Chris Thompson, who served as an assistant coach and head coach to much acclaim at several schools within the San Diego Section, died at the age of 52 on Sept. 4.
His passing caught the greater San Diego County high school football community somewhat by surprise, though it was known he had been battling bone cancer.
Thompson, who began his career as a junior varsity coach at Mira Mesa High School and later served 14 years as an assistant coach with the varsity team there, was highly regarded as an assistant coach and served as a mentor as a head coach.
He led Bonita Vista to its first CIF championship in 50 years in 2015 as the Barons won the division III title and advanced to the Division IV-AA state championship game, finishing runner-up in the rain and mud in Hanford.
Greg Bell, who was a senior on that history-making BVHS team, is currently a senior at SDSU. He called Thompson a mentor who genuinely cared about his student-athletes’ well-being and their progress academically.
Bell currently leads the Aztecs (5-0) with 520 net rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Bell rushed for 2,632 yards and scored 33 rushing touchdowns to help Bonita Vista post a 12-3 overall record during the 2015 season. He also scored a receiving touchdown to give him 34 TDs in 15 games.
Following his four-year stint with the Barons, Thompson served as an assistant coach at Helix, winning another CIF championship in 2017. From there, he returned to Mira Mesa to become head coach at his alma mater. He served four seasons at the helm of the Marauders, going 16-16, including a 1-1 record this season.
He led Mira Mesa to the 2018 Division II championship game at Southwestern College, finishing runner-up to Lincoln.
He was an assistant coach at Vista in 2010 when the Panthers defeated Mira Mesa, 33-21, for the Division I title. He coached at Poway High School the following year before landing his first head coaching job at Bonita Vista in 2013.
The Barons finished 26-24 under Thompson’s tutelage. He started modestly at Bonita Vista with opening records of 4-7 (2013) and 5-6 (2014) before unleashing his monster squad in 2015. The Barons crushed Mission Bay, 52-14, in the division championship game at Southwestern College.
His encore season in 2016 ended with a 5-8 record but included an inspirational run in the playoffs that ended with a loss to Mater Dei Catholic in the Division II semifinals.
“Coach Thompson left his mark on each program that he was a part of, including Bonita Vista,” current Barons head coach Tyler Arciaga said. “While at Bonita Vista, he guided them to a CIF championship and state runner-up. There were multiple players who were able to continue at the next level, including SDSU running back Greg Bell. He was always had a respect for the traditions and history of Bonita Vista football. His legacy will be of someone who cared for the kids and was an intelligent football mind. His contributions to Bonita Vista football will not be forgotten.”
Thompson had success wherever he went.
He was a member of Helix’s 2017 CIF Open Division championship team that went on to claim the SoCal regional Division 1AA title en route to posting a runner-up finish in the state championship game. The Highlanders finished 13-2 on the year.
“Coach Thompy was a huge asset to our program and to me personally as a head coach,” Helix head coach Robbie Owens said. “He came to us after stepping down at Bonita Vista High School and just prior to getting his dream job at Mira Mesa as the head coach. He brought tremendous coaching expertise that still impacts our program on offense and special teams today.
“I appreciated having him on our staff, knowing he had the knowledge of being a head coach and spoke honestly and from the heart with me as a head coach. I respected him as a coach, but even more as a person. We still spoke often and have either scrimmaged or played one another since the 2016 season. He will be missed and truly never forgotten. It was an honor to have coached alongside him, coached against him and to be his friend.”
Current Grossmont Foothillers head coach Chris Holmes served with Thompson as an assistant coach at Helix.
“Coach Thompson was a fun guy to be around and had an absolutely brilliant football mind,” Holmes said. “He genuinely cared about the people around him, especially his players.”
The Foothillers had the opportunity to play at Mira Mesa in a non-league game on Sept. 24 as the Marauders honored their former coach. Mira Mesa won 13-7.
“It was an electric atmosphere that night,” Holmes said. “It was a very moving tribute before the game to recognize the beautiful person Coach Thompson was. It was clear that the Marauders played with passion and fire to honor their late coach.”
SDSU extends season opening win streak to 5-0 with 31-7 win over New Mexico
BVHS alum Greg Bell runs for 111 yards, one TD
The San Diego State University football team has kicked off the 2021 season with a 5-0 record for only the second time in the last 46 years. The last time the Aztecs were 5-0 to start a season was in 2017 when the team finished 10-3 with a 42-35 loss to Army in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Bonita Vista High School alumnus Greg Bell remains a catalyst for the 2021 SDSU team after rushing for 111 yards and initiating scoring on a one-yard run in the 25th-ranked Aztecs’ 31-7 victory against the New Mexico Lobos Saturday at Health Dignity Sports Park in Carson.
The Aztecs have since moved up to No. 24 in the national rankings following their latest win.
SDSU is one of 13 unbeaten teams remaining in FBS play.
The Aztecs have been ranked 12 times since the 2016 season.
The five wins are more than last year’s shortened COVID-19 season (4-4).
Bell, who missed the team’s previous game because of an injury, set the tone against New Mexico by breaking loose for a 40-yard gain on his first carry. He later broke off an 11-yard burst to set up his own score. He carried the ball for all 63 yards on SDSU’s opening touchdown drive.
Matt Araiza, who appears to be getting looks from NFL scouts, kicked a 40-yard field goal to start the second quarter to boost the Aztec lead to 10-0. Quarterback Jordon Brookshire followed with a one-yard keeper with 4:35 to play in the quarter to stake SDSU to a 17-0 halftime lead.
New Mexico (2-4, 0-2 in MW) got on the scoreboard via a 15-yard fumble return by Ray Leutele late in the third quarter to bring the Lobos to within 10 points.
But the Aztecs closed out the game with an 11-yard scoring run by Brookshire with 2:35 to play in the third quarter and an eight-yard touchdown run by Chance Bell in the fourth quarter.
The Aztecs out-gained the Lobos 336-193 in total net yards, including a decisive 203-66 edge in rushing yards.
Brookshire completed 11 of 24 passing attempts for 130 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed five times for 45 yards with two touchdowns.
Tyrell Shavers led SDSU receivers with two catches for 39 yards while Daniel Bellinger had two catches for 25 yards. B.J. Busbee caught one pass for 36 yards.
Araiza punted five times for a 48.2 average, including one punt of 64 yards.
Greg Bell topped the Aztecs with 118 all-purpose yards while adding seven receiving yards to his game total. He led SDSU by a wide margin in that department. Jordan Byrd ranked runner-up with 56 all-purpose yards.
Brookshire racked up 175 total yards (130 passing, 45 rushing).
Former Helix standout Michael Shawcroft recorded four tackles on defense, including three first hits. He forced one fumble and had one pass break-up.
SDSU won six games in a row during the 2018 season and will be bidding to tie that mark with a game this Friday at defending conference champion San Jose State (1-1, 3-3). Kick off is 7:30 p.m. PT.
Mountain West Standings
West Division
SDSU 1-0, 5-0
Nevada 1-0, 4-1
Fresno State 1-1, 4-2
Hawaii 1-1, 3-3
San Jose State 1-1, 3-3
UNLV 0-1, 0-5
Mountain Division
Colorado State 1-0, 2-3
Air Force 2-1, 5-1
Utah State 1-1, 3-2
Boise State 1-1, 3-3
Wyoming 0-1, 4-1
New Mexico 0-2, 2-4
SDSU Aztecs Schedule
September
4: SDSU 28, New Mexico State 10
11: SDSU 38, Arizona 14
18: SDSU 33, Utah 31 (3OT)
25: SDSU 48, Towson 21
October
9: SDSU 31, New Mexico 7
