The Sweetwater Red Devils and Chula Vista Spartans met for the 69th time last Friday in what is San Diego County’s longest continuously played football rivalry game. It’s often prudent to forget the records of both teams in this intense inter-city rivalry, and emotional finishes are often the norm.
It was no different this year as the host Spartans prevailed, 36-21, to pick up their first win of the season in a match-up of previously winless teams.
“It feels great, let’s hope we have a few more down the road,” explained CVHS head coach Daryl Butterfield, who earned his first varsity win as head coach with the Spartans.
Sweetwater continues to lead the Legacy of Pride series 38-28-3, though Chula Vista has now won 11 games with one tie in the teams’ last 13 meetings.
The Red Devils were under the guidance of new head coach Wesley Charles after the sudden resignation earlier in the week of Brian Hay, who had led SuHi’s fortunes for the past three seasons while compiling a 19-8 record, including a San Diego Section Division IV championship two years ago.
Hay cited health reasons for his resignation. It was thus an emotional debut for Charles, a 2000 SuHi graduate, who had served as the team’s offensive coordinator under Hay.
Charles admitted his team played this year’s game under difficult circumstances. Still, the Devils (0-4) gave it their all.
“It’s been a rough couple days for us,” Charles explained. “I told the team I’ve been associated with other teams as a player and coach that they wouldn’t have even showed up out here today, and these guys made it close. That’s all you can ask — to be in the football game at the end of the game. I was proud of them.
“I tend to disconnect from the rivalry aspect because that’s how I am, but this rivalry means a lot of stuff to a lot of people and it was a good game (this year).”
Chula Vista quarterback Emiliano Orozco stepped up to avoid a sack and out-ran the SuHi defense to score the first touchdown of the game. A fumble set up Chula Vista’s second touchdown with 3:08 left in the first quarter as Gabriel Munoz bulled in from one yard out.
Up 14-0, the Spartans took over at the Sweetwater 29-yard line on a punt exchange. The good field position led to a field goal to extend the hosts’ lead to 17-0 early in the second quarter.
The scoring — and excitement — ramped up from there as the teams combined to score four touchdowns over the next two quarters.
Marty Sesma put the Devils on the scoreboard courtesy of a one-yard run with 7:38 left in the second quarter and CV’s Sergio Figueroa scored on a nine-yard run with 3:00 left in the first half to make the score 23-7 in the Spartans’ favor.
But SuHi quarterback Moses Harvey-Ignot completed a scoring pass to Manuel Salazar on the last play of the first half to bring the score to 23-14.
Chula Vista blew a 20-7 lead in absorbing a 35-33 loss to Hilltop the previous week in the teams’ 14th annual Chula Vista Kiwanis Bowl game. The Spartans would buckle down against their longtime rival to prevail in last Friday’s game, though Sweetwater once again made it close.
Munoz scored his second touchdown of the game with 6:03 remaining in the third quarter to put the hosts up 29-14. But a touchdown sneak by Harvey-Ignot with 4:27 to play in the fourth quarter brought the Devils to within striking distance at 29-21.
Sweetwater attempted an onside kick but the Spartans recovered, and Figueroa would seal the win on a four-yard scoring run with 2:08 left in the game.
The Spartans travel to Castle Park (1-2) this Friday for another west side rivalry match-up. Kick-off is 7 p.m.
The Trojans, who picked up their first win of the season, 41-38, at Santana on Sept. 11, are coming off last Friday’s 41-21 loss at Capistrano Valley.
CP senior quarterback Angelo Trujillo completed 14 of 20 passing attempts for 358 yards with three touchdown passes in the win over Santana. He also scored two rushing touchdowns to compile an impressive 152.1 quarterback rating.
Chula Vista’s Adrian Corona scored three touchdowns in the loss to Hilltop and has scored five TDs this year.
“We’re getting better each week, that’s all I’ve asked,” CV’s Butterfield said. “I’m not asking them to beat Alabama. We need to take one step at a time, take baby steps if we have to, to move forward. I’m proud of these guys, I’m proud of my coaching staff.”
PREP FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD
Week 4
Friday, Sept, 18
CV Calvary Christian Academy 34, Ocean View Christian Academy 28
Chula Vista 36, Sweetwater 21
Bonita Vista 27, Scripps Ranch 24
Eastlake 37, Madison 36 (OT)
Olympian 43, Lincoln 20
St. Augustine 41, Otay Ranch 14
Grossmont 34, Hilltop 13
Santana 41, Montgomery 0
Valhalla 47, Mar Vista 0
University City 59, San Ysidro 0
Capistrano Valley 41, Castle Park 21
Vincent Memorial 56, Southwest 0
Calipatria 56, Lutheran 20
Prep Football Rankings
SD Sportswriters/Sportscasters Poll
1. Mission Hills Grizzlies (4-0)
2. Helix Highlanders (2-1)
3. St. Augustine Saints (3-1)
4. Oceanside Pirates (3-1)
5. El Camino Wildcats (3-0)
6. La Costa Canyon Mavericks (3-1)
7. Rancho Bernardo Broncos (3-1)
8. Eastlake Titans (2-2)
9. Christian Patriots (2-1)
10. San Marcos Knights (3-1)
Others: Madison (2-2), Westview (4-0), Cathedral Catholic (1-3), Point Loma (3-1), Bonita Vista (3-1), Grossmont (3-0), Mater Dei Catholic (3-0), Mission Bay (4-0), Poway (2-2), Valhalla (2-1)
