A season ago, members of the El Cajon Valley Braves varsity football team were reduced to tears following what could only be described as a humiliating loss against host Coronado, 76-0, in the worst defeat the squad experienced during a winless season.
Last Friday night, the Braves may have executed the biggest one-season turnaround against an opponent in section history, knocking off the visiting Islanders, 20-7, to complete an 89-point swing from the previous year’s result, winning their third-straight game to open the season.
For the Braves, it’s their best start since a 5-0 stretch to open the 2016 season. With the win streak to open the season, ECV has moved into the top four teams in the section’s Division V power ratings, likely already qualifying the team for a postseason berth.
Clarence Johnson had a 70-yard touchdown on a pass from quarterback Joe Malone on the first play of the game and Damarius Hyde tallied two short rushing scores.
El Cajon Valley also recorded four interceptions, including two by sophomore Daniel Jacobs, while Malone had a sack on defense.
This Friday night, the Braves travel to face Clairemont Chieftains (1-1) at 7. (All games are 7 p.m. unless noted).
No. 1 Cathedral Catholic at No. 4 Helix – The Highlanders will be hosting the third-ranked team in the state and ninth-ranked team nationally in one of the biggest section games of the regular season.
The Dons just beat nationally sixth-ranked Centennial, of Corona, as quarterback D.J. Ralph, son of former Santana High head coach Jerry Ralph, rushed for three touchdowns, including the game-winner with 46 seconds to play, and passed for two more.
Helix had a bye in Week 3 following a loss two weeks ago to Herriman (Utah), 26-19, in overtime.
According to computer rankings, the Highlanders will likely be an underdog in their next three games, needing an upset to avoid a 1-4 start and avoid being eliminated early in the Open Division playoff chase.
No. 7 Steele Canyon (2-0) vs. Bonita Vista (2-1) (at Southwestern College) – Coming off their bye week, the Cougars won at Madison two weeks ago, 19-14, after losing a pair of previous meetings to the Warhawks by a combined 89-17 in 2016-17.
Senior Antoine Walker had a 24-yard touchdown reception, an interception, and a blocked field goal in the win for Steele, while teammate David Martinez booted a pair of field goals.
The Barons, led by receiver Ron Vann, come in with consecutive wins over San Ysidro (57-0) and Sweetwater (35-14) but the Cougars are big favorites here.
Olympian (1-2) at No. 10 Grossmont (2-0) – When last seen two weeks ago, the Foothillers were racking up 817 yards of total offense against Mater Dei Catholic.
Senior quarterback Jaime Odom passed for 437 yards and five touchdowns and senior receiver Brody Schicker caught eight passes for 136 yards and three of the scores. Running back Jahmal Nevels added a pair of scoring runs.
The Foothillers, who are coming off a bye, are expected to win this one but consider that the Eagles are coming off a 10-7 loss to No. 7 Torrey Pines.
Westview (1-2) at No. 14 Granite Hills (2-1) – The Eagles lost a tough test at Madison last Friday, 39-29, despite four touchdown passes by junior quarterback Justus McComb.
The Warhawks returned a pair of first-half interceptions for touchdowns, however.
Granite’s Matthew Keely recorded his fourth interception of the season, which leads the county, while receiver James Johnson had six receptions for 94 yards and a pair of scores. The Eagles’ defense had three sacks.
Westview failed to score last week in a 6-0 home loss to undefeated San Pasqual, so how do the Wolverines plan to find the end zone here?
Christian (1-2) at Monte Vista (1-2) – These two teams went to overtime last season with the Patriots winning by one point after stopping a two-point conversion attempt. Considering the current start by both teams, another tight finish is expected.
The Monarchs led by a couple of touchdowns but stumbled late at Patrick Henry, 39-36, despite 147 yards and two touchdowns from senior running back Isaiah Gardner last Friday in San Carlos.
With his next victory, Monte Vista head coach Ron Hamamoto would move into a tie for fourth with former Morse High head coach John Shacklett on the section’s all-time coaching victory list.
The Patriots lost to the No. 1-ranked team from Alaska, Soldotna High, 42-7, last Friday at Valley Stadium, as Nate Stine had a touchdown and seven tackles for Christian.
Sweetwater (1-2) at Santana (2-0) – Sultan senior quarterback Nathan Temple completed 12-of-15 passes for 195 yards and five touchdowns in the first half as Santana shutout section rival Mar Vista, 41-0.
Santana is currently the top-ranked team in the section’s Division IV power rankings so this one is unlikely to be close. The top finishing team in the ratings gains home-field advantage through the semifinals of the playoffs.
Valhalla (2-0) at Hilltop (3-0) – One of only two games in Week 3 to match San Diego Section undefeated teams.
Senior running back Kegan Baker has 468 yards and all eight of Valhalla’s touchdowns through two games this season.
Baker runs behind the offensive line of Samer Faraj, Anthony Stephan, Allen Kalasho, Tyler Straub, Elijah Estrada and Ibrahim Ibrahim.
The Lancers, under coach Drew Westling, are making a strong case as the South Bay’s top outfit, averaging 45 points and 300 yards passing in three wins so far.
Valhalla is an underdog here against the higher-ranked foe so a win would dramatically improve the team’s playoff chances in Division III.
Henry (2-1) at El Capitan (0-3) (6 p.m.) – The Vaqueros trailed 12th-ranked San Diego, 27-21, at halftime after the Cavers returned a couple of kickoffs for touchdowns but the Vaqueros dropped a 53-29 non-league decision at Balboa Stadium last Friday.
Donny Green, Kalen Lavallais and Taylor Grasmick scored touchdowns in the first half for El Cap, while sophomore teammate Antwone Yokley had a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second half.
The Patriots took the lead last Friday against Monte Vista with 46 seconds left on a touchdown reception by former Helix basketball standout Kai Jessie.
Mount Miguel (1-1) at Santa Fe Christian (2-1) (3:30 p.m.) – Two weeks ago, Mount Miguel senior Jahiem Allen-Pompey caught three touchdown passes from quarterback J.D. Laverdiere, as the Matadors went into their bye week off a 47-7 win over Chula Vista.
Laverdiere, a junior, had 313 yards through the air for his seventh career 300-yard game.
The Matadors offensive line did a great job of protecting the passer, but will have to be strong against the Eagles, who are averaging more than three sacks per game.
These teams have contrasting offensive styles, as SFC has attempted just seven passes thus far and is averaging over 225 yards on the ground.
Chula Vista (0-3) at West Hills (1-2) – The Wolf Pack arrived late in Whittier last Friday night before dropping a 7-6 contest to Santa Fe High, a club which had lost 12 of its previous 13 games.
Senior Kole Klingerman caught seven passes for 77 yards and a touchdown for West Hills. His score came in the second half after the Pack trailed, 7-0, at halftime.
This game appears close on paper but West Hills should handle the Spartans. The Wolf Pack cannot afford an upset the rest of the year if they intend on making the postseason.
Avalon (1-0) vs. Foothills Christian (3-0) (at Seau Field) – Foothills Christian’s Tony Mroz passed for 179 yards and teammate Jason Oliviera returned a kickoff for a touchdown and caused a fumble that he recovered for a score.
The visitors from Santa Catalina Island won their 8-man opener, 73-14, over Ocean View Christian.
Lancer senior quarterback Antonio Ramos had 368 yards in his first career start, while junior teammate Beto Martinez set a school record with 210 yards receiving, so this one could be fun.
The Knights made the 26-mile ferry ride two years ago and brought back a 36-16 victory but the Avalon program has drastically improved since then, having won 12 of its last 15 outings.
