Eastlake High School’s defense may have set the tone early in last Friday’s key Metro-Mesa League encounter at fourth-ranked Mater Dei Catholic as junior Kaipo Mauga intercepted a pass deep in Crusader territory to set up a five-yard scoring run by senior Christian Aguilar just 1:18 into the game.
But the host Crusaders had the final say as sophomore Isahia Buxton returned an intercepted pass 96 yards for a touchdown with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to cap a 28-14 victory to remain undefeated on the season and in sole possession of the league lead.
Mater Dei Catholic improved to 7-0 overall, 3-0 in league play, while Eastlake saw its record dip to 5-3 overall, 2-1 in league play.
The Crusaders remain on top of the San Diego Section’s Division III power rankings; the Titans are No.10 in the latest Division I rankings.
Both teams have two games remaining in regular season play before the divisional playoffs kick off.
Mater Dei Catholic hosts Hilltop (2-6 overall, 1-2 in league) this Friday while Eastlake hosts Bonita Vista (3-4 overall, 1-2 in league) in the teams’ annual Battle for the Boot rivalry trophy game.
The Crusaders close out regular season play with an Oct. 29 home game against winless Olympian (0-7 overall, 0-3 in league) while the Titans host Otay Ranch (3-4 overall, 2-1 in league) in a key matchup that still has bearings on the final order of league finish.
“We have great depth and our guys play hard for four quarters,” Mater Dei Catholic head coach John Joyner said. “Buxton’s interception was a great play by him and a great defensive call by our defensive coordinator Aaron Jones. He (Buxton) is a big play waiting to happen.”
Joyner has said time and again that defense makes his team tick. The hosts limited the visitors to 64 rushing yards and 119 passing yards.
It’s no secret that defense wins championships.
“Jeremiah Cook, Tre Edwards, Isaiah Buxton and Joey Hiner really stood out on defense,” Joyner said. “But overall, I would say our entire defensive line — Jason Harden, Joey Hiner, Taylon Lipisi, Luke Teskey and Josh Robinson — set the tone.”
Timely offense wins championships as well.
Junior Dominic Nankil passed for 288 yards and completed three touchdowns, including two in the second quarter to stake Mater Dei Catholic to a 14-7 halftime lead.
The first touchdown came on a 55-yarder to junior Jerry McClure while Nankil passed five yards to junior Tre Edwards on the second.
“Dom has been phenomenal all year,” Joyner said. “We ask so much of him and he always responds. Our offense really goes through him and he has been fantastic all year. He spreads the ball around, keeps plays alive with his feet and continues to make great decisions with the football.”
Eastlake made a comeback to tie the score, 14-14, in the third quarter on a seven-yard pass from sophomore QB Johnny Limon86 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions) to senior Jordan Swan (three catches, 27 yards).
But the Crusaders scored the final two touchdowns of the game to gain final separation. Junior Chris Snyder caught an 18-yard pass in the third quarter to push the hosts ahead by seven points on the scoreboard. The final TD of the game was the clincher as Buxton stepped in front of a pass on the Mater Dei Catholic doorstep to deny the Titans the potential game-tying touchdown.
Despite the disappointing turnaround for his team at the end, EHS head coach Jose Mendoza said his team still has a lot to play for, including in the postseason.
“We truly have to focus on ourselves and fix the small details and move on,” Mendoza said. “If you give a good opponent a window, they will take advantage of your mistakes. Good teams will do that to you. We are focusing on Bonita Vista this week and look to bounce back.”
The Titans’ big bright spot in the loss came with 146 yards on kick, punt and interception returns.
It is clearly no time to let down for both Mesa League front-runners.
“We have to keep playing well on all three aspects of the game,” Joyner said. “We need to stay healthy and keep improving to be ready for playoffs.”
MESA LEAGUE STANDINGS
League/Overall
Mater Dei Catholic 3-0, 7-0
Eastlake 2-1, 5-3
Otay Ranch 2-1, 3-4
Bonita Vista 1-2, 3-4
Hilltop 1-2, 2-6
Olympian 0-3, 0-7
Friday, Oct. 15
Mater Dei Catholic 28, Eastlake 14
Otay Ranch 45, Bonita Vista 3
Hilltop 24, Olympian 7
Friday, Oct. 22
Hilltop at Mater Dei Catholic
Bonita Vista at Eastlake
Otay Ranch at Olympian (canceled, COVID protocols)
Mustangs corral Barons, win 45-3
The Otay Ranch Mustangs out-gained the Bonita Vista Barons 382-140 in total offensive yards to notch last Friday’s 45-3 homecoming victory at Southwestern College.
Junior quarterback Brian Rudden completed seven of 10 passing attempts for 197 yards and one touchdown while rushing for two scores. Senior Jake Baca had five catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns, including an electrifying 84-yard catch-and-carry.
Otay Ranch, which led 24-0 at halftime, scored four rushing touchdowns. Senior Oscar Sandoval (nine carries, 43 yards) and junior Aidan Sevilla (one carry, 13 yards) also scored rushing touchdowns. Sevilla had 11 tackles and one sack while junior Jacob Pablo registered a team high 12 tackles and also recorded a sack.
Senior Isaac Faalave had an interception return for 31 yards and one caused fumble while senior Johnathan Nava made the recovery.
Senior Jayden Franke totaled nine kicking points in the game — six extra-point conversions and a 35-yard field goal.
“The kids were excited for our homecoming game and played very well,” Otay Ranch coach Lance Christensen said. “It was an important win for us as we continue to try and improve our level of play and build momentum going into the last two league games and playoffs.”
The Mustangs have moved up to No. 5 in the Division II power rankings and could be in line to host their first playoff game.
Otay Ranch visits Olympian this Friday in the teams’ Battle of the O’s rivalry game.
Senior Nathan Roble-Cristobal paced Bonita Vista with 90 total yards (59 passing, 31 rushing).
Senior Julian Acosta kicked a 33-yard field goal for the Barons’ only points in the game.
Hilltop 24, Olympian 7
Junior Ignacio Mondragon passed for 102 yards, junior Sebastian Calara rushed for 48 yards and junior Angelo Zapata had 68 receiving yards to lead the Lancers to the road victory. Additionally, junior Joshua Bernardo collected 43 rushing yards and 34 receiving yards while junior Tyeron Washington had 44 rushing yards.
“It was a good win for the program,” Hilltop coach Bryan Wagner said. “We rallied as a team and put everything together in all three aspects of the game — offense, defense and special teams. It was a great defensive effort and a balanced attack on offense. We have a lot of sophomores and juniors stepping up this year and we’re getting better every week.
“We have Mater Dei Catholic this week and Bonita Vista next. We’re going to fight and battle every play.”
Olympian scored its lone touchdown on a 77-yard pass from freshman quarterback Kevin Noriega to sophomore receiver Jake Marcial.
High School
Cross Country Scoreboard
Mesa League
Friday, Oct. 15
Boys results
Hilltop 17, Bonita Vista 45. Medalist: Jimmy Byland (H) 16:12 (3.1 miles)
Otay Ranch 17, Mater Dei Catholic 46. Medalist: Ruben Baza Carrillo (OR) 17:26.67 (3.1 miles)
Eastlake 17, Olympian 44. Medalist: Anthony Martinez (E) 16:23.53 (5K)
Girls results
Bonita Vista 15, Hilltop 50. Medalist: Diandra Jara (BV) 17:41 (2.5 miles)
Otay Ranch 16, Mater Dei Catholic 47. Medalist: Leila Fuerte (OR) 17:22.90 (4K)
Eastlake 15, Olympian 50. Medalist: Vanessa Vuong (E) 15:59.28 (2.5 miles)
Girls volleyball: Eastlake defeated host Otay Ranch 25-8, 25-8 25-17 on Wednesday to improve to 9-0 in Mesa League play, 31-8 overall. Otay Ranch dropped to 7-2 in league play, 30-7 overall.
Girls field hockey: Bonita Vista defeated visiting Olympian, 2-0, in a non-league game on Wednesday to improve to 13-2 on the season. The Barons (3-0 in league) topped Southwest, 9-0, in a non-league game last Friday.
