MaxPreps/Top 10 Rankings
(Through Oct. 2)
Division I: 1. Cathedral Catholic (5-1), 2. Torrey Pines (6-0), 3. La Costa Canyon (5-1), 4. Helix (3-3), 5. St. Augustine (5-1), 6. Eastlake (5-1), 7. San Marcos (5-1), 8. Madison (4-2), 9. Carlsbad (3-3), 10. Mission Hills (2-4). Others: 14. Otay Ranch (4-3)
Division II: 1. Granite Hills (6-0), 2. Point Loma (4-2), 3. Poway (5-2), 4. Ramona (4-2), 5. Vista (4-2), 6. Lincoln (5-1), 7. Valley Center (4-2), 8. Mira Mesa (4-2), 9. San Pasqual (3-3), 10. Bishop’s (3-3). Others: 11. Mater Dei Catholic (3-4), 12. Olympian (1-6), 15. Bonita Vista (2-5)
Division III: 1. Christian (6-0), 2. Monte Vista (5-1), 3. Central Union (6-0), 4. Brawley (5-1), 5. Morse (4-2), 6. Santa Fe Christian (3-3), 7. University City (4-2), 8. Imperial (3-3), 9. El Capitan (2-4). 10. West Hills (5-1). Others: 16. Hilltop (2-5)
Division IV: 1. Kearny (6-0), 2. San Diego (4-1), 3. Del Norte (4-2), 4. Mar Vista (4-2), 5. Santana (4-3), 6. Chula Vista (2-5), 7. Serra (3-3), 8. Calexico (3-3), 9. Coronado (5-1), 10. Classical Academy (4-2). Others: 12. Sweetwater (2-4), 14. Montgomery (2-4)
Division V: 1. Holtville (5-1), 2. Francis Parker (6-0), 3. Vincent Memorial (5-1), 4. Tri-City Christian (5-1), 5. Orange Glen (5-1), 6. Palo Verde Valley (3-3), 7. Maranatha Christian (4-3), 8. Southwest (3-3), 9. Mountain Empire (3-3), 10. Castle Park (2-4), 15. San Ysidro 0-7
Eight-man standings: Calvary Christian Academy (4-1), Victory Christian Academy (2-3), Ocean View Christian Academy (0-5)
Prep Football Pictorial
Otay Ranch at Olympian
Photos by Jon Bigornia
