A week after being drubbed 75-22 in a game at Grossmont High School in which the host Foothillers set a school record for most points scored in one football game, the Hilltop Lancers returned to the gridiron to post one of their most important victories of the 2014 season.
The Lancers’ 42-19 non-league win over visiting Coronado did much for a confidence boost — and a boost up the San Diego Section’s Division III standings. Hilltop improved to 2-3 on the season and, in the process, moved up to the No. 12 slot in the division power rankings. Twelve of the division’s 16 teams will qualify for the section playoffs.
The Lancers play at Otay Ranch (3-2) on Friday. The host Mustang have lost their last two games by a combined score of 79-23 after starting the season 3-0. The non-league game is a key one for both teams.
Otay Ranch enters Friday’s game fifth in the Division II power rankings. The Mustangs dropped a 38-16 non-league contest last Friday at undefeated Steele Canyon (5-0).
Hilltop received touchdowns from six players in last week’s win over Coronado (3-2). Bryton Madarang, Angel Pineda and Daniel Sanchez each scored rushing touchdowns while Luis Hernandez, Alex Tejeda and Michael Talbert each caught touchdown passes.
Sanchez completed 10 of 14 attempts for 184 yards and three touchdowns in the passing department while rushing nine times for 59 yards and one score. Pineda led the Lancers with 89 rushing yards on 15 carries while Madarang and Neiko Santana both rushed for 41 yards. As a team, Hilltop piled up 228 rushing yards. The Lancers led 35-7 at halftime.
Hernandez had two catches for 72 yards, including a59-yard reception. Madarang had four catches for 53 yards. The Lancers combined for 412 all-purpose yards in the win.
Sanchez has passed for 752 yards and eight touchdowns against three interceptions in five games while rushing for 406 additional yards and four touchdowns. Madarang has racked up 268 receiving yards and 242 rushing yards to go with a team-leading five touchdowns.
Otay Ranch’s team leaders continue to be Dorsey Furlow (297 rushing yards in four games) and Adrian Rodriguez (385 receiving yards in four games). Rodriguez led the team with 499 all-purpose yards.
The Mustangs fell behind 19-0 to the Cougars before being out-scored 19-16 in the second half of last week’s game. Rodriguez caught a 31-yard scoring pass while Oscar Limon scored on a three-yard touchdown run for the visitors, who also received a 26-yard field goal from Alec Cortez.
Crusaders cruise
Mater Dei Catholic (2-2) snapped a two-game losing streak by pounding visiting San Ysidro, 41-6, last Friday. The Crusaders received rushing touchdowns from Brian Lopez, Luis Victoria, Brandon Keyes and quarterback Jarrod Rieta, who also passed for 196 yards and threw a scoring pass. Meanwhile, Quentin Frazier led the defense with two forced fumbles while Donovan Williams recorded one sack and a forced fumble.
Rieta has passed for 629 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for one touchdown in 2014. Luis Victoria leads MDC with 214 rushing yards and two rushing TDs while Frazier has 12 catches for 204 yards and one TD.
Defensively, Conner Finnestad paces the Crusaders with 43 tackles and two sacks.
Mater Dei Catholic will get a test of how it matches up against top Division IV-ranked Bishop’s (4-0) when the Crusaders tackle the Knights in La Jolla on Friday.
Scoreboard
In other non-league games last Friday:
•Eastlake 23, St. Augustine 0
•Ocean View Christian Academy 49, St. Joseph Academy 16
•Chula Vista Calvary Christian Academy 21, Calipatria 20
•Madison 40, Bonita Vista 10
•Mira Mesa 43, Chula Vista 0
•Imperial 21, Olympian 14
•La Jolla Country Day 27, Montgomery 13
•El Cajon Valley 21, Southwest 6
Next up
Games of Friday, Oct. 3:
•Hilltop at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
•Castle Park at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
•Cathedral Catholic at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
•Crawford at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
•Olympian at Hoover, 6:30 p.m.
•Bonita Vista at Helix, 7 p.m.
•Sweetwater at Calexico, 7 p.m.
•Mar Vista at Santana, 7 p.m.
•Mater Dei Catholic at Bishop’s, 7 p.m.
•Southwest at Clairemont, 7 p.m.
