The Metro Conference’s two four-team football leagues — the Metro-South Bay League and Metro-Pacific League — are set to finally kick off league play this weekend.
Friday’s games feature some intriguing matchups and the two leagues, though short on membership, rate among the most competitive in the county, particularly the Metro-South Bay League where there is no real clear-cut favorite.
The Mar Vista Mariners (5-2) will kick off Metro-South Bay League play with a game at the Chula Vista Spartans (2-5). The Mariners have won five of their last six games, including last Friday’s 43-7 non-league victory at Southwest in the schools’ annual Battle for the Bell rivalry game.
The Spartans, who have played a challenging schedule against higher competition tier opponents, are riding a five-game losing streak but coming off a bye week to recuperate and plan strategy.
“We’ve had a tough last five games,” admitted CVHS head coach Howard Bannister III. “However, we feel that the level of opponent we’ve faced has prepared us well for league. If we get a couple of our injured starters back, I believe we can make a lot of noise.”
There will be a lot of noise made as Chula Vista High School celebrates its homecoming.
“It’s our homecoming, so I expect our players to bring a great level of intensity,” Bannister said.
Hilltop will make its league debut at Sweetwater, with both teams sporting 2-5 records through non-league play. Both coaches are hoping a challenging non-league schedule will pay dividends come league play.
In Metro-Pacific League openers on Friday, Castle Park will host Montgomery in a match-up of teams with 3-4 non-league records while San Ysidro (0-7) will host Southwest (3-4).
Castle Park, Montgomery and Southwest enter league play with 3-4 records, so it remains a virtual toss-up in picking a winner.
However, Montgomery certainly has to have a lot of confidence on its side after recovering from an early 14-0 deficit against visiting Sweetwater to post a dramatic 21-17 come-from-behind victory in the teams’ non-league match-up last Friday.
Sweetwater was coming off back-to-back shutout wins over El Cajon Valley (25-0) and San Ysidro (56-0) and looked to be on its way to a third consecutive blowout win after scoring two touchdowns in the first 3:49 of the game.
Luciano Estopier carried the ball four times on the Red Devils’ first series, capping the 54-yard scoring drive with a 15-yard scamper into the end zone. After a three-and-out by the Aztecs, Julian Torres returned the ensuing punt 70 yards for a touchdown to put the visitors up 14-0 on the scoreboard.
But the Red Devils pretty much stalled from there as Montgomery — under first-year coaches Freddy Dunkle and Demarco Sampson — settled down and realized they could hold their own against the National City school.
The Aztecs tied the game, 14-14, at halftime with a pair of second-quarter nine-yard touchdown grabs by Isiah King and Ze’taime Burton.
The insertion of Jose Urenda into the lineup seemed to ignite the SuHi offense in the second half but the Aztec defense compensated and Urenda and the Devils found it difficult to grind out key rushing yards late in the game.
Sweetwater advanced the ball to the four-yard line but had to settle on a 34-yard field goal by Luis Hernandez with 5:55 left in the contest to go ahead 17-14.
But Montgomery quickly compensated for that as Ruben Aguiniga returned the ensuing kickoff to the Devil 38-yard line. Though that drive stalled on the 13-yard line on an interception, the Aztecs later regained possession at the Sweetwater 44-yard line with 3:16 to play.
Montgomery was limited to just 31 rushing yards by the Sweetwater defense but countered with a timely 194-yard passing attack. Photos by Phillip Brents
Montgomery quarterback Keoa Gumataotao (13-of-29, 194 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions) delivered the game’s biggest play when he hit receiver Jaheem Williams on a fourth-down and seven play, with Williams (three catches, 71 yards) dodging and dragging defenders to the Sweetwater one-yard line.
Christian Venegas scored from there as the Aztecs took a 21-17 lead with 2:01 left on the game clock.
Sweetwater put together one last drive in a bid to win the game, converting on one fourth-down play to advance the ball to the Montgomery 33-yard line but was unable to advance from there as quarterback Adrian Gutierrez’s final pass fell incomplete with 18.5 seconds remaining.
The teams swapped positions in the San Diego Section’s Division IV rankings, with the Aztecs moving up to the No. 12 slot and the Red Devils slipping to No. 14.
Twelve teams advance to the CIF playoffs.
The inspirational victory couldn’t have come at a better time for the Otay Mesa school.
“This was the first game that we had all the guys back who were injured in our first game and the few who were ineligible,” Dunkle explained. “This was our first game as a unit. We had a good week of practice and it really showed in this game.
“Our No. 1 goal is to be league champions, getting into the CIF playoffs and see what we can do there.
“The kids believe in themselves.”
That’s a powerful motivating tool.
The Red Devils have three games to see what they can do.
Luciano Estopier ran amok in the early stages of last Friday’s non-league football game at Montgomery High School. Photos by Phillip Brents
Luciano Estopier ran amok in the early stages of last Friday’s non-league football game at Montgomery High School. Photos by Phillip Brents
Sweetwater moved the ball, recording 218 rushing yards in the loss (while holding the hosts to just 31 yards on 18 carries), but was hampered by penalties throughout the non-league contest.
That will have to be an area the Devils will need to clean up when kicking off league play.
“We were moving the ball when we had it,” SuHi head coach Bryan Wagner said. “They had long sustained drives that kept us off the playing field. First and goal … and we didn’t score. That killed us. We got the field goal but we couldn’t finish.
“We really wanted this one.”
Mariners keep momentum rolling, ring bell for 10th consecutive time in 43-7 win over rival Raiders
Mar Vista captured the prize in its long-running Battle of the Bell rivalry series against neighboring Southwest High School for the 10th consecutive season after defeating the host Raiders, 43-7, last Friday.
The series began in 1980 and has become a South County tradition, especially in the southwestern corner of the region.
Southwest last won bragging rights in 2008.
Senior Jacob Galeana earned the chance to ring the ball one last time after leading the Mariners (5-2) with 215 all-purpose yards in last Friday’s non-league victory. He returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown and also scored on runs of 70 and 40 yards.
Mar Vista, which led 15-7 after the first quarter, reeled off 35 unanswered points to take command in the game. The visitors scored 14 points in the second quarter to build a 29-7 halftime lead and tacked on 14 more points in the third quarter.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Senior Hasan Spruill rushed for 98 yards, scoring on a 48-yard run on the first play of the quarter.
Senior Marcus Ramirez recorded 60 yards on two punt returns, including one for 40 yards. Defensively, the Mariners recorded three sacks and six tackles for a loss. Demetrius Smith had two sacks while Damon Thomas had one sack and two tackles for a loss.
Southwest’s lone touchdown came on a three-yard run by senior Jose Chavez in the final two minutes of the first quarter.
Mar Vista head coach Tyler Arciaga said his team, ranked third among the section’s Division IV schools, needs to be consistent, especially in offensive production, as the regular season rapidly closes with three Metro-South Bay League games.
Spruill leads the Mariners with 685 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in six games while Galeana has rushed for 672 yards and scored a team-leading 12 touchdowns (10 rushing scores) in seven games. Spruill is averaging 126 all-purpose yards per game.
Mar Vista is averaging 237 rushing yards per game (with a total of 21 rushing touchdowns) as opposed to averaging 39 passing yards per game.
Junior Diego Garza tops the Imperial Beach school with 45 tackles, followed by Spruill with 41 tackles. Mar Vista has recorded 24 sacks on the season, including 10 by Thomas. Galeana has three interceptions on defense while Spruill has two picks.
Juniors Zackery Duhala and Enrique Lopez each have two fumble recoveries.
Trojans top Braves 40-21, step up for league opener
The Castle Park Trojans defeated the host El Cajon Valley Braves, 40-21, last Friday to pick up their third win of the season, and second win in their last three games.
There’s little question that each game from now on will be Castle Park’s biggest of the season. The Trojans host the Montgomery Aztecs in Friday’s Warrior Bowl as Metro-Pacific League kicks off.
“We had a quality win last Friday, and I am proud of our team’s performance,” CPHS head coach Bernard Ansolabehere said. “The level of competition definitely steps way up starting this week. We will be a dangerous team going forward as long as we prepare properly and continue to improve.”
Diego Martinez completed seven of nine passing attempts for 113 yards and four touchdowns while Tyrone Lake (15 carries, 112 yards) and Ramon Cabal (two carries, 10 yards) each scored rushing touchdowns.
Joel Torres caught four passes for 105 yards, including three for touchdowns. He added 59 yards on punt returns.
Christian Bustos had one TD grab for seven yards.
Defensively, Castle Park racked up five sacks, one interception (Isaiah Morineau) and one fumble recovery (Lake).
On the season, Martinez has passed for 638 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for two scores.
The Montgomery High School football team is a contender to vie for this year’s Metro-Pacific League championship. Photos by Phillip Brents
The defense rests for the Montgomery Aztecs in making a key goal line stand in the fourth quarter, pushing Sweetwater’s Jose Urenda back from the four-yard line.
Prep Football Standings
Metro-Mesa League
League/Overall
School W-L W-L
Otay Ranch 2-0 5-3
Eastlake 1-0 6-1
Mater Dei Catholic 1-1 3-5
Olympian 0-1 1-6
Bonita Vista 0-2 2-6
Friday, Oct. 5
Eastlake 56, Mater Dei Catholic 21
Otay Ranch 38, Bonita Vista 20
Friday, Oct. 12
Bonita Vista at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
Olympian at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
Non-League
Friday, Oct. 5
Montgomery 21, Sweetwater 17
Mar Vista 43, Southwest 7
Castle Park 40, El Cajon Valley 21
Metro-South Bay League
League/Overall
School W-L W-L
Mar Vista 0-0 5-2
Chula Vista 0-0 2-5
Hilltop 0-0 2-5
Sweetwater 0-0 2-5
Friday, Oct. 12
Hilltop at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
Mar Vista at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
Metro-Pacific League
League/Overall
School W-L W-L
Castle Park 0-0 3-4
Montgomery 0-0 3-4
Southwest 0-0 3-4
San Ysidro 0-0 0-7
Friday, Oct. 12
Montgomery at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
Southwest at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
CITRUS LEAGUE
League/Overall
School W-L W-L
Borrego Springs 3-0 6-1
St. Joseph Academy 4-0 4-2
Victory Christian 2-2 2-4
Horizon Prep 1-2 2-3
Rock Academy 1-2 1-4
Ocea View Christian 0-3 0-4
Warner 0-3 2-5
Friday, Oct. 5
St. Joseph Academy 64, Victory Christian 24
Friday, Oct. 12
Victory Christian at Horizon Prep, 3:30 p.m.
Rock Academy at Ocean View Christian Academy, 7 p.m.
Ocean League
League/Overall
School W-L W-L
Foothills Christian 3-0 5-2
Calvin Christian 2-0 4-3
Julian 2-0 3-4
Calvary Christian 0-2 4-2
SD Jewish Academy 0-2 2-2
West Shores 0-3 2-5
Friday, Oct. 12
Calvary Christian Academy at San Diego Jewish Academy, 2:15 p.m.
Prep Football
MaxPreps Rankings
(Through Oct. 9)
Division I
- Cathedral Catholic (6-1), 2. Torrey Pines (7-0), 3. La Costa Canyon (6-1), 4. Helix (4-3), 5. Eastlake (6-1), 6. St. Augustine (5-2), 7. San Marcos (6-1), 8. Carlsbad (4-3), 9. Madison (5-2), 10. Mission Hills (2-5), 11.Rancho Bernardo (5-2), 12. Oceanside (3-4), 13. Steele Canyon (5-2), 14. Otay Ranch (5-3), 15. El Camino (1-6). 16. Grossmont (2-5)
Division II
- Granite Hills (7-0), 2. Poway (6-2), 3. Vista (5-2), 4. Point Loma (4-3), 5. Ramona (5-2), 6. Lincoln (6-1), 7. Valley Center (4-3), 8. Mira Mesa (5-2), 9. San Pasqual (4-3), 10. Bishop’s (4-3), 11. Mater Dei Catholic (3-5), 12. Olympian (1-6), 13. Westview (1-6), 14. Mt. Carmel (0-7), 15. Bonita Vista (2-6), 16. Southwest El Centro (3-4), 17. Valhalla (0-7)
Division III
- Christian (7-0), 2. Central Union (7-0), 3. Monte Vista (6-1), 4. Brawley (6-1), 5. Morse (4-3), 6. Santa Fe Christian (4-3), 7. Imperial (4-3), 8. University City (4-3), 9. El Capitan (2-5). 10. West Hills (6-1), 11. Rancho Buena Vista 3-4, 12. La Jolla 2-5, 13. Escondido 3-4, 14. Scripps Ranch 4-3, 15. Mount Miguel 2-5, 16. Hilltop (2-5), 17. Patrick Henry 1-6
Division IV
- Kearny (7-0), 2. San Diego (5-1), 3. Mar Vista (5-2), 4. Del Norte (4-3), 5. Santana (4-4), 6. Chula Vista (2-5), 7. Coronado (6-1), 8. Classical Academy (4-3), 9. Serra (4-3), 10. Calexico (3-4), 11. La Jolla Country Day (2-5), 12. Montgomery (3-4), 13. Fallbrook (2-5), 14. Sweetwater (2-5), 15. Crawford (3-4), 16. Mission Bay (1-6), 17. El Cajon Valley (0-7)
Division V
- Francis Parker (7-0), 2. Tri-City Christian (6-1), 3. Holtville (6-1), 4. Vincent Memorial (6-1), 5. Orange Glen (5-2), 6. Palo Verde Valley (3-4), 7. Maranatha Christian (4-4), 8. Mountain Empire (4-3), 9. Southwest (3-4), 10. Castle Park (3-4), 11. Army-Navy Academy (2-5), 12. Calipatria (3-4), 13. Clairemont (0-7), 14. Escondido Charter (1-6), 15. Hoover (0-7), 16. San Ysidro (0-7)
Eight-man Standings
Borrego Springs 6-1, Foothills Christian 5-2, Calbary Christian Academy 4-2, St. Joseph Academy 4-2, Calvin Christian 4-3, San Diego Jewish Academy 2-2, San Pasqual Academy 1-1, Julian 3-4, Horizon Prep 2-3, Victory Christian Academy 2-4, West Shores 2-5, Warner 2-5, Rock Academy 1-4, Ocean View Academy 0-5
Undefeated teams
- Torrey Pines 7-0
- Granite Hills 7-0
- Christian 7-0
- Central Union 7-0
- Kearny 7-0
- Francis Parker 7-0
