The Castle Park Trojans are on a two-game winning streak and will look to extend it when they host the Clairemont Chieftains Friday at Swift Stadium. The Trojans defeated visiting Santana, 13-3, last Friday in dramatic comeback fashion.
CPHS head coach Hans Graham remains optimistic about getting another win. “We’re hoping to make it three in a row,” he said.
Graham applauded the poise displayed by his team in securing the win over the previously undefeated Sultans, who were coming off successive non-league victories against Southwest (35-0) and Kearny (30-0).
“We moved the ball all over the field but couldn’t score when we got into the red zone,” Graham explained. “Our kids played great defense. We trailed 3-0 the whole game until we finally scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The kids never gave up. They kept truckin’.
“We’re getting better and better each week — all we want to do is to get ready for league.”
Santana took a 3-0 lead on a 23-yard field goal in the first quarter by Jacob Hampson. The score remained 3-0 until Luq Barcoo scored on a 23-yard run in the fourth quarter.
However, the extra-point conversion failed to leave the hosts clinging to 6-3 lead.
Castle Park seized the victory when quarterback Jordan Danielson scored on a two-yard run later in the quarter.
Danielson rushed 12 times for 65 yards and completed four of 11 passes for 12 yards.
Helping carry the offensive load was Mylik Steen, who rushed 21 times for 148 yards, but was held without a touchdown. Barcoo rushed four times for 38 yards.
Sultan QB Frankie Gutierrez passed for 207 yards but the visitors could only muster 43 rushing yards on 16 attempts.
The Trojan defense ravaged Santana with four sacks and two interceptions. Barcoo had two picks while teammate Diego Ibarra had two sacks.
In keeping the game close, the Sultan defense also played well with three sacks, one fumble recovery and one interception.
Clairemont (1-2) is coming off a 35-21 non-league win against visiting Montgomery.
