The return of high school sports to the playing field has taken its share of wrong turns over the past year. The latest twist might be leading teams down the home stretch: high school football is scheduled to kick off March 12 across the San Diego Section.
It took a trip to court and a reversal on the part of California Gov. Gavin Newsom but the highest profile prep sport appears headed back to the gridiron much sooner than anticipated.
Teams are allowed to kick off the much-delayed 2020 season providing COVID case numbers remain at or below 14 per 100,000. That’s the magic number that will allow high-contact high school sports to finally gear up.
Coaches, players and fans are obviously elated at the turn of events, even if some teams will only play four games.
“We are pumped and excited about the upcoming season,” first-year Sweetwater head coach Ervin Hernandez said.
The Metro Conference will kick off its mini-season on March 19 with a three-league format based on power rankings that will provide teams with the opportunity to win a league championship. There will be no section playoffs this year.
The Metro-Mesa League includes four teams: Eastlake, Mater Dei Catholic, Olympian and Otay Ranch high schools.
The Metro-South Bay League includes four teams: Bonita Vista, Chula Vista, Hilltop and Montgomery high schools.
The Metro-Pacific League includes five teams: Castle Park, Mar Vista, San Ysidro, Southwest and Sweetwater high schools.
The schedule includes league contests, crossover matchups and rivalry “bowl” games.
All varsity games are scheduled Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Junior varsity games will be played Saturdays at 10 a.m.
The season kicks off with a “flex week” during which teams may play a game, scrimmage or just practice.
Opening contests highlight the Legacy of Pride game pitting Sweetwater at Chula Vista and the Warrior Bowl matching Montgomery at Castle Park.
“We made sure that every rivalry game was scheduled either by league play, flex week or crossover,” Bonita Vista athletic director and football coach Tyler Arciaga said.
For instance, Bonita Vista will scrimmage Otay Ranch on March 18.
Chula Vista and Montgomery will play a total of five games while Bonita Vista, Castle Park, Eastlake, Hilltop, Mater Dei Catholic, Mar Vista, Olympian, Otay Ranch, San Ysidro, Southwest and Sweetwater are all scheduled to play four games.
Challenges remain, however. Protocols include weekly testing, which will be paid for by the state.
“The challenge that we’ll be facing is getting enough kids out and ready to compete, let alone having to learn a new offense and defense,” Hilltop coach Bryan Wagner said. “These kids will have to get in shape pretty fast and learn the system.”
“The challenge will definitely be not having a consistent off-season program for conditioning and strength building,” SuHi’s Hernandez said “We have to pile five to seven months of that into only a few weeks.
“Even though we had cohorts of 25 to 30 kids, it is different having to social distance and not having a football. I am glad we can have somewhat of a season, especially for our seniors. We will hit the ground running.”
Sweetwater and Chula Vista will play for the 74th time.
“I am glad we can continue one of the longest rivalries in California,” Hernandez said.
Senior running back Mario Villa has received offers to play at Bethany College and Pacific University while senior Uriel Camacho spearheads the Red Devils’ offensive line as a three-year starter.
Eastern exposure
Many East County teams will start the season on March 12. El Capitan is slated to play a six-game season, for instance.
“We’re super excited for the kids,” said veteran El Capitan coach Ron Burner, whose team is set to host Steele Canyon in its season opener. “They have a renewed passion again and the look in their eyes is so uplifting. So many have told them no way we will play and now they get to play.”
“I am excited for something positive for these kids,” Grossmont head coach Tom Karlo said. “It has been a real tough year for all of us. Now we have a chance to do something fun and get back to some normalcy.”
West Hills coach Casey Ash heartily concurred.
“As you would expect, both kids and coaches are extremely excited about the recent developments,” he said. “We have gone from preparing a possible season to having games right around the corner. I would liken it to taking your dog to the park and letting him off the leash — we have been freed!”
Granite Hills, which will be led by All-CIF prospect Matt Keeley this season, is set to host its Blue-White scrimmage on Saturday, March 6, and kick off regular season play with a March 13 game at Valhalla High School.
“The only challenge has been waiting this long to play,” Eagles coach Kellan Cobbs said. “Most of our guys have been putting in work and simply waiting to get the green light to play.”
Coaches are keeping their fingers crossed the county remains under the mandated adjusted COVID case level to continue playing.
“The challenges we all face are testing and, of course, doing our best to prevent an outbreak,” Burner said. “So many protocols now from taking temps, signing in etc., keeping equipment sanitized.”
METRO CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
Friday, March 19
Metro-Pacific League
Mar Vista at San Ysidro, 6:30 p.m.
Rivalry Games
Sweetwater at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
Montgomery at Castle Park, 6:30 p.m.
Non-League
Hilltop at Olympian, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, March 26
Metro-Pacific League
Mar Vista at Southwest, 6:30 p.m.
Castle Park at San Ysidro, 6:30 p.m.
Non-League
Bonita Vista at Eastlake, 6:30 p.m.
Chula Vista at Olympian, 6:30 p.m.
Otay Ranch at Hilltop, 6:30 p.m.
Mater Dei Catholic at Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.
El Cajon Valley at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 2
Metro-Pacific League
Sweetwater at Mar Vista, 6:30 p.m.
San Ysidro at Southwest, 6:30 p.m.
Metro-South Bay League
Montgomery vs. Bonita Vista, 6:30 p.m. at Hilltop
Hilltop at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
Metro-Mesa League
Eastlake at Olympian, 6:30 p.m.
Otay Ranch at Mater Dei Catholic, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 9
Metro-Pacific League
San Ysidro at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
Southwest at Castle Park, 6:30 p.m.
Metro-South Bay League
Chula Vista at Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.
Bonita Vista at Hilltop, 6:30 p.m.
Metro-Mesa League
Olympian at Otay Ranch, 6:30 p.m.
Mater Dei Catholic at Eastlake, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 16
Metro-Pacific League
Castle Park at Mar Vista, 6:30 p.m.
Southwest at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
Metro-South Bay League
Bonita Vista at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.
Hilltop at Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.
Metro-Mesa League
Eastlake at Otay Ranch, 6:30 p.m.
Olympian at Mater Dei Catholic, 6:30 p.m.
Non-League
Holtville at San Ysidro, 6:30 p.m.
GROSSMONT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
Friday, March 12
Steele Canyon at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
St. Augustine at Helix, 7 p.m.
Westview at Mount Miguel, 7 p.m.
Mission Hills at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
Monte Vista at Point Loma, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 13
El Cajon Valley at Santana, 10:30 a.m.
Granite Hills at Valhalla, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, March 19
Mount Miguel at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
West Hills at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
Steele Canyon at Cathedral Catholic, 7 p.m.
Monte Vista at Valhalla, 7 p.m.
El Capitan at Granite Hills, 7 p.m.
Mater Dei Catholic at Helix, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 26
Monte Vista at West Hills, 7 p.m.
Valhalla at Mount Miguel, 7 p.m.
El Capitan at Santana, 7 p.m.
El Cajon Valley at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
Grossmont at Granite Hills, 7 p.m.
Helix at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 1
El Cajon Valley at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 2
West Hills at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
Santana at Mount Miguel, 7 p.m.
Granite Hills at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
Grossmont at Helix, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 9
West Hills at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
Monte Vista at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
Valhalla at Santana, 7 p.m.
Grossmont at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
Helix at Granite Hills, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 16
Mount Miguel at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
Santana at West Hills, 7 p.m.
El Capitan at Valhalla, 7 p.m.
Granite Hills at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
Steele Canyon at Helix, 7 p.m.
