Fans entered Swift Stadium on the campus of Castle Park High School last Friday to ostensibly watch a football game. Instead, a basketball game broke out, with the host Trojans winning by a lopsided score of 70-19.
With the win, Castle Park improved to 5-0 at the halfway mark of the 2019 high school football season.
The Trojans are the only unbeaten team remaining in the Metro Conference.
“We’re getting better every week but we haven’t seen the best of our offense and defense yet,” first-year CPHS head coach Chris Livesay said. “To do what we’ve done so far, that’s encouraging.”
The Trojans, who sit second behind Vincent Memorial (5-0) in the Division V CIF rankings, host seventh-ranked Crawford (2-2) this Friday, Sept. 27.
Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Hoover, which is ranked 15th among the 18 division teams, dropped to 0-4.
Junior Xavier “X-Man” Alvarado opened scoring in last Friday’s game on an 80-yard punt return.
A bad snap on an ensuing punt gave Castle Park the ball at the Hoover 30-yard line. The Trojans’ first offensive drive of the night resulted in a six-yard touchdown run by Chris Wright.
The hosts led 21-0 at the end of the opening quarter after junior Erik Hernandez scored on a five-yard run — the first of his game-high three touchdowns on the night.
Hernandez upped the score to 28-0 on a one-yard run with 9:33 left in the second quarter and scored his third TD on a five-yard run after being set up by a 52-yard catch by Alvarado.
Junior Ramon Cabal made the score 42-0 at halftime after scoring on a one-yard run after the Trojans had taken over on downs at the Cardinal 29-yard line.
Castle Park’s lead would balloon to 56-0 until Hoover scored on a pass play with 5:33 left in the third quarter.
The Cardinals actually scored back-to-back touchdowns to narrow the score to 56-13 by capitalizing on another pass play into the end zone.
Cabal scored his second touchdown of the night to make the score 63-13 and sophomore Ashuan Duncan-Claybon closed out scoring in the game on a three-yard run to score his second touchdown of the game.
Castle Park scored a total of 10 touchdowns in the non-league game.
The victorious Trojans racked up 561 all-purpose yards — 319 rushing, 98 receiving, 48 on kickoff returns and 98 on punt returns.
Seven Castle Park players carried the ball, led by Cabal with 76 yards on nine carries and Duncan-Clayborn with 70 yards on six carries.
Hernandez gained 63 yards on eight carries while Wright gained 43 yards on eight carries.
Junior Antonio Gomez gained 33 yards on seven carries, scoring on a two-yard touchdown run to make the score 49-0.
The Trojans averaged 8.4 yards per carry and scored nine rushing touchdowns.
Quarterback Demarkus Lewis completed two of three passing attempts for 96 yards. He dialed long distance on both completions — the 52-yarder to Alvarado and 44 yards to sophomore Jose Jackson.
Alvarado, who also wrestles, finished the game with 168 all-purpose yards — 18 rushing, 52 receiving and 98 on punt returns.
Cabal led the CP defense with six tackles while Alvarado, Duncan-Claybon and Gomez all had five tackles.
Senior Chris Romero logged one sack while senior Donavin Simler had one interception (to set up Hernandez’s second touchdown in the game). Duncan-Claybon also had one fumble recovery.
Senior kicker Nicolas Magana had 11 kickoffs that averaged 50.6 yards with five touchbacks. He also kicked 10 extra-point conversions.
“To me, 5-0 is just a number but I’m hoping we can stay together and play with energy every game,” Cabal said.
It’s unclear when Castle Park last scored 70 points in a game, though the Trojans did score 77 points in a game against Bonita Vista on Halloween in 1969.
Hernandez leads the Trojans with 522 yards and 11 touchdowns through five games.
Castle Park is averaging 321 rushing yards per game and 56 passing yards per game.
Junior Angel Aguilar tops the team with three sacks while Magana has racked up 37 kicking points.
No. 3 Barons top Pats, 56-14, face Division III showdown with No. 2 Hilltop
The San Diego Section released its divisional football rankings this week, combining data from the MaxPreps and CalPreps websites, which will be used at the end of the season to determine playoff seeding.
It has certainly created a buzz.
Among the match-ups this Friday is third-ranked Bonita Vista at second-ranked Hilltop in a midseason Division III showdown.
Bonita Vista captured its third win of the season in a 56-14 blowout against the host Patrick Henry Patriots last Friday to improve to 3-2. The Barons rebounded from a 28-0 homecoming game loss to visiting Steele Canyon the prior week.
Hilltop (4-1) tasted defeat for the first time this season after bowing to visiting Morse, 36-23, last Friday in a rematch of last year’s playoff pairing.
Sophomore Darian Whaley rushed for 142 yards and scored four touchdowns for the Barons last week while quarterback Chris Kane threw a pair of scoring passes — one each to Nick Necochea and Mark Cornejo. Daniel Kabongo and Gabe Burke scored on touchdown runs as Bonita Vista built a 35-0 lead in the game.
Hilltop quarterback Javin Deanda completed 24 of 39 passing attempts for 294 yards with one touchdown and one interception against the Tigers (3-1). Jeremiah Serrano rushed 14 times for 56 yards and scored one touchdown (his eighth of the season). He also made six catches for 91 yards to finish the game with 147 total yards.
Diego Castro caught one touchdown pass and passed for another. Tony Candelaria caught a 46-yard touchdown pass and led the Lancers on defense with 17 tackles.
Jorge Venegas and Kevin Frausto both had fumble recoveries.
Andrik Harros kicked a 30-yard field goal to complement Hilltop’s three offensive touchdowns.
Morse led 16-0 after the first quarter but weathered a second quarter comeback by the hosts to lead 22-13 at halftime. The Lancers fell behind, 30-13, entering the final quarter, but tacked on 10 more points before the end of the game.
“We had a slow start against an excellent team,” Hilltop head coach Andrew Westling assessed. “I am very proud of how we continued to compete and fought till the end. This game can teach us a lot moving forward.”
The Lancers are averaging 37 points per game. Deanda has passed for 1,386 yards and 12 touchdowns with four interceptions through five games.
The Barons have averaged 49 points in their three victories.
“Bonita Vista is very improved and presents many challenges,” Westling said. “Their defense is very aggressive and opportunistic.”
Southwest picks up first win under new coach
The Southwest High School football team has been knocking at the door in recent weeks in an attempt to record its first win under new head coach Domonic Cruz as well as its first win of the season.
The Raiders finally kicked in that door last Friday after defeating host O’Farrell Charter Academy, 48-26, in a non-league match-up.
“The guys deserved it and enjoyed it,” Cruz said. “We are hoping to build on the successes from the previous week. The guys are engaged in the process of winning having to deal with the low numbers, battling injury, and now dealing with fall break.”
Junior quarterback Daniel Carillo rushed for 114 yards and scored two touchdowns while passing for one interception to lead Southwest. Senior Ray Flores rushed for 100 yards and scored one touchdown on offense while blocking a punt on defense.
Isaac Solano scored on an interception return while Ruben Briano had five tackles and an interception.
The Raiders out-gained the Falcons 422-148 but the score shifted throughout the afternoon contest.
“We were placed into a great opportunity of having to handle adversity midway through the third,” Cruz said. “After being up at halftime 14-0, O’Farrell came out of the half scoring 20 points. With sound offensive play calling and key stops on defense we were able to rattle off 34 points and end up winning 48-26.”
Southwest (1-3) will attempt to extend its winning streak when it hosts third-ranked Clairemont (3-1) this Friday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m.
Mater Dei Catholic 51, Chula Vista 12
The host Crusaders upped their season record to 3-2 with the non-league win over the Spartans (0-5).
Aiden Calvert had 15 carries for 157 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns while also making a touchdown catch.
Mater Dei Catholic quarterback Trevor Appelman completed 13 of 20 passes for 305 and four touchdowns. Kailon King had a 47-yard TD reception.
Freshman Tre Edwards had 16 tackles and made one interception on defense for the Crusaders.
The Spartans, who will host defending CIF champion Morse in their next game on Friday, Sept. 27, received 205 passing yards and one touchdown from signal-callers Carlos Serratos and Omar Perez. Serratos completed an 81-yard scoring pass to Alex Guzman (six catches, 160 yards). Dylan Sallee (four catches, 40 yards) also had a touchdown reception.
Santana 35, Montgomery 6
The top two teams in Division IV dueled last Friday in Otay Mesa and the top-ranked Sultans (5-0) solidified their hold on the No. 1 spot by handing the second-ranked Aztecs (4-1) their first loss of the season.
Santana quarterback Nathan Temple passed for 198 yards and four touchdowns in the victory, including three TD strikes to Randy Smith and another to Nathan Hughes. Senior running back Brooks Moutaw rushed for 75 yards and one touchdown.
Hughes also had two picks on defense.
Montgomery scored on a 15-yard pass from Alexander Dixie to Isiah King to cap an 80-yard field march to end the first half.
Mission Bay 28, Mar Vista 23
The host Mariners (1-4) received some strong offensive performances but came up short to the visiting Bucs (3-2). Jovan Young rushed for 81 yards and caught two scoring passes while Isaac Maldonado rushed for 111 yards and scored one touchdown.
Young caught a five-yard TD pass to bring Mar Vista to within one score in the fourth quarter but the Mariners fumbled on fourth down on their final possession to fall short.
Mission Bay signal-caller Clash Osborn passed for 227 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for a score.
Friday Night Lights
Friday, Sept. 20
Castle Park 70, Hoover 19
Bonita Vista 56, Patrick Henry 14
Southwest 48, O’Farrell Charter 26
Mater Dei Catholic 51, Chula Vista 12
Morse 36, Hilltop 23
Santana 35, Montgomery 6
Cathedral Catholic 44, Eastake 7
Point Loma 41, Olympian 7
Mission Bay 28, Mar Vista 23
Clairemont 60, San Ysidro 20
Friday, Sept. 27
Bonita Vista at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
El Camino at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
Oceanside at Olympian, 7 p.m.
Morse at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
Lincoln at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
Mar Vista at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
Mount Miguel at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
Crawford at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
Clairemont at Southwest, 7 p.m.
Hoover at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
Otay Ranch at Cathedral Catholic, 7 p.m.
San Diego Section
Football Rankings
Division I
Top 10: 1. Helix (3-1), 2. Steele Canyon (4-0), 3. Cathedral Catholic (4-1), 4. St. Augustine (4-1), 5. Carlsbad (4-1), 6. Grossmont (4-0), 7. Lincoln (3-1), 8. Oceanside (3-1), 9. Madison (2-2), 10. Granite Hills (3-1). Other: 14. Eastlake (1-4)
Division II
Top 5: 1. Bishop’s (4-0), 2. Santa Fe Christian (4-1), 3. Morse (3-1), 4. San Pasqual (4-1), 5. Christian (3-1). Others: 9. Otay Ranch (2-3), 15. Olympian (1-4)
Division III
Top 5: 1. Scripps Ranch (5-0), 2. Hilltop (4-1), 3. Bonita Vista (3-2), 4. San Diego (3-1), 5. La Jolla (2-3). Others: 9. Mater Dei Catholic (3-2)
Division IV
Top 5: 1. Santana (5-0), 2. Montgomery (4-1), 3. La Jolla Country Day (4-1), 4. Serra (2-2), 5. Patrick Henry (3-2). Others: 13. Sweetwater (1-3), 15. Mar Vista (1-4), 17. Chula Vista (0-5)
Division V
Top 5: 1. Vincent Memorial (5-0), 2. Castle Park (5-0), 3. Clairemont (3-1), 4. Holtville (4-1), 5. El Cajon Valley (3-2). Others: 13. Southwest (1-3), 16. San Ysidro (0-5)
