While there were no player kneel-downs during the national anthem at Friday’s Metro-Mesa League championship football game between the Olympian Eagles and host Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders, there was one player kneel-down at the end of the game as the Crusaders gathered in victory formation to secure a 28-7 decision.
The ending of the game was just as electrifying as the beginning when the stadium microphone cut out during the playing of the national anthem and fans came to the rescue by singing the remainder of the song.
The Crusaders won in breakaway fashion in an otherwise low-scoring defensive game. Mater Dei Catholic senior star C.J. Verdell rushed 19 times for 200 yards and scored three touchdowns, though two came in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter.
Ultimately, the outcome of the contest was about respect.
Mater Dei Catholic head coach John Joyner said he couldn’t be more proud of his team after the Crusaders made a rather significant jump from the San Diego Section’s Division IV competition tier (which they won last year) to the Division II level and from the Metro-South Bay League to the Metro-Mesa League, the Metro Conference’s top-level league.
Not only did the Crusaders take on the Metro Conference’s “big boys” but they won the league banner in the process.
“Definitely there are some good football teams in the Mesa League,” Joyner explained. “I was excited for the challenge and proud of the way we reacted.”
Large sections of the game resembled a rugby scrum as players piled up to stop the other team’s running game. Both teams chose to keep to the ground with very little pass plays, especially on part of the Eagles.
However, Olympian’s hard-hitting defensive game plan kept the Eagles within striking distance until the waning moments of the game.
“Olympian is a well-coached team and have been since coming into the South Bay,” Joyner underscored. “It’s been hard to score on Bing Dawson’s defense for the last 30 years. They are very hard to score on and it’s been that way all season.”
It was that way for most of last Friday’s game.
The score stood 13-7 in the hosts’ favor for the majority of the second half.
In fact, the first quarter appeared destined for a scoreless finish until Verdell broke off an 80-yard tip-toe sideline scamper on the final play of the quarter. The extra-point conversion attempt was wide and the Crusaders led 6-0.
Another breakaway score took place with just 2:04 left in the first half when MDCHS signal-caller Chris Jones hit teammate Kyle Moses for a 62-yard catch-and-carry.
The PAT conversion was good and Mater Dei Catholic went up 13-0.
Olympian turned in a big play of its own with 8:16 left in the third quarter when Isaiah Williams caught a 37-yard scoring pass on a fourth-down play.
The Eagles later drove to the Mater Dei 30-yard line in the fourth quarter but were stopped on fourth down.
Olympian started the remainder of its possessions in the shadow of its own goalposts due to poor field position. The Crusaders tacked on two late touchdowns to seal this season’s Metro-Mesa League championship.
Verdell broke off a 44-yard sideline jaunt with 4:48 to play to make the score 20-7 and reached the end zone again with 1:44 to play on a 24-yard scoring run, followed by a successful two-point conversion for the final 21-point winning margin.
The Crusaders wrapped up a 9-1 regular season showing and move on to compete in the Division II playoffs, likely receiving a first-round bye, though that will be decided at Saturday’s section seeding meeting.
Mater Dei Catholic finished undefeated against San Diego County competition in 2016, with its lone loss to Los Angeles Hawkins in September. The Crusaders finished 4-0 in Metro-Mesa league.
Olympian finished the regular season 6-4, 3-1 in league play.
The Eagles will wait to see where they are seeded, also in the Division II field.
Mar Vista clinches sole possession of the Metro-South Bay League championship with a 40-12 win at Chula Vista
Khalil Spruill scored five touchdowns for the Mariners (3-0 in league, 8-2 overall).
“I’m really happy for all the core guys who have been here four years and been through some hearbreak,” MVHS head coach Tyler Arciaga explained. “We’ve got to take advantage of this while we’re hot. We’re playing well right now.”
Arciaga noted his team needs to score 10 points to set a new school record for most points scored in one season.
Spruill rushed for 213 yards on 26 carries. Kyle Denney gained 91 yards on six carries.
Mar Vista’s defense recorded 10 sacks, including three by Matt Estrada and two each by Spruill, Niko Figueroa and Jacob Hinojosa.
Chula Vista finished regular season play 5-5 overall, 1-2 in league. Sergio Figueroa rushed for 66 yards and one touchdown while quarterback Paul Escobar also rushed for a touchdown.
Hilltop clinched the runner-up position in the Metro-South Bay League standings with a 38-6 win at Sweetwater. The victorious Lancers finished 2-1 in league play, 6-4 overall, while Sweetwater finished league play 0-3, 2-8 overall.
Hilltop quarterback Alex Tejeda passed for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Cristian Llanes (three catches, 32 yards0 caught two scoring passes while Gus Ferreira (10 catches, 171 yards) caught one TD pass. Domonic Esparza (six carries, 32 yards) and Angel Pineda (10 carries, 87 yards) each scored rushing touchdowns.
Marty Sesma led Sweetwater with 173 rushing yards while teammate Francisco Velazquez scored the Devils’ lone touchdown.
Metro-Pacific League title goes to San Ysidro in history-making fashion
San Ysidro held on to down visiting Southwest, 36-26, to claim the Metro-Pacific League championship and the school’s first league football title.
Daishawn Lee scored three touchdowns to lead the way for the Cougars (5-5 overall, 3-0 in league play) on homecoming night.
Leonard Hoar (18 carries, 178 yards) scored two rushing touchdowns to lead Southwest, which finished regular season play 0-3 in league, 2-8 overall. Zaire Simpson (13 carries, 171 yards) and Joshua Sanchez (nine carries, 67 yards) each scored one touchdown.
San Ysidro’s defense recorded a pair of interceptions.
Aztecs top Trojans, win Warrior Bowl
Montgomery defeated host Castle Park, 18-14, in the teams’ annual Warrior Bowl rivalry game to finish 2-1 in league play, 3-7 overall.
Anthony Bugarin scored on a nine-yard run and Chris Conception scored on a fumble recovery for the Aztecs in taking a 12-0 lead in the game.
Arrien Smith scored on a touchdown reception while teammate Chris Arana scored on an 82-yard kick-off return to lead the Trojans (1-2 in league play, 1-9 overall).
Barons retain rivalry trophy after scoring 20-12 win over Titans
Bonita Vista defeated host Eastlake, 20-12, in the teams’ annual Battle of the Boot rivalry game last Friday in a match-up big on pride and neighborhood bragging rights.
It also proved to be a final playoff tune-up for both teams.
Bonita Vista quarterback Anthony Posada threw for 186 yards and three touchdowns passes, including two to Keenan Ellis (five catches, 89 yards).
Dean Klaser rushed 14 times for 80 yards while Tahj Stewart added 65 yards on four carries. Josh Godfrey rushed seven times for 43 yards.
Nicholas Klugh had eight carries for a game high 117 yards, including one burst for 52 yards, and scored one touchdown. Eastlake quarterback Alfredo Garcia rushed eight times for 36 yards and one touchdown while passing for 45 yards. Kaleb Dueitt had 19 carries for 80 yards.
The Barons won the trophy for the second consecutive year after a 10-year dominance by the Titans.
Bonita Vista finished 2-2 in Metro-Mesa League play, 3-7 overall, but will be eying a berth in the upcoming Division II playoffs while Eastlake finished 0-4 in league play, 2-8 overall, and will compete in the Division I playoffs.
Bonita Vista has won three of its last five games after starting the season 0-5.
BVHS head coach Chris Thompson remained optimistic about Friday’s playoff game at West Hills.
“Ten down, one to go,” he said. “We focus on the team in front of us. I still feel like we are the most talented team in the Division II bracket. Mater Dei has the best individual player in C.J. Verdell. It’s in the kids’ hands.”
Playoff projections
All scores have been tabulated in Division I. Barring any changes due to head-to-head victores, which will allow a team to jump over another one in the pairings, the Open Division entrants appear to consist of Cathedral Catholic (10-0), Helix (8-2), Rancho Bernardo (10-0), Grossmont (9-1), Oceanside (8-2), Mission Hills (6-4), Valhalla (8-2) and Torrey Pines (8-2).
Madison (8-2) and St. Augustine (8-2) would be seeded 1-2 among the remaining Division I teams while Eastlake would be seeded 11th.
Mater Dei Catholic looks to be seeded second behind Poway (9-1) in the Division II field, with Olympian fourth, Otay Ranch seventh and Bonita Vista 10th.
Christian (10-0) and Bishop’s (10-0) should be the top teams in Division III, with Hilltop 10th, Chula Vista 12th and Sweetwater 13th. Chula Vista is right at the cut-off line.
Mar Vista moves up to No. 3 in the Division IV power rankings while Castle Park appears out of the playoffs at No. 14.
In Division V, the top eight-seeded teams make the playoffs. San Ysidro is sevneth while Montgomery is 11th, Southwest is 15th and Lutheran is 17th.
Final pairings will be announced by the section office Saturday afternoon.
Prep football playoff schedules
Nine Metro Conference teams invited to section’s post-season championship tournament
A total of nine Metro Conference teams have qualified for the San Diego Section playoffs. Metro-Mesa League champion Mater Dei Catholic (9-1) received the No. 2 seed in the Division II field while Metro-Mesa League runner-up Olympian (6-4) received the No. 4 seed in the Division II playoffs and Metro-South Bay League champion Mar Vista (8-2) received the No. 4 seed in the Division IV field.
All three teams receive byes to the quarterfinal round.
Six Sweetwater district teams will kick off post season play in the opening round.
Eastlake, seeded 11th, will play at sixth-seeded Mt Carmel in a Division I match-up on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.
The remainder of games will be played on Friday, Nov. 11:
Otay Ranch (seeded seventh) and Bonita Vista (seeded 11th) join Mater Dei Catholic and Olympian in the Division II playoffs.
Otay Ranch (3-7) will host 10th-seeded Mt. Miguel (3-7) while Bonita Vista will play at sixth-seeded West Hills (5-5).
Hilltop (seeded ninth) and Chula Vista (seeded 12th) both qualified for the Division III playoffs. Both teams will play on the road.
Hilltop (6-4) will travel to eighth-seeded at Patrick Henry (6-4) while Chula Vista (5-5) will play at fifth-seeded Santa Fe Christian (8-2).
San Ysidro (5-5) received the sixth seed in the Division V field and will play at third-seeded Tri-City Christian (8-2).
All games are scheduled for 7 p.m. starts.
Division championship games will once again be played at Southwestern College.
The Division I (7 p.m.) and Division IV (3 p.m.) finals will take place finals on Dec. 2.
The Open Division (7 p..m), Division II (3 p.m.) and Division III (11 a.m.) finals will take place on Dec. 3.
The Division V championship game is scheduled Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. at SWC.
Top seeds include Cathedral Catholic (10-0) in the Open Division, Madison (8-2) in Division I, Poway (9-1) in Division II, Christian (10-0) in Division III, El Centro Southwest (8-2) in Division IV and Classical Academy (6-4) in Division V.
Four teams finished regular season play with undefeated 10-0 records: Cathedral Catholic and Rancho Bernardo in the Open Division and Christian and Bishop’s in Division III.
San Diego Section Playoff Scoreboard
Division I
First Round
Thursday, Nov. 10
(6) Mt. Carmel 22, (11) Eastlake (2-8) 20
(7) Point Loma 42, (10) El Camino 35
Friday, Nov. 11
(9) Carlsbad at (8) Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
(12) Vista at (5) Ramona, 7 p.m.
Byes: (1) Madison, (2) St. Augustine, (3) La Costa Canyon, (4) San Marcos
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 18
(6) Mt. Carmel at (3) La Costa Canyon, 7 p.m.
(7) Point Loma at (2) St. Augustine, 7 p.m.
Division II
First Round
Thursday, Nov, 10
(5) Granite Hills 30, (12) San Pasqual 14
Friday, Nov., 11
(9) Westview at (8) Brawley, 7 p.m.
(10) Bonita Vista (3-7) at (6) West Hills (5-5), 7 p.m.
(11) Mt. Miguel (3-7) at (7) Otay Ranch (3-7), 7 p.m.
Byes: (1) Poway, (2) Mater Dei Catholic, (3) El Capitan, (4) Olympian
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 18
(5) Granite Hills (7-4) at (4) Olympian (6-4), 7 p.m.
Division III
First Round
Thursday, Nov. 10
(6) Morse 36, (11) Rancho Buena Vista 22
Friday, Nov, 11
(9) Hilltop (6-4) at (8) Patrick Henry, 7 p.m.
(12) Chula Vista (5-5) at (5) Santa Fe Christian (8-2), 7 p.m.
(10) La Jolla at (7) Del Norte, 7 p.m.
Byes: (1) Christian, (2) Bishop’s, (3) Valley Center, (4) Lincoln
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 18
(6) Morse at (3) Valley Center, 7 p.m.
Division IV
First Round
Thursday, Nov. 10
(6) Coronado 20, (11) Central Union 17
Friday, Nov. 11
(9) Orange Glen at (8) University City, 7 p.m.
(12) Kearny at (5) La Jolla Country Day, 7 p.m.
(10) Serra at (7) El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
Byes: (1) Southwest El Centro, (2) Monte Vista, (3) Santana, (4) Mar Vista
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 18
(6) Coronado at (3) Santana, 7 p.m.
Division V
First Round
Thursday, Nov. 10
(5) Horizon Christian Academy 49, (4) Calipatria 36
(7) Calexico 35, (2) Palo Verde 6
Friday, Nov. 11
(6) San Ysidro (5-5) at (3) Tri-City Christian (8-2), 7 p.m.
(8) Holtville at (1) Classical Academy, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 18
(5) Horizon Christian Academy at Classical Academy-Holtville winner, 7 p.m.
(7) Calexico at San Ysidro-Tri-City Christian winner, 7 p.m.
Metro Conference Scoreboard
Metro-Mesa League
Mater Dei Catholic 4-0, 9-1
Olympian Eagles 3-1, 6-4
Bonita Vista 2-2, 3-7
Otay Ranch 1-3, 3-7
Eastlake 0-4, 2-8
Friday, Oct. 28
Mater Dei Catholic 49, Eastlake 7
Bonita Vista 26, Otay Ranch 10
Friday, Nov. 4
Mater Dei Catholic 28, Olympian 7
Bonita Vista 20, Eastlake 12
Metro-South Bay League
Mar Vista Mariners 3-0, 8-2
Hilltop Lancers 2-1, 6-4
Chula Vista Spartans 1-2, 5-5
Sweetwater Red Devils 0-3, 2-8
Friday, Oct. 28
Hilltop 38, Chula Vista 16
Mar Vista 42, Sweetwater 6
Friday, Nov. 4
Mar Vista 40, Chula Vista 12
Hilltop 38,Sweetwater 6
Metro-Pacific League
San Ysidro Cougars 3-0, 5-5
Montgomery Aztecs 2-1, 3-7
Castle Park Trojans 1-2, 1-9
Southwest Raiders 0-3, 2-8
Friday, Oct. 28
San Ysidro 21, Castle Park 20
Montgomery 31, Southwest 28
Friday, Nov. 4
Montgomery 18, Castle Park 14
San Ysidro 36, Southwest 26
METRO CONFERENCE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Based on reported results
Passing
•Alex Tejeda (Hilltop) 2,256 yards, 21 touchdowns, 3 interceptions (10 games)
•Anthony Posada (Bonita Vista) 1,874 yards, 21 touchdowns, 5 interceptions (10 games)
•Chris Jones (Mater Dei Catholic) 1,498 yards, 20 touchdowns, 2 interceptions (9 games)
•Paul Escobar (Chula Vista) 1,378 yards, 11 touchdowns, 8 interceptions (10 games)
•Eleazar Cruz (Castle Park) 1,087 yards, 12 touchdowns, 13 interceptions (10 games)
•Nico Mendoza (Olympian) 967 yards, 16 touchdowns, 6 interceptions (10 games)
Rushing
•Marty Sesma (Sweetwater) 1,756 yards, 8 touchdowns (10 games)
•Khalil Spruill (Mar Vista) 1,637 yards, 24 touchdowns (8 games)
•C.J. Verdell (Mater Dei Catholic) 1,424 yards, 22 touchdowns (9 games)
•Zaire Simpson (Southwest) 1,213 yards, 15 touchdowns (10 games)
•Leonard Hoar (Southwest) 1,048 yards, 9 touchdowns (10 games)
•Gus Espiritu (Otay Ranch) 1,043 yards, 5 touchdowns (10 games)
•Noah Lacsina (Olympian) 822 yards, 2 touchdowns (10 games)
•Sergio Figueroa (Chula Vista) 756 yards, 14 touchdowns (10 games)
Receiving
•Gus Ferreira (Hilltop) 1,146 yards, 11 touchdowns (10 games)
•Keenan Ellis (Bonita Vista) 678 yards, 5 touchdowns (7 games)
•Eli Shelton (Mater Dei Catholic) 557 yards, 6 touchdowns (7 games)
•Cameron O’Neal (Chula Vista) 536 yards, 5 touchdowns (10 games)
•Jake Rozar (Bonita Vista) 520 yards, 5 touchdowns (8 games)
•Devin Lloyd (Otay Ranch) 511 yards (10 games)
Touchdowns
•C. J. Verdell (Mater Dei Catholic) 25
•Khalil Spruill (Mar Vista) 25
•Zaire Simpson (Southwest) 19
•Sergio Figueroa (Chula Vista) 15
•Noah Berry (Mar Vista) 12
•Gus Ferreria (Hilltop) 11
•Devin Lloyd (Otay Ranch) 10
