The Battle pf the O’s is one of the newer football rivalries in the Metro Conference but one that is not taken lightly by the two teams involved: the Otay Ranch Mustangs and Olympian Eagles.
The neighborhood rivals met last Friday at Otay Ranch High School. The host Mustangs won the latest game in the series by a score of 37-0.
The win was the third consecutive for Otay Ranch following a less than spectacular 0-3 start to even its season record at 3-3.
“Our challenging non-league schedule has helped prepare our team for our upcoming league games,” Mustang coach Brad Burton said. “The team has reduced mistakes and continued to work hard to improve. We are looking forward to a challenging league schedule.”
Otay Ranch’s Johnnie Welborne (3) and Yosias Mitchell (36) both take off for the end zone during last Friday’s Battle of the O’s rivalry game against the Olympian Eagles. Welborne reached paydirt twice while Mitchell landed once in end zone. Photos by Jon Bigornia
Give them a cheer. Photos by Jon Bigornia
The loss was the third straight for Olympian to drop its season record to 1-5. “Otay was the much better team on Friday,” Olympian head coach Brad Carter said. “They controlled the game on offense and they stopped our run game.
“We’re looking forward to our bye week to get healthy and to get better in all phases before league play starts in a few weeks.”
Otay Ranch hosts Chula Vista on Friday to kick off Metro-Mesa League play while Olympian hosts Hilltop to kick off Metro-South Bay League play on Oct. 18.
Junior quarterback A.J. Lopez passed for 138 yards and four touchdowns to pace Otay Ranch past Olympian. Senior receiver Johnnie Welborne had five catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns while sophomore Jaidon Castillo led the 193-yard Otay Ranch rushing attack with 12 carries for 87 yards.
Seniors Julian Millan (three catches, 28 yards) and Yosias Mitchell (two catches, 39 yards) each caught scoring passes.
Senior kicked Alejandro Farias was three-for-three on field goal attempts, splitting the uprights from 34, 25 and 50 yards, while tacking on four extra-point conversions to finish the night with 13 points.
On defense, senior defensive lineman Diego Martinez recorded two sacks and three tackles for losses while senior safety Prince Dumaran had one forced fumble. Junior linebacker Joey Brinkman had one sack, six tackles and one fumble recovery.
Mater Dei Catholic 13, St. Augustine 10
The Crusaders (2-3) won their second consecutive game in a nail-biter to keep the host Saints winless on the season (0-6). Sophomore Alexander Lopez supplied seven points on two field goals and an extra-point conversion as the difference for Mater Dei Catholic, which received 254 passing yards and a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Kartell Purvis to sophomore Julian Cromartie (four catches, 51 yards).
The Crusaders outgained St. Augustine 373-88 in total yards. Senior Matt Carr had one interception to go with a 50-yard kickoff return.
Hilltop 52, Castle Park 14
Senior Kneko Vasquez completed nine of 10 passing attempts for 236 yards and four touchdowns to key the Lancers (2-3) to the non-league victory. Vasquez spread the ball around to five receivers. Senior Mason Vaquero had three catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns while junior Julian Moran had two catches for 83 yards and one touchdown. Senior Juan Matuz had three catches for 83 yards and one TD.
Senior Andy Bautista (13 carries, 45 yards) scored two rushing touchdowns while Matuz reached the end zone on an eight-yard carry.
Vasquez tallied 278 total yards with 42 additional rushing yards. Junior Manuel Pablos contributed 10 kicking points (seven PAT conversions and a 32-yard field goal).
Freshman Aiddien Smith had 100 receiving yards and one touchdown while senior Ladell Hampton rushed for 80 yards and one touchdown as the Trojans fell to 2-3 on the season.
Bonita Vista 17, Crawford 7
Senior Kenneth Jordan rushed for 205 yards and one touchdown while sophomore Nate Lundquist had two catches for 17 yards and a touchdown as the Barons (2-4) upset the host Colts (3-2). Senior Richie Rojas had five kicking points on two PAT conversions and a field goal.
The visitors had three interceptions in the non-league victory — one each by senior Damian Nunes, junior Alexander Yepis and sophomore Angel Cortes.
Montgomery 42, Canyon Hills 7
Freshman Isaiah Mena-Malijan passed for 197 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Aztecs past the visiting Rattlers and a 3-3 overall record. Four players caught touchdown passes: senior Royal Impala (two catches, 30 yards), junior Andie Deanda (three catches, 53 yards), senior Jayden Cannon (one catch, 20 yards) and senior Zantez Thomas (two catches, 20 yards).
Montgomery rolled up 368 yards in total offense in the non-league match-up. Junior Mikey Silva rushed for 88 yards while senior Amio Fox had eight carries for 69 yards and one touchdown. Senior Raul Moreno had two catches for 54 yards while senior Adrian Diaz had a two-point rushing conversion.
The Aztecs logged three sacks on defense — one each by junior Isaac Espinosa, senior Ivan Venegas and junior Bracy Smith. Junior Viliamu Trollinger keyed the team with nine tackles and returned a fumble 54 yards for a touchdown.
Montgomery has a bye before hosting San Ysidro in a non-league game on Oct. 11. The Aztecs kick off Metro-South Bay League play Oct. 18 at Bonita Vista.
Montgomery 42, Canyon Hills 7
Freshman Isaiah Mena-Malijan passed for 197 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Aztecs past the visiting Rattlers and a 3-3 overall record. Four players caught touchdown passes: senior Royal Impala (two catches, 30 yards), junior Andie Deanda (three catches, 53 yards), senior Jayden Cannon (one catch, 20 yards) and senior Zantez Thomas (two catches, 20 yards).
Montgomery rolled up 368 yards in total offense in the non-league match-up. Junior Mikey Silva rushed for 88 yards while senior Amio Fox had eight carries for 69 yards and one touchdown. Senior Raul Moreno had two catches for 54 yards while senior Adrian Diaz had a two-point rushing conversion.
The Aztecs logged three sacks on defense — one each by junior Isaac Espinosa, senior Ivan Venegas and junior Bracy Smith. Junior Viliamu Trollinger keyed the team with nine tackles and returned a fumble 54 yards for a touchdown.
Montgomery has a bye before hosting San Ysidro in a non-league game on Oct. 11. The Aztecs kick off Metro-South Bay League play Oct. 18 at Bonita Vista.
Victory Christian Academy 39, Mountain Empire 12
Junior Austin Dill completed 10 of 12 passing attempts for 273 yards and three touchdowns and junior Gabriel Aguirre rushed 11 times for 74 yard and scored two touchdowns as the host Knights improved their freelance record to 3-3.
Junior Jayden Gray had two catches for 142 yards, both touchdowns, while junior Max Grdner had four catches for 84 yards and one receiving score. Junior Andres Sanchez had two carries for 40 yards and one touchdown.
Dill had 294 yards in total offense by adding 21 rushing yards on four carries. He scored on a two-point rushing conversion.
Junior Alejandro Rodriguez had 21 tackles to lead VCA defensively to go with one interception for 16 yards.
Junior Isaac Gonzalez (15 carries, 67 yards) scored two rushing touchdowns for Mountain Empire (1-4).
Among the eight Division V-AA teams, the Knights jumped to No. 5 in the division rankings. The top six teams qualify for the playoffs.
San Diego Section Division V-AA Rankings
- Calipatria (4-1)
- Coastal Academy (4-1)
- Marathana Christian (4-1)
- Tri-City Christian (2-3)
- Victory Christian Academy (3-3)
- Mountain Empire (1-4)
- Rock Academy (0-5)
- O’Farrell Charter (0-5)
San Ysidro 55, Rock Academy 7
The Cougars scored their second win of the season behind five rushing touchdowns as junior Sean Blazen (nine carries, 79 yards) and senior Jaiden Dominguez (seven carries, 75 yards) each scored two touchdowns and junior quarterback Dario Garcia passed for 135 yards with one touchdown and rushed for 124 yards and another touchdown. As a team, San Ysidro rushed for 315 yards.
Sophomore Bryan Landeros (two catches, 52 yards) and senior Gabriel Roque (three catches, 31 yards) each caught one touchdown pass. Garcia totaled 259 yards in offense in the non-league game.
Kearny 50, Southwest 48
The Raiders have made tremendous progress over the past four years since coming together as a group. They almost upset the record-setting Komets, finally falling on an intercepted pass at the Kearny 36-yard line with three seconds to play. Freshman Isaac Munoz passed for 255 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions but rushed four times for four touchdowns to lead Southwest, which saw its record dip to 3-3 following the non-league loss.
Senior Conner Davis rushed 29 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns. The Raiders scored seven touchdowns in the game, including six rushing touchdowns. Senior Jordan Cretain had five catches for 67 yards, including a receiving touchdown.
Record-setting senior quarterback Brodie Stump passed for 416 yards and five touchdowns to lead Kearny (4-2) on the scoreboard.
Southwest’s defense registered four sacks and one interception in the setback.
South County Prep Football Log
NON-LEAGUE
Friday, Sept. 27
Mater Dei Catholic 13, St. Augustine 10
Otay Ranch 37, Olympian 0
Bonita Vista 17, Crawford 7
Hilltop 52, Castle Park 14
Montgomery 42, Canyon Hills 7
San Ysidro 55, Rock Academy 7
Victory Christian 39, Mountain Empire 12
Kearny 50, Southwest 48
Christian 30, Chula Vista 2
Palo Verde Valley 14, Sweetwater 10
Brock (Texas) 49, Eastlake 0
Coronado 51, Mar Vista 8
CalPreps Football Rankings
San Diego Section Top 50 Teams
1. Lincoln (3-2)
2. La Costa Canyon (5-0)
3. Cathedral Catholic (4-1)
4. Granite Hills (4-1)
5. Mission Hills (4-1)
6. Carlsbad (4-1)
7. San Marcos (4-1)
8. El Camino (4-1)
9. Rancho Bernardo (4-1)
10. La Jolla (4-1)
11. Mt. Miguel (4-1)
12. Del Norte (3-2)
13. Torrey Pines (2-3)
14. Oceanside (3-3)
15. Helix (2-3)
16. Brawley (5-0)
17. Scripps Ranch (4-0)
18. Mater Dei Catholic (2-3)
19. Mt. Carmel (4-1)
20. Poway (3-2)
21. Santa Fe Christian (4-1)
22. Bishop’s (2-2)
23. Pt. Loma (3-2)
24. Central Union (5-1)
25. University City (5-0)
26. Imperial (6-0)
27. Madison (1-4)
28. Christian (3-2)
29. La Jolla Country Day (3-2)
30. Holtville (6-0)
31. Escondido (3-2)
32. Patrick Henry (4-2)
33. Valley Center (4-2)
34. Otay Ranch (3-3)
35. Steele Canyon (4-2)
36. Eastlake (1-5)
37. San Diego (4-2)
38. St. Augustine (0-6)
39. Ramona (1-4)
40. Chula Vista (4-2)
41. San Pasqual (1-4)
42. El Capitan (2-3)
43. Westview (2-4)
44. Army-Navy Academy (4-1)
45. Vincent Memorial (4-1)
46. Mission Bay (2-4)
47. Grossmont (3-2)
48. Mira Mesa (0-5)
49. West Hills (2-3)
50. Santana (4-1)
Others: 52. Montgomery (3-3), 53. Bonita Vista (2-4), 54. Sweetwater (4-2), 58. Hilltop (2-3), 64. Olympian (1-5), 70. Southwest (3-3), 79. Castle Park (2-3), 81. San Ysidro (2-4), 83. Mar Vista (1-5), 84. Victory Christian Academy (3-3)
Playoff predictions (CalPreps rankings)
Division II: 2. Mater Dei Catholic
Division III: 6. Otay Ranch, 8. Eastlake, 12. Chula Vista
Division IV: 12. Montgomery
Division V: 1. Bonita Vista, 2. Sweetwater, 6. Hilltop, 12. Olympian
Division V-AA: 5. Victory Christian Academy
