Last Friday’s halftime fireworks extravaganza at Chula Vista High School’s homecoming game was spectacular. The Sweetwater Red Devils’ 28-12 Metro-Mesa League over the host Chula Vista Spartans was equally as spectacular to claim the schools’ Legacy of Pride rivalry trophy.
The National City team raced out to a 14-0 lead, made it 21-6 midway through the second quarter and led 21-12 at halftime.
The Red Devils clamped down defensively in the second half to put the finishing touches on an impressive win. Sweetwater, playing to its strength, scored the only touchdown in the final two quarters while holding the hosts scoreless to silence the large homecoming crowd.
“Running the ball and crowd control were the keys,” SuHi head coach Brandon Burris explained. “Running the ball allowed us to control the game.”
The Devils (5-4 overall, 1-2 in Metro-Mesa League play) out-gained the Spartans (4-5 overall, 0-3 in Metro-Mesa League play) 501-188 in total yards — a sizable discrepancy that appeared to match the scoreboard.
Senior Zaryan Crews certainly stamped his name on the timely victory with 279 yards in total offense — 179 yards on 26 carries with three touchdowns and 100 passing yards on three completions in three attempts for a 137.5 passer rating.
Sweetwater opened scoring with 6:04 left in the first quarter following an interception by junior Juan Alvarez. Crews completed a 72-yard pass to senior Jacob Gonsalves to advance the ball to the one-yard line. Crews took the ball in from there.
A 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty kept a Red Devil drive alive in the second quarter. Crews scored from eight yards out to cap that series with 9:51 remaining in the quarter for a 14-0 SuHi lead.
The National City team added to that lead on a 75-yard breakaway run down the sideline by freshman Faisal Musa. Gasps had to be heard from the crowd as Sweetwater took a 21-0 lead.
The Spartans finally got one touchdown back as senor La’Darrione Perkins (13 carries, 104 yards) scored on an eight-yard run with 5:11 to play in the quarter.
A fumble recovery on a sack by sophomore Elijah Richardson tacked on another CV touchdown with 1:03 remaining in the first half. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Devils in front 21-12.
The teams basically off-set each other in the second half with defense and ball possession.
Crews capped his touchdown hat trick on a nine-yard scoring run with 5:07 to play in the third quarter. There was no scoring in the final quarter.
28-12 Sweetwater.
“It’s a great blessing, not only for myself, my teammates and my school, but for the city,” Crews said in regard to the rivalry game win.
Musa rushed nine times for 120 yards while senior Nassir Hicks had 12 carries for 68 yards. Junior Archie Herente had six carries for 34 yards as the visitors tipped the scales with 401 rushing yards.
Burris said Musa’s best days lie in the future.
“We pulled him up from the junior varsity three weeks ago and he had his first 100-yard game a week ago (in a 21-17 loss to visiting Eastlake),” the SuHi sideline boss said. “We feel he can be one of the top running backs in the county as he continues to develop.”
On the receiving end, Alvarez had one catch for 10 yards while junior Alberto Mariscal had one catch for 18 yards.
Senior Giovanni Aceves recorded four PAT conversions on the four SuHi touchdowns.
Chula Vista’s leaders on the night included Perkins and junior Carlos Echeverria, who logged three catches for 51 yards.
Senior quarterback Izaac Baca completed four of 15 passing attempts for 53 yards.
Perkins also had 14 tackles on defense, including 10 unassisted stops. Sophomore Jaylen Clark had 10 tackles.
Junior Benjamin Rivera had one sack.
The win by the visitors was much-needed with Metro-Mesa League leader Mater Dei Catholic, winner of six consecutive games, knocking on the Red Devils’ door on Friday. The Crusaders are coming off a 54-20 non-league win against the visiting Grossmont Foothillers last Friday in which senior Reagan Nicanor passed for 285 yards and three touchdowns and junior Jordan Dumaran rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns.
Chula Vista closes out regular season play Friday at Eastlake (3-6 overall, 2-1 in league).
Eastlake tuned up for potentially better days with a 14-0 shutout win over visiting Otay Ranch to cap last Friday’s homecoming to snap up their second consecutive league win. Senior William Schmitz rushed 22 times for 130 yards while junior Rocket Demery Jr. caught a scoring pass from junior Tyler Balko (178 passing yards).
Demery finished the game with 79 yards on three catches and two interceptions on defense while senior Nate Rodriguez keyed the Titans defensively with 13 tackles (11 solo tackles) and three sacks.
The section playoffs kick off Nov. 8 with opening-round play. In particular, Sweetwater and Eastlake will have to draw on the success of last Friday’s wins as blueprints for success in post-season play.
Southwestern College will host division finals Nov. 29-30.
Metro Conference Standings
Metro-Mesa League
League/Overall
Mater Dei Catholic 3-0, 6-3
Eastlake 2-1, 3-6
Otay Ranch 2-2, 5-5
Sweetwater 1-2, 5-4
Chula Vista 0-3, 4-5
Metro-South Bay League
League/Overall
Montgomery 2-0, 6-3
Olympian 1-,1 3-6
Bonita Vista 1-1, 4-5
Hilltop 0-2, 4-5
Metro-PACIFIC League
League/Overall
Mar Vista 2-0, 3-6
Southwest 1-1, 4-5
San Ysidro 1-1, 3-6
Castle Park 0-2, 2-7
Aztecs (South Bay League), Mariners (Pacific League) make bids for league titles
The Olympian Eagles looked to break away in the opening quarter in last Friday’s Metro-South Bay League championship game at Montgomery by scoring on its opening drive of the game to go up 6-0.
But the host Aztecs finished the game with two second-half touchdowns and a shutout performance by their defense to emerge with a 14-6 victory and their fourth league championship in seven years.
Freshman quarterback Isaiah Mena-Malijan passed for 168 yards and two touchdowns — 27 yards to senior Zantez Thomas (two catches, 28 yards) with 3:41 to play in the third quarter and 52 yards to junior Andie Deanda (five catches, 97 yards) with 6:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Olympian was looking for more points in the first half but interceptions by Montgomery seniors Royal Impala and Raul Moreno negated that.
The Eagles drove 65 yards as junior quarterback Jayden Fuentes connected with sophomore Wally Ignacio (eight catches, 61 yards) on a 27-yard pass.
Fuentes passed for 170 yards, but Olympian’s rushing game was otherwise grounded with just 57 yards. Senior Sean Brownell led with 46 yards on 13 carries. Senior Arnaldo Mora had 67 yards on four catches.
Junior Carlos Lopez had one interception on defense.
Moreno had two catches for 25 yards for the hosts while junior Mikey Silva led Aztec rushers with 33 yards.
Seniors Adrian Diaz and Ivan Venegas each had one sack. Senior Jayden Cannon averaged 51.3 yards on three punts.
Montgomery (2-0 in league, 6-3 overall) ends regular season play Friday at Hilltop (0-2, 4-5) while Olympian (1-1, 3-6) will host Bonita Vista (1-1, 4-5).
Depending on how the scores flip, the Eagles could yet end the season with a co-championship.
“Tough, physical game that could of went either way,” OHS coach Brad Carter said. “We didn’t make the big plays offensively in the second half and that was the difference. Looking forward to getting back on track in the regular season finale against Bonita Vista.”
Southwest led, 20-12, late in last Friday’s game before the visiting Mariners rallied for a dramatic 28-20 comeback victory in the teams’ annual Battle for the Bell rivalry game.
MV senior Peter Thomas passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns — two to freshman Braylon Shumate (five catches, 163 yards) and one to senior Andre Mendoza (four catches, 29 yards).
Junior Ciontae Fewell also scored on an 80-yard kick-off return while junior Ben Moya scored on a two-point conversion.
Senior Jordan Cretain led the host Raiders with two touchdowns while senior Nery Gomez scored once.
Shumate finished with 177 all-purpose yards while Cretain had 167 all-purpose yards.
Will there be a co-championship? Mar Vista (2-0 in league, 3-6 overall) plays Castle Park (0-2, 2-7) while Southwest (1-1, 4-5) plays at San Ysidro (1-1, 3-6).
Girls Flag Football Scoreboard
Hilltop 32, Chula Vista 20
Castle Park 19, Chula Vista 6
Hilltop 39, Sweetwater 6
Hilltop 25, Castle Park 6
San Ysidro 34, Southwest 0
San Ysidro 20, Montgomery 0
San Ysidro 27, Mar Vista 0
Bonita Vista 40, Olympian 6
Otay Ranch 13, Bonita Vista 7
Otay Ranch 46, Eastlake 7
