The Chula Vista Spartans are carrying the banner as the Metro Conference’s lone unbeaten high school football team following the opening two weeks of play.
The Spartans improved to 2-0 on the young season after topping host Mt. Miguel, 20-7, last Friday.
Chula Vista will attempt to make it three wins in a row to kick off the 2018 prep pigskin campaign when it travels to take on the host Escondido Cougars in another non-league game this Friday.
“Although we didn’t put up a ton of points, our offense was able to dominate time of possession,” CVHS head coach Howard Bannister III explained. “We were also fairly balanced with 160 yards rushing and 100 yards passing.”
The Spartans built a 20-0 lead on rushing touchdowns by senior quarterback Moses Contreras, junior running back Leonardo Ibarra (four carries, 24 yards) and senior running back Angel Jimenez (17 carries, 54 yards).
Senior Ryan Mayoral rushed 13 times for 53 yards while junior Alejandro Guzman had six pass receptions for 50 yards.
Contreras completed 11 of 20 passing attempts while also rushing five times for five yards.
The Spartans shined on defense with seven sacks and one interception.
Senior Faleapa Toilolo led the CV defense with three sacks while senior Michael Macherzak had two sacks. Juniors Andrew Marquez and Jesus Rodriguez each recorded one sack.
Ibarra had one interception while senior Damian Denola recorded one caused fumble. Junior Dylan Sallee led the visitors with five tackles.
“We are getting better every week, but injuries and inconsistent execution have kept us from really reaching our potential,” Bannister said. “We will need to get better as our strength of schedule will begin to really increase in the next five weeks.”
In another non-league game last Friday:
Mar Vista 42, Castle Park 6
The host Mariners recorded their first win of the season after dropping their opener, 44-0, at Monte Vista the preceding week.
“It was nice to rebound after our loss to Monte Vista,” Mar Vista head coach Tyler Arciaga said. “I thought we played well on the three phases of the ball, but we have a lot of room to grow. I liked how we took care of the ball on offense and hustled on defense. We travel this week up to San Jose, so it will be a good test for our team to see if we can play on the road and handle the distractions of playing out of town.”
Mar Vista got to work quickly on offense by piling up 35 first-half points. The Mariners led, 14-0, after the first quarter and added 21 points in the second quarter.
The Mariners out-gained the Trojans 223-107 in the non-league game.
Mar Vista scored five rushing touchdowns — two each by seniors Jacob Galeana (eight carries, 120 yards) and Hasan Spruill (three carries, 70 yards). Senior Marcus Ramirez (two carries, 13 yards) scored one touchdown.
Senior lineman Barrett Robenolt scored one touchdown on a fumble recovery in the end zone.
Mar Vista held Castle Park to negative four yards rushing on 17 carries.
Diego Martinez passed for 111 yards in the loss; Christian Bustos had three catches for 90 yards, including one touchdown reception.
Defensively, sophomore Robert Abarca led the Trojans with eight tackles.
While Mar Vista (1-1) will be in the Bay Area this weekend, Castle Park (1-1) hosts Coronado (2-0) in a non-league game on Friday. The Islanders defeated visiting El Cajon Valley, 76-0, in their last game.
Mustangs post dramatic win in honor of former principal
Jose Brosz meant a lot to Otay Ranch High School as its founding principal. The east side Chula Vista school will perpetuate his memory after naming its on-campus stadium in his honor
The school opened in 2003 and Brosz served as administrative head at the school until the end of the 2016-17 school year.
He passed away from non-Hodgkins lymphoma last year at age 59.
It was thus an emotional moment for everyone in attendance at last Friday’s non-league football game against the visiting Valley Center Jaguars when the school’s stadium was formally dedicated in Brosz’s honor.
The defending Metro-Mesa League champion Mustangs did their part in honoring Brosz’s memory when quarterback Puka Stewart connected with senior Adrian Merino in the end zone on a seven-yard scoring pass with six seconds left in the contest to post a dramatic 17-13 victory.
Prior to the game-winning touchdown, Valley Center had taken a 13-10 lead on a four-yard touchdown run by senior Mateo Sinohui. The Mustangs had led, 10-7, for most of the second half.
Stewart finished last Friday’s game with 187 passing yards and rushed eight times for 50 yards. He threw one touchdown pass and also rushed for a touchdown.
Senior Noah Isley led the Mustangs with 97 rushing yards; he caught five passes for 45 yards.
Merino had four catches for 49 yards. Manuel Martinez accounted for Otay Ranch’s other points on a 20-yard field goal and two extra-point conversions.
Nathan Castro had one interception on defense for the Mustangs, who host Point Loma on Friday in a non-league matchup.
The Pointers (1-1) are equally charged after coming off a 41-27 upset win over visiting Ramona, last year’s Division III section champions.
Lasting legacy
During his tenure at Otay Ranch, Brosz was well liked by those who he came into contact with. His strength and connection to those lives he touched was immeasurable, according to former students.
Ernie Medina was the school’s first water polo and swim coach when Otay Ranch first opened. He called Brosz a “very respected, well loved administrator.”
“He brought me into the Mustang family and I stayed there for 15 years,” explained Medina, who is now coaching water polo and swimming at Hilltop High School, his alma mater. “Jose supported my programs, attended meets and games, counseled and encouraged my athletes, and was very proud of all the teams at Otay Ranch.
“Jose Brosz personally helped me through some tough times when I was going thru a kidney transplant. He cared and encouraged my daughters who attended Otay and swam and played polo there. Jose Brosz truly brought pride to Otay Ranch and our community. He will be missed overlooking and guiding his school and his athletics.”
Otay Ranch athletic director Judd Rachow called the dedication ceremony “fantastic.”
The dramatic come-from-behind win was just as fantastic, he said.
“He hired me and he hired Lance (Mustang head football coach Lance Christensen),” Rachow said. “We couldn’t have honored him in a better way.”
Crusaders capture first win of season: Mater Dei Catholic 37, El Capitan 35
Aiden Calvert rushed 19 times for 215 yards while quarterback Trevor Appelmann passed for 126 yards as the visiting Crusaders recorded their first win of the season. Calvert scored two touchdowns in the game, including one on a 75-yard pass from Appelmann.
Jayden Flores opened scoring in the game on a short touchdown catch. The game went back and forth from there.
Following a mishandled snap by the hosts, the Crusaders capitalized on the Vaquero miscue when Appelmann scored on a short rushing play to give the visitors a 21-14 lead at halftime.
Mater Dei Catholic later came back to tie the game, 28-28, and Calvert scored on a short run to put the Crusaders on top 35-28. A late safety extended the lead to 37-28. El Capitan later closed the deficit to 37-35 but was unable to recover the ensuing onside kick as Mater Dei Catholic held on to claim its first win of the season.
The Vaqueros dropped to 0-2 on the season.
Prep Kick-off 2018
Friday Night Lights
Friday, Aug. 24
Non-League
Eastlake 57, Hilltop 7
Otay Ranch 17, Valley Center 13
Mar Vista 42, Castle Park 6
Chula Vista 20, Mt. Miguel 7
Mater Dei Catholic 37, El Capitan 35
Poway 14, Olympian 0
Madison 62, Bonita Vista 0
Classical Academy 24, Montgomery 18
Fallbrook 30, Sweetwater 12
Vincent Memorial 46, Southwest 27
Mountain Empire 35, San Ysidro 0
Friday, Aug. 31
Non-League
Hilltop at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
Santiago (Corona) at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
Point Loma at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
Torrey Pines at Olympian, 7 p.m.
Bishop’s at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
Coronado at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
Francis Parker at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
Maranatha Christian at Southwest, 7 p.m.
Chula Vista at Escondido, 7 p.m.
Sweetwater at Carlsbad, 7 p.m.
Bonita Vista at Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley), 7 p.m.
Mar Vista at San Jose, 7 p.m.
San Diego Section Football Rankings
MaxPreps/Top 10
Division I: 1. Torrey Pines (2-0), 2. Helix (1-1), 3. San Marcos (2-0), 4. Madison (2-0), 5. La Costa Canyon (2-0), 6. St. Augustine (2-0), 7. Eastlake (1-1), 8. Cathedral Catholic (1-1), 9. Grossmont (1-1), 10. Mission Hills (0-2). Others: 11. Otay Ranch (1-1)
Division II: 1. Ramona (1-1), 2. Granite Hills (2-0), 3. Valley Center (1-1), 4. Lincoln (2-0), 5. Bishop’s (1-1), 6. Mira Mesa (2-0), 7. Point Loma (1-1), 8. Southwest El Centro (0-1), 9. Westview (1-1), 10. Poway (1-1). Others: 12. Mater Dei Catholic (1-1), 14. Olympian (0-2), 15. Bonita Vista (0-2)
Division III: 1. Monte Vista (2-0), 2. West Hills (2-0), 3. Christian (2-0), 4. Santa Fe Christian (1-1), 5. Central Union (2-0), 6. Brawley (1-1), 7. University City (1-1), 8. Morse (2-0), 9. Rancho Buena Vista (1-1), 10. Escondido. Others: 14. Hilltop (0-2)
Division IV: 1. San Diego (1-1), 2. Chula Vista (2-0), 3. Kearny (1-0), 4. Santana (2-0), 5. Classical Academy (1-1), 6. La Jolla Country Day (0-2), 7. Sweetwater (0-2), 8. Del Norte (1-1), 9. Mar Vista (1-1), 10. Fallbrook (2-0). Others: 13. Montgomery (1-1)
Division V: 1. Vincent Memorial (2-0), 2. Tri-City Christian (2-0), 3. Francis Parker (2-0), 4. Palo Verde Valley (1-1), 5. Orange Glen (2-0), 6. Holtville (1-1), 7. Maranatha Christian (1-1), 8. Mountain Empire (1-1), 9. Army-Navy Academy (1-0), 10. Southwest (1-1). Others: 12. Castle Park (0-2), 15. San Ysidro (0-2)
Eight-man records: Calvary Christian Academy (1-0), Ocean View Christian Academy (0-0), Victory Christian Academy (0-1)
