The proverbial game ball is usually reserved for the top performer or the player who makes the game-breaking play. Last Friday, the Eastlake Titans presented their game ball to defensive backs coach Freddy Arcaina, a 2000 EHS graduate who was making his final coaching appearance with the Titans after being accepted into the U.S. Border Patrol training academy.
Arcaina left the South Bay Sunday for El Centro for orientation and is now in El Paso for training. The Titans gave him an appropriate send-off with a 42-14 Mesa League victory at Chula Vista HS.
Arcaina posed with the team for photographs after the game with his personalized game ball autographed by the team.
The idea behind the farewell ceremony belongs to head coach John McFadden and assistant coach Rone Torres.
“Freddy is kind of the spiritual leader of the team and our weight training guru,” McFadden said. “He’s great with the kids and treated well by the kids.”
Arcaina, a free safety in high school and college, played two years at Grossmont College before earning All-American honors at Iowa Wesleyan. He was a team captain for the Titans his senior year.
“He was a great offensive player as well for us as a Z-back and back-up quarterback,” McFadden said. “He was a smart player and one of the best leaders we’ve ever had at Eastlake.”
Arcaina held the autographed ball up high during the photo session. Words were not necessary. It meant something.
Last Friday’s win also meant something to the Titans: the team’s 19th consecutive win in an overall 21-game unbeaten streak (19-0-2).
By the numbers
Seven players scored touchdowns for Eastlake, which led 20-0 by the end of the first quarter and 34-0 at halftime. Josh Palet (147 passing yards) threw TD passes to Travis Gardner (three catches 105 yards) and Chris Fletcher (one catch, 15 yards) while Jude Isbell (11 carries, 147 yards), Michael Sandlin (one carry, 34 yards), Tavarus Green (four carries, 25 yards), Zach Bannon (four carries, 22 yards) and Adrian Tabula (one carry, 11 yards) each scored rushing touchdowns.
Fernando Cabico had a 70-yard interception return and also returned a fumble 30 yards to key the Titan defense.
Isbell made a return to the lineup after suffering a concussion in a Sept. 24 win, while running back Aaron Baltazar missed last Friday’s game due to a knee injury suffered in an Oct. 15 win.
“Jude is a special player and so is Aaron — both seem to be playing tag right now,” McFadden said. “It would be great to have both in the same game.”
Donovan Mendez led CV with 97 rushing yards while Rudy Segobia (five carries, 53 yards) and Ricky Estevez (73 passing yards) each scored TDs in the final quarter.
Eastlake, which improved to 2-0 in league play, has a bye this week before hosting Bonita Vista on Nov. 5. The Spartans (1-6, 0-1) meet the Barons (2-6, 0-2) at Southwestern College this Friday.
