SD Prep Sports: Football

San Diego Section

2007 Football Log

Chula Vista 47, Castle Park 0
CHULA VISTA, Aug. 31, 2007 – Friday’s season opening football game at Chula Vista High School’s Joseph Rindone Stadium was a decidedly no frills affair. There was no flag to be seen on the flagpole. There was an awkward moment of silence in the press box before it appeared that someone volunteered at the last moment to sing the national anthem and there was no halftime show.

No matter, the host Spartans provided more than enough entertainment on the field to wow spectators with their 47-0 non-league victory against longtime cross-town rival Castle Park.

Spartan head coach Judd Rachow was pleased with the result but said the team’s mantra was to continue to improve each week if it wishes to repeat as Mesa League champions.

“We can’t be satisfied with this,” he said. “We’re going to be playing good football teams (in the coming weeks). Our league will be really tough. It’s a nice start but we have a long way to go.”

These Spartans obviously have high expectations this season.

Playing any better than they did in the season opener is certainly a scary thought.

Three of the team’s top skill players figured heavily in the scoring. Senior tailback Matt Stacy rushed for 111 yards on 13 attempts and scored two touchdowns while senior quarterback Taylor Julio (a wide receiver a year ago) turned in a truly blockbuster performance by rushing for one score (31 yards), throwing for one score (20 yards), intercepting one pass on defense and returning a punt 50-yards for a touchdown, also while playing defense.

Junior fullback Taimi Tutogi rushed for 55 yards and made three catches for 58 yards, including a TD reception.

As a team, the Spartans rushed for 263 yards on 35 attempts. Chula Vista’s quarterbacks completed five of eight passes for 84 yards. Julio finished 4-of-6 for 71 yards.

Stacy earned first team all-league honors last season and rates as one of the South County’s elite ground-gainers this season despite standing just 5-5 and weighing 135 pounds.

“He’s tough. He’s a competitor,” Rachow said of the fleet-footed Stacy. “I wish I was Dr. Frankenstein and could put him in a six-foot body. He’d go anywhere in the country (major colleges). He may be 135 pounds but he’ll run right at you and try to run right through you.”

The CV coach suggested Tutogi’s most productive days are yet ahead. “His thing is believing he can do good things when he has the football, because he can do good things when he has the football,” Rachow said.

Meanwhile, watching Julio lead the Spartan offense brought back memories of El Cajon Valley’s Abraham Muheize — a converted quarterback who led the unheralded Braves to an appearance in the 2005 Division II championship game at Qualcomm Stadium. Filling the void at the quarterback spot was to put one of the team’s best athletes there — exactly as happened in Muheize’s case.

“He’s a good athlete. He adds another dimension to what we can do,” Rachow said of Julio.

Castle Park and Chula Vista met for the 1997 league championship, with the Spartans recording a 14-7 victory. However, this year’s meeting was not one of those classic matchups. Castle Park, which had won the last three games and seven of the last 10 encounters in the teams’ long rivalry, entered the game having lost 21 seniors to graduation — most of them at skill positions.

With a corps of running backs operating by committee until one steps forward, the Trojan offense sputtered, particularly in the first half. Chula Vista’s defense limited Castle Park to a meager 11 rushing yards and 39 total yards in the first half.

The Spartans looked like a well-oiled machine by contrast. The hosts led 28-0 at halftime as Stacy had already accumulated 110 rushing yards, scoring once, and Julio had run for one touchdown, returned a punt for a score and thrown a touchdown pass (to Tutogi). The Trojans finished with 57 yards on 26 rushes, lost two fumbles, and completed five of 15 passes for 36 yards with the five interceptions.

Chula Vista began rotating in reserves midway through the third quarter when the score reached 34-0 on a three-yard run by Stacy (set up by a 27-yard scamper by Julio). Still, the Spartans were able to tack on 10 more points before the final whistle sounded. Andres Canizales kicked field goals of 32 and 48 yards while Eddie Enal returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown.

Other picks were credited to Jesus Quezeda, Hector Mendoza and Miguel Moreno. Fumble recoveries were credited to Maurice Strickland and Gustavo Ortiz.

Castle Park, hindered by the seven turnovers, managed just four first downs in the contest.

New coach George Senesky approached the loss as a learning experience for his players, many of whom were playing in their first varsity contest. The Trojans — last year’s South Bay League champions — returned just two starters on defense: linemen Ricky Anzar (a first team all-league pick) and Raul Sierra.

“The Castle Park program has a winning tradition,” said Senesky, who served as an assistant coach with the Trojans for five years before being elevated to the head coaching position this year. “We lost a lot of very talented players (to graduation) who were a part of that winning tradition. We have to rebuild. We made some mistakes — missed blocks and tackles. That was apparent. Those can be taken care of with practice. This is only the beginning. We’re going to get better.”

Chula Vista will host Valhalla (0-1) Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. while Castle Park will venture to Mt. Miguel (1-0) for a 7 p.m. non-league encounter. Valhalla dropped a 15-14 decision at Brawley in 100-plus degree temperatures in Friday's opener while Mt. Miguel thrashed visiting Monte Vista Christian from Watsonville by a score of 53-9.

Olympian 20, Mountain Empire 18
By Scott Hopkins
CAMPO, Aug. 31, 2007 — When a high school football team wins its first-ever varsity game, it’s cause for great celebration, even if the victory might not be termed an artistic success.

Such was the case Friday night, in searing East County heat, as the Olympian Eagles soared past the Mountain Empire Redhawks, 20-18.

Players and parents who had made the drive to Campo cheered and raised their fingers in “victory” signs when the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard clock. For a society focused on instant gratification, this was the perfect outcome — victory in the team’s first varsity attempt.

The game was a study in contrasts, as the victory for Eagles head coach Gil Warren was number 171 in a career that dates back to the 1960s and includes a county title and two Division II championships — all while at Castle Park.He has also been head coach at Southwest High School. Warren, now 66, has come out of retirement twice, lured by the opportunity of rebuilding or launching a new program.

With three other former Castle Park head coaches on his Olympian staff — Paul Van Nostrand, Bing Dawson and Jorge Mancillas — Warren wants to set the bar high for his latest charges.

“Whenever you win, you have to be pleased,” Warren said later, “but we have to get a lot better before league games.”

With the victory, Warren’s overall record now stands at 171-65-5.

Olympian, fielding sophomores and only 19 juniors, will compete in the South Bay League this season, but remains classified in the San Diego Section’s small schools Division V level with a total enrollment of just 700. Warren’s 1994 Trojan team, however, started five sophomores and won a division title.

On this night, the first-game jitters may have unsettled the visitors during the first half as the host Redhawks took a 12-0 lead into halftime before the Eagles spread their wings.

“We made a lot of mistakes and took a lot of penalties (13 for 100 yards in the game),” Warren explained. “In the second half, the kids decided to play a bit.”

One of those was running back Julius Miller, a 5-9, 170 pound junior. Miller now holds all Olympian scoring records, as he carried the pigskin into the end zone for each of the team’s three touchdowns.

Sophomore Jose Ibarra made good on two of three point-after touchdown conversions to provide the winning margin.

For the game, the Eagles offense amassed 207 yards on the ground, averaging 4.9 yards on their 42 plays, and totaled 267 yards in total offense.

Junior Robert Chavira led all ball carriers (7 carries, 68 yards, 9.7 rushing average) while Miller rushed 12 times for 65 yards (5.4 rushing average), scoring once on the ground.† Chris Gaskil, a sophomore, had eight carries for 35 yards (4.4 rushing average) and junior Robert Jones logged five carries for 23 yards (4.6 rushing average).

Through the air, sophomore quarterback Albert Flores finished with a 3-for-4 night, good for 60 yards. Two of his three completed passes went for touchdowns.

Miller caught all three tosses, which, when added to a 20-yard punt return, gave him 145 all-purpose yards for the game.

Shanoi Williams also had a 35-yard punt return for the Eagles.

The team plays Sept. 7 in its first varsity home game against Canada’s McNally High School. As of Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 4), loudspeakers were being bolted to light poles and the school’s new scoreboard had not yet made its initial appearance.

Notepad
Chavira had four kick-offs for a 33.8-yard average, with a longest kick of 35 yards. Victor Viesca returned one kick-off for nine yards while Williams returned one kick-off seven yards.

Otay Ranch 10, Central Union 7
EL CENTRO, Aug. 31, 2007 — What the defending Imperial Valley League Central Union Spartans started, the defending Mesa League tri-champion Otay Ranch Mustangs finished in a very hot duel in the desert. Randy Robledo scored on a 60-yard run to tie the score at 7-all at the end of the third quarter and John Baumgardner kicked a 30-yard field goal in the final quarter to rescue the Mustangs.

Jaqueeem Coleman opened scoring for Central Union on a 32-yard touchdown run in the third quarter after the teams had played to a scoreless stalemate in the first half. Coleman led the Spartans with 13 rushes for 132 yards, including a longest run of 43 yards from scrimmage.
Baumgardner also supplied the extra-point conversion on Otay Ranch’s touchdown.
The Mustangs have a bye this week before hosting Rancho Buena Vista on Sept. 14.

Poway 27, Eastlake 14
POWAY, Aug. 31, 2007 — Preseason rankings issued by the San Diego Sportswriters/Sportscasters Association tabbed Poway at No. 4 and Eastlake at No. 8 in the teams’ second annual “Clash of the Titans” in North County. Poway, last year’s Division I runner-up, emerged victorious 27-14 in a game the North County Titans led 20-0 at halftime.

Jeremiah Andujo scored both touchdowns for Eastlake, which outscored Poway 14-7 in the second half of play. Andujo gave the South County Titans their first points on the scoreboard via a three-yard run in the third quarter and scored on an 11-yard pass from quarterback Derek Witte in the fourth quarter. The kick failed on Eastlake’s first touchdown. Andujo scored on the two-point conversion to cap scoring in the game.

Nick Milani scored on an 18-yard run and later returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown to give Poway an early edge. Nick Ricciadulli (20 rushes, 176 yards) broke off a 55-yard scoring run to give the hosts their 20-0 lead.
Michael Sowadski hiked Poway’s lead to 27-6 when he returned an intercepted pass 28 yards for a touchdown in the final quarter.

Witte finished the contest 13-of-31 for 117 yards but threw two interceptions.

It doesn’t get any easier for Eastlake, which hosts Torrey Pines Sept. 7 in a non-league game slated to kick off at 7 p.m.

The Falcons opened their season with a 61-0 victory against Pahrump Valley of Nevada. In that game, running backs Brock Ringo (48-yard pass reception and 10-yard scoring run) and Robbie Gallagher (8 rushes, 106 yards) each keyed Torrey Pines with two touchdowns.

University City 14, Montgomery 9
UNIVERSITTY CITY, Aug. 31, 2007 — The host Centurions made amends for a 31-3 drubbing at the hands of the Aztecs last season by recording a come-from-behind victory on a one-yard run by Alex Scarlett in the third quarter of this year’s matchup. Until then, Montgomery had held a narrow 9-7 lead thanks to a 72-yard scoring pass from Armando Meza to Juan Moriel in the second quarter and a two-point safety recorded in the third quarter when the Aztecs blocked a University City punt out of the end zone.

The teams went into the dressing room tied 7-7 at halftime. The Centurions opened scoring in the second quarter on a one-yard run by Kevin Kennedy. UC’s defense against Montgomery’s thunderous running attack, especially in the second half, helped the hosts hold onto their lead.
The Aztecs had a late chance to possibly win the game but a foul snap over the quarterback’s head on a key third-down play killed the rally.

Montgomery will have the chance to get into the win column when it hosts Grossmont (1-0) this Friday (Sept. 7). The Foothillers are coming off a 31-7 non-league victory against Horizon Christian. Khalid Waters led Grossmont with four touchdowns in the game, including one on a 34-yard interception return.

San Diego Section
Preseason Rankings
SD Sportswriters/Sportscasters Poll
1. Carlsbad Lancers
2. Oceanside Pirates
3. Helix Highlanders
4. Poway Titans
5. Vista Panthers
6. Escondido Cougars
7. Mission Hills Grizzlies
8. Eastlake Titans
9. Mission Bay Buccaneers
10. St. Augustine Saints
Others: Torrey Pines, Scripps Ranch, Pt. Loma, Cathedral Catholic, Rancho Buena Vista, Otay Ranch, Mt. Miguel, Mira Mesa, Christian, Coronado, El Camino, Valhalla

Week 1 Top 10 Matchups
•Carlsbad 20, St. Augustine 3
•Helix 28, Oceanside 20
•Poway 27, Eastlake 14
•Mira Mesa 31, Vista 7
•Escondido 22, Fallbrook 14
•Mission Hills 20, El Camino 14
•Mission Bay 21, Granite Hills 14

Week 1 Game Reports

Helix 28, Oceanside 20
OCEANSIDE, Aug. 31, 2007 – The non-league encounter between the visiting Highlanders and the Pirates might not have been for the rights to the San Diego Section’s No. 1 ranking in the early going of the 2007 prep campaign but it was almost as show-stopping as third-ranked Helix emerged on top in a rematch of last year’s San Diego Section Division II championship game.

The Highlanders won in dramatic fashion as they scored the final touchdown of the game to negate a late Oceanside comeback after holding onto a tenuous 21-20 lead.

Larry Gist caught a 32-yard pass from quarterback Ty Culver to enable the Highlanders to tack on some valuable breathing room after the Pirates had closed to within one point on an 18-yard run by Jamar Taylor, also in the fourth quarter.

The touchdown was the second of the game for Gist, who had earlier scored on an 85-yard kick-off return. Culver finished the game with two touchdown passes.

Helix built a commanding 21-0 lead in the matchup of elite teams. Anthony Merrill provided the only points of the first quarter on a 12-yard field goal and the Highlanders scored the only two touchdowns of the second quarter to lead 15-0 at halftime. Homer Mauga scored on a three-yard run and Culver connected with Levine Toilolo on a 32-yard scoring pass.

Gist hiked the Helix lead to 21-0 with his electrifying 85-yard kick-off return. However, the extra-point attempts on all three Highlander touchdowns went awry.

The Pirates, who topped the reigning Grossmont South League champions 14-7 in last year’s CIF title game, began their comeback with two touchdowns in the third quarter to trail 21-14. Lamont Enyard collected a 10-yard scoring pass from Jordan Wynn and then Wynn hit Frank Zimmerman on another 10-yard TD pass.

Oceanside scored the opening touchdown of the final quarter but the extra-point attempt failed, leaving the Scotties with a one-point lead.

Known primarily in the past as a bruising running team, the Highlanders stunned the Pirates with their passing game. Culver completed 20 of 38 attempts for 217 yards. Patrick Mauii made seven catches for 90 yards while Gist had five catches for 42 yards, Marquise Deadwiler had four catches for 70 yards and Toilolo had three catches for 51 yards.

For Oceanside, Wynn completed 13 of 27 attempts for 209 yards with two touchdown passes and three interceptions. Taylor rushed 17 times for 94 yards with one touchdown while Zimmerman totaled five catches for 115 yards, also with one score. Enyard had four receptions for 57 yards with one TD.

Helix hosts Lone Peak (Utah) in Friday’s home opener and will get a chance at the section’s No. 1 ranking when its hosts defending Division I champion Carlsbad on Sept. 14. The Lancers extended their unbeaten streak to 21 games following their 20-3 victory last Friday against defending Division III champion St. Augustine.

Oceanside will attempt to regroup with a non-league encounter at defending Palomar League champion La Costa Canyon this Friday in the Channel 4 San Diego televised game of the week (airs after Padres game).

Grossmont 39, Horizon Christian 7
LA MESA, Aug. 31, 2007 – Khalid Waters scored four touchdowns, including one on a 32-yard interception return, to highlight the Foothillers’ non-league victory. Grossmont led 32-7 at halftime. Josh Simms collected two touchdowns in the contest — one on a two-yard run and another on a 20-yard pass from quarterback Charlie Piro.

Waters’ three rushing scores came from distances of five, 45 and 46 yards. He totaled 145 yards on 12 carries.

Piro, a three-year starter, completed six of 20 passes for 99 yards. Nick Floyd had two catches for 58 yards.

Christian Johnson scored the Panthers’ lone TD on a 72-yard burst. He finished the game with 17 rushes for 140 yards.

Defensive standouts for the victors included defensive end Dominque Bradley with a team-high 11 tackles and linebacker Eric Springe with eight tackles. Rayshwan Globe was credited with one fumble recovery and one sack while Michael O’Neill and Kevin Wright also were credited with a fumble recovery and defensive end Andres Chavarin also was credited with a sack.

The Foothillers, who recorded their first losing season in six years at 4-6-1 in 2006, will attempt to go up 2-0 when they visit Montgomery (0-1) on Friday. The Aztecs are coming off a 14-9 setback at University City in their season opener last Friday.

Waters rushed for 533 yards last season and scored four touchdowns while running alongside since graduated Augie Williams (753 yards, 10 touchdowns). Simms made 21 catches for 217 yards and five touchdowns last year.

Piro passed for 827 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior in 2006. The Grossmont game plan is to go more to the air this season in an attempt to diversify the offense.

Other key players in 2007 include wide receiver Bryan Haar, running back Michael Graham, offensive linemen Danny Demas and Grant Simpson and linebacker Will Keys.

Mt. Miguel 53, Monte Vista Christian 9
SPRING VALLEY. Aug. 31, 2007 – Aaron Bryant completed 12 of 20 passes for 213 yards and Derall Hunter rushed 11 times for 90 yards to help lead the host Matadors against the visitors from Watsonville. Hunter scored two rushing touchdowns in the non-league encounter while Rico Smith scored on a 32-yard run and 67-yard punt return. Travon Caples caught four passes for 116 yards, including one for a 62-yard touchdown.

Bryant’s longest pass went for 73 yards — the scoring strike to Caples. Hunter’s longest run from scrimmage was 28 yards. Tony Swinton made five catches totaling 57 yards, including a longest gainer of 24 yards. Arthur Hobbs seven tackles and one interception to lead the Mt. Miguel defense. Samatre Jones and Ernest Johnson also recorded picks while Mychaquell Shields and Skyy Hubbard were credited with fumble recoveries.

The Matadors will attempt to extend their season-opening win streak to two games when they host Castle Park (0-1) on Friday. The defending South Bay League champion Trojans, who lost heavily to graduation last season, are coming off a 47-0 loss at Chula Vista in their season opener.

Foothills Christian 34, Calvin Christian 18
ESCONDIDO, Aug. 31, 2007 –- Garrett Campbell scored three touchdowns, including an 80-yard kick-off return, and passed for two more scores to lead the visiting Knights to the season-opening non-league victory. Campbell rushed seven times for 64 yards in the game and completed seven of 15 passes for 88 yards. His 21-yard scoring run helped put Foothills Christian up 6-0. He then came back with a 24-yard scoring pass to Mattison Rundlett and completed a pass for the ensuing two-point conversion to give the Knights a quick 14-0 lead in the game. Calvin Christian responded on a one-yard scoring run by David Stout but the Knights answered quickly with their third touchdown of the opening quarter — Campbell’s 80-yard kick-off return — to zoom in front by a score of 20-6.

Calvin Christian scored the only points of the second quarter — a 69-yard TD pass from Stout (12-of-19, 186 yards) to Brennan Bales (2 catches, 99 yards). However, Foothills Christian responded with the only points of the third quarter — a 25-yard scoring pass by Campbell — to lead 28-12. The teams traded scores in the final quarter, with David Baker (11 rushes, 47 yards) scooting into the end zone from five yards out to narrow the Knights’ lead to 28-18 before Campbell put the game out of reach by scoring on a 20-yard run.

John Magana led Foothills Christian defensively with 10 tackles. Campbell followed with nine tackles while Travis Wolfe had eight hits.

For Calvin Christian, Clinton Parker rushed eight times for 19 yards while Baker and Spencer Broek led the Crusaders defensively with six and five tackles, respectively. Broek collected one sack in the contest while Stout and Bales each made one interception. Parker also had one fumble recovery.

Foothills Christian will attempt to hike its record to 2-0 when it hosts Borrego Springs Friday at 7 p.m. at Junior Seau Field. Calvin Christian will go for its first win of the season when it meets Escondido Charter Sept. 21 at Mission Hills High School.

Mission Bay 21, Granite Hills 14
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 31, 2007 – The visiting Eagles never led but played last year’s Division IV runners-up to a 14-all stalemate through three quarters. Ninth-ranked Mission Bay scored the lone touchdown in the final quarter to prevail, with Evan Taylor hitting Dillon Baxter on a 29-yard scoring strike for the decisive points. Taylor finished the game with three touchdown passes — all to Baxter. Brendan Carter and Richie Beswick (on a pass from Justin Montgomery) scored Granite Hills’ two touchdowns in the non-league game.

Baxter hauled in a 53-yard scoring pass from Taylor to help give the Bucs a 7-0 first quarter lead. However, the Eagles, who qualified for last year’s Division I playoffs, evened the score when Carter scored on a two-yard run in the second quarter. The halftime score saw the teams deadlocked 7-7.

Taylor connected with Baxter on a 15-yard scoring play for the first points of the third quarter. However, Granite Hills came back to tie the score on a seven-yard pass from Montgomery to Beswick. Collin Cresap added his second PAT of the game for the Eagles.

But the hosts would not be denied the victory as Taylor and Baxter hooked up on the game-winning 29-yard passing play. Carlos Sanchez hit on all three of his point-after kicks.

Taylor completed 10 of 20 passes for 223 yards and the three scores (against one interception) while also rushing eight times for 30 yards, including one scamper for 22 yards. Baxter made seven grabs for 175 yards, averaging 25 yards per catch. Victor Johnson led Mission Bay on the ground with 49 yards on eight carries.

Bradley Carter had a successful outing with 14 rushing attempts for 107 yards, with a longest run from scrimmage of 34 yards. Brendan Carter had eight rushes for 49 yards. Montgomery made his passing debut by completing seven of 21 attempts for 91 yards. He was intercepted twice. Beswick had three catches for 57 yards.

Defensively, Luis Alvarenga (Mission Bay) and Landon Turley (Granite Hills) each recorded two sacks in the game. The story of the game for the Eagles, however, had to be missed opportunities. Granite Hills fumbled at the Bucs’ five-yard line, had a field goal attempt blocked and had a potential game-tying touchdown pass intercepted in the endonze with 11.4 seconds left to play.

Granite Hills will attempt to get into the win column for the first time when it hosts Westview on Friday. Mission Bay will attempt to double its win total of the early season when it hosts Clairemont on Friday.

Patrick Henry 32, Santana 27
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 31, 2007 – James Needy threw three touchdown passes to Tyler Aubrey and ran for another score but it wasn’t enough as the host Patriots scored with 11 seconds remaining in the teams’ non-league contest to escape with the win. The Sultans led 14-6 at halftime and had battled back from a 25-21 deficit to take a 27-26 lead in the fourth quarter.

Needy scored on a one-yard run in the second quarter to negate a 23-yard first-quarter field goal by Patrick Henry’s Christian Correa. The Patriots kicker booted a 36-yarder in the second quarter but not before Needy connected with Aubrey on a 22-yard scoring play.

Malcolm Coleman got warmed up for his game-winning touchdown by scoring twice in the third quarter to put the hosts up 19-14. Both Coleman scores came on four-yard runs.

Needy, who completed 17 of 33 attempts for 294 passing yards, gave the Sultans a 21-19 lead when he hit Aubrey on a 69-yard touchdown pass. However, Coleman promptly got those seven points back on a 16-yard TD run to open the dramatic fourth quarter. Both teams racked up a pair of touchdowns in the final period, with Coleman scoring his fourth TD of the game on an 11-yard run.

Aubrey caught seven passes overall for 143 yards while Anthony Moreno had three catches for 58 yards, Kyle Romero had three receptions for 55 yards and Tyler Blackledge made three catches for 34 yards.

Santana will attempt to notch its first win of the season when it tackles Christian in a non-league affair Friday at Valhalla High School. Patrick Henry will attempt to build on its thrill-seeking victory when it plays at Mt. Carmel on Sept. 14.

Cathedral Catholic 21, Steele Canyon 7
DEL MAR, Aug. 31, 2007 – Jamie Dale, last season’s Grossmont Conference rushing leader, handled the ball 35 times in the Cougars’ high-profile season opener at Cathedral Catholic, gaining 142 yards and scoring once. However, the Dons’ defense limited Dale to a longest carry of just 11 yards from scrimmage, thus holding the explosive rusher in check for most of the game.

Cathedral Catholic scored the opening two touchdowns of the game to lead 13-0 at halftime. Nick Russell scored on a four-yard run and Tyler Gaffney scored on a three-yard run.

Dale scored on a one-yard plunge in the third quarter to trim the Dons’ advantage on the scoreboard to six points. However, the hosts recorded the lone touchdown of the fourth quarter on a 25-yard run by Torrance Jacko, with Gaffney adding a two-point conversion to give Cathedral Catholic a two-touchdown edge.

The Cougars will attempt to even their early season record at 1-1 when they visit West Hills (1-0) on Friday in another non-league encounter. The Dons will visit defending Western League tri-champion and Division III runner-up Point Loma in another high-profile early season encounter Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. on the Pointers’ campus.

Brawley 15, Valhalla 14
BRAWLEY, Aug. 31, 2007 – In a game played in searing 100-plus temperatures in the Imperial Valley desert, the visiting Norsemen scored first and led 14-7 at one point in the second half before the Wildcats rallied for the non-league victory.

Shane Mallory recovered a fumble in the first quarter to set up teammate Klay Shapiro’s four-yard TD run. The visitors missed the extra-point attempt but led 6-0.

Kyle Mohamed scored on a one-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter, with Jose Peralta supplying the PAT for a 7-6 halftime lead.

The Norsemen opened the second half with a 63-yard scoring drive that culminated on a nine-yard scoring run by Alex Johnson. However, Brawley promptly retaliated in kind on its next possession with what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown and two-point conversion. Mohamed set up the Wildcats’ TD with a 73-yard burst from scrimmage, with teammate Gilbert Rebollar finishing the drive on a four-yard scoring run. Quarterback Mark Valdez then scored on a two-point conversion to put his team — initially trailing 14-13 — ahead by one point.

The fourth quarter was scoreless. Brawley amassed 427 yards in total offense in the game while Valhalla racked up 224 yards in total offense. Pete Thomas completed 15 of 30 passes for 167 yards.

The Norsemen travel to Chula Vista (1-0) for another non-league game on Friday. The Spartans are coming off a 47-0 victory against cross-town rival Castle Park.

Sweetwater 23, El Cajon Valley 9
EL CAJON, Aug. 31, 2007 -- The visiting Red Devils — 0-10 a season ago — never trailed in handing the Braves a non-league loss in the season opener for both teams. Micah Gleason scored two rushing touchdowns and Fred Fells caught a 14-yard scoring pass from quarterback Michael Sumabat to highlight the Sweetwater scoring.

The Devils opened up a 3-0 lead after Gudro Allen kicked a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter. The score came after the SuHi defense forced a turnover. The Braves tied the score when Kevin Kelly answered with a 43-yard field goal, also in the second quarter. However, the visitors took a 10-3 halftime lead on Gleason’s first TD of the night, a two-yard run, followed by a point-after touchdown conversion by Kevin Vargas.

Fells and Gleason, this time on a 37-yard run, added touchdowns for the Devils in the second half before El Cajon Valley finally responded with a touchdown of its own when Isaac Soliz connected with Kelly on a 71-yard scoring play.

Gleason rushed for 155 yards in the contest while Sumabat completed five of 10 passing attempts for 92 yards. The SuHi defense held Soliz to eight completions in 20 attempts for 126 yards.

Sweetwater will attempt to remain undefeated in 2007 when it makes the trek to El Camino (0-1) this Friday for a 7 p.m. kick off while El Cajon Valley will attempt to even its record when it visits San Ysidro (0-1). El Camino is coming off a 20-14 loss to No. 7-ranked Mission Hills.

El Capitan 51, King Kekaulike 36
MAUI, HAWAII, Aug. 31, 2007 – The Vaqueros made a statement with a strong debut as Tanner Rust passed for five touchdowns, ran for another score and kicked three extra-point conversions. Tila Case caught three of Rust’s aerials while also returning 92 yards for a touchdown in another scintillating individual performance. Brandon Sanchez and Garrett Jarvis also caught scoring passes for El Capitan, which received a six-yard rushing score from Ben Wilkins.

The Vaqueros led 19-7 at halftime on the strength of Case’s punt return for a touchdown and a pair of Rust scoring passes. Rust notched his first TD of the season on an 11-yard score to Sanchez and came back with a 71-yard score to Case, who also made grabs of 41 and 67 yards for TDs later in the game. Jarvis caught a 32-yard scoring pass while Rust broke open a 60-yard scoring run to close out El Capitan’s scoring rampage.

Both teams combined for 42 points in the final quarter, with the Vaqueros rolling up 20 points.

Rust completed 16 of 23 passes (70 percent) for 345 yards. He did not throw an interception. Case caught eight passes for 232 yards, Wilkins rushed 12 times for 113 yards and made three catches for 28 yards.

Jake Steuermann led the El Capitan defense with 17 tackles while Robert Vicaldo made nine stops.

The Vaqueros continue their season-opening road trip with a stop in Ramona on Friday.

Christian 55, Bassett (La Puente) 0
EL CAJON, Sept. 1, 2007 – Lawrence Walker scored four touchdowns and Charles Thompson scored three times to lead the Patriots at their new home-away-from-home at Valhalla High School. Walker scored on runs of 17, 47, 50 and 26 yards. Thompson scored three different ways: a 48-yard run, 50-yard pass and 42-yard interception return. The defending Division V champions led 41-0 at halftime in the non-league matchup.

Sophomore quarterback Erick Allen threw two touchdown passes — one each to Thompson and Niko Kanakaris (14 yards). Josh May kicked five extra points in the game while Kanakaris had two PATs.

Christian will host Santana (0-1) in an all-East County matchup Friday at Valhalla’s new turf field. Kick-off is 7 p.m. The Sultans are coming off a last-second 32-27 loss at Patrick Henry.

West Hills 37, St. Anthony’s 16
MAUI, HAWAII, Sept. 1, 2007 – Eric Fiege scored on runs of 30 and 20 yards, Chris Blumka, Christian Fonseca and Joe Roberts also added touchdown runs and Levi Jacob kicked a 32-yard field goal while adding four extra-point conversions to lead the Wolf Pack to its season-opening win in non-league action in Hawaii.

West Hills scored 14 points in each of the opening two quarters to lead 28-3 at halftime. Blumka opened scoring in the game with a 55-yard touchdown scamper while Fiege followed with a 30-yard scoring run. Fonseca scored from 27 yards out while Fiege added a 20-yard scoring run to account for the Wolf Pack’s first-half scoring barrage.

West Hills accumulated more than 400 total yards in offense, with Fonseca (187 yards on 19 carries) and Blumka (120 yards on nine carries) carrying the bulk of the rushing load.

The win was the first for new coach Casey Ash, a West Hills alum who took over the reigns of the program in late June.

St. Anthony’s racked up a modest 14-9 scoring edge in the second half as the Wolf Pack substituted players, though the outcome of West Hills’ victory was never threatened. Roberts score on a six-yard run and Jacob kicked the 32-yard field goal in the final quarter for the Wolf Pack, which hosts Steele Canyon this Friday.

West Hills finished 7-5 last season, going two games deep into post-season play. However, a quarterback change appears to be looming in 2007 as Fiege moves into the slotback position. Among the contenders for the signal-calling position are Granite Hills transfer Chris Misensol, returning back-up Mike Lifgren, last year’s JV QB Joe Roberts and basketball standout Tim Nowlin (who can also play tight end).

Other impact players include tight end/defensive lineman Josh Armstrong, defensive back Jonathon Darby, offensive lineman Dominic LaRussa, defensive lineman Rudy Ortega and linebackers David Hernandez and David Apodaca.

Cardinals spoil re-invented Crusaders' debut
Hoover 26, Mater Dei 14
By J. Carlos Rico
Sports intern
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 31, 2007 — Before Friday’s season opening game at Hoover High School, Mater Dei head coach Matt White talked to his team about being disciplined and taking care of the football. Unfortunately for the Crusaders, they had two costly turnovers that resulted in two touchdowns to catapult the host Cardinals to a 26-14 non-league win.

In their first football game as Mater Dei, after being Marian Catholic for 45 years, the Crusaders were shut out in the second half of last Friday afternoon’s game, but were given plenty of chances by the home team to come out with a victory.

Midway through the fourth quarter with the score 20-14 in Hoover’s favor, Mater Dei got the football off a Hoover fake punt that resulted in a turnover on downs on the Crusaders 18-yard line. The very next play, Mater Dei sophomore quarterback Jake Marrion launched a 42 yard bomb to a wide-open Rudy Pererya. It looked like he could go all the way for the score, but the ball squirted out of his hands and it was recovered by the Cardinals.

On the ensuing drive, Hoover drove down the field 61 yards and scored a touchdown on a 35-yard run up the middle by running back Deontray Johnson. This score sealed the deal for a Hoover victory and a 1-0 start to the season in this non-league opener.

“We just couldn’t finish it,” White said. “We had every opportunity and we just couldn’t get it done.”

In the first half, Hoover got out to a quick 12-0 lead after senior quarterback Corey Trisby threw two touchdown passes. The first was a 41-yard pass on a bootleg to Kervin Ngo and the second was a wide receiver screen to Brandon Fox for a 20-yard score.

On Mater Dei’s next possession, Marrion threw a pick right at Hoover’s Domonic Brooks and he walked his way 36 yards into the end zone to put the Cardinals up 20-0.

But Mater Dei did not give up. On the next drive, late in the second quarter, the visitors took advantage of great field position off a 38-yard kickoff return by Marcel Pitre that put the Crusader offense into Hoover territory on the 42-yard line. On the ninth play of the drive, Marrion threw a 26-yard lob-pass to the far side of the end zone where junior Will Stewart jumped and caught it for his first touchdown of the season.

After a couple of three and outs for both teams, Hoover had the ball with 34 seconds left before halftime. Mater Dei could not stop the clock and instead of taking a knee from their 30-yard line, Hoover tried to get more points on the board. But Mater Dei was not having any of that. The Crusader defense brought the pressure up the middle and forced a fumble on the quarterback that was picked up by Mater Dei’s Brian Lacey, who ran it in 18 yards to cut the lead 20-14 at intermission.

“We could have folded right at half, but we didn’t,” said Hoover coach Mike Wright. “That’s a solid football team we just played.”

After the game, Mater Dei’s coach talked about the same things that he preached before the start of the game.

“We got to get a little more disciplined (with the football) so we can put it into the end zone,” White said. “We were always able to move the ball … we just got to buckle down and punch it in.”

White said he felt his team ran the ball well, which was the game plan, but Hoover forced the Crusaders’ hand by putting eight and nine players in the box and the sophomore quarterback had to throw more than he would have liked.

“If we would have executed a little better, they would have had to back off and it would have opened things up a little better,” White said.

Mater Dei’s strength is its running attack, lining up in the Wing-T offense, with a plethora of running backs that includes DeShon Bruner, Charlie Gonzalez, Roman Owens, Pitre and Andres Schramm. The Crusaders are a young football team and seem undersized at times, but they show a lot of heart and swarm to the ball on defense.

Materi Dei is a Division IV school because of the enrollment size of 750 students, but plays a tough Division III football schedule, including games against Cathedral Catholic, Valley Center and this week’s opponent, St. Augustine, at its new school and new stadium in Otay Ranch.

St. Augustine, the defending Division III champion, is coming off a 20-3 loss against No. 1-ranked Carlsbad last Friday. The Saints entered the season ranked No. 10 in the section.