The host El Capitan Vaqueros are suddenly on a two-game winning streak after being shut out twice to kick off the 2025 season.
The Vaqueros topped the visiting Bonita Vista Barons, 21-7, last Friday to add to a gritty 17-14 non-league win over the Chula Vista Spartans the previous week.
The El Cap defense threw a lasso around the Bonita Vista passing game, holding junior quarterback Marshall Romo to just three completions in 11 attempts for 15 yards. Romo also rushed three times for negative-eight yards and lost a fumble.
The Vaqs out-gained the Barons 267-7 in total offensive yards, though the South County visitors did collect 59 yards on an interception return by junior Cole Margetts.
The hosts had no lack of offense. Sophomore signal-caller Hayden Passanisi completed nine of 15 passing attempts for 122 yards with one touchdown and one interception while classmate Michael Castillo rushed 13 times for 92 yards and one score.
Senior Logan Dulyea had three catches for 56 yards and one touchdown while junior Braiden Linder caught two aerials for 44 yards. Castillo tacked on 28 yards in kick returns for a team-leading 124 all-purpose yards.
The Barons (0-4) led 7-0 on Margetts’ pick-six. El Capitan finished the game with 21 unanswered points.
On defense, senior Spencer Chastang led the victors with seven tackles while seniors Lincoln Walker, Brewin Ford, Tod Carter and Bryce Banegas each had six stops. Ford and senior Matthew Eckis each had one sack.
Sophomore Landon Bond recovered a fumble in the end zone to seal the win.
The Vaqueros will host the Monte Vista Monarchs this Friday, with both teams coming off non-league victories. The Monarchs edged host Classical Academy, 22-14, last Friday.
Monte Vista rallied from a 7-7 halftime tie against previously unbeaten Coastal Academy and rallied from a 14-7 deficit in the third quarter to skirt off with the non-league victory with a decisive fourth quarter showing.
Senior Rahshawn Florence moved the ball to the 11-yard line on a long pass play. Senior Derrick Taylor scored from four yards out with five minutes remaining in regulation and the Monarchs went for a two-point conversion and scored on a run by senior Giovanni Lopez to edge in front, 15-14, on the scoreboard.
Taylor kept control of the ball after the East County visitors pulled off another surprise play on a successful recovery of an on-side kick. Taylor scored his second rushing touchdown of the game with one minute to play to put Monte Vista up by eight points in the dying seconds.
Senior Lakai Dean made a game-changing interception in the third quarter to stall a promising Stingrays drive.
Olympian 35, Santana 9
Last Friday’s game in Santee between the host Santana Sultans and Olympian Eagles, billed as a showdown of early undefeated 3-0 teams, left one team smarting after a 35-9 non-league setback.
It was new territory for the Sultans this season in accepting their first loss after a solid start in non-league play.
The Eagles came out of the gridiron scrap soaring with a perfect 4-0 record.
“The next win is the most important one, it sets the tone for the upcoming games,” Santana coach Tim Estes said when previewing the matchup.
Thus, the Sultans will get to back to work with three consecutive road games: this Friday at Fallbrook (1-3), Oct. 3 at El Cajon Valley (1-3) and Oct. 10 at Grossmont (2-1).
The games against El Cajon Valley and Grossmont pin down the start of Grossmont Valley League play.
Last Friday’s contest was knotted 7-7 through the first quarter before Olympian took a 21-7 halftime lead on the only two touchdowns in the second quarter.
The Sultans racked up a defensive two-point safety in the third quarter but the Eagles countered with the only two touchdowns in the second half.
Olympian led 28-9 entering the fourth quarter.
Senior Jayden Fuentes led the victorious Eagles with 189 passing yards and four touchdowns, including two to junior Walter Ignacio (three catches, 50 yards) and one each to seniors Jorgani Estrada (five catches, 100 yards) and Patricio Flatts (two catches, 15 yards).
Santana junior Ethan Miller completed 11 of 20 attempts for 120 yards with the Sultan’s lone touchdown in the game to junior Denton Goar (five catches, 58 yards). Miller also threw an interception.
Sophomore Kyle Carnes completed five of 17 passing attempts for 29 yards with one interception.
Santana sophomore Julian Mayers rushed 17 times for 58 yards while also catching two passes for 26 yards.
Goar tallied 164 all-purpose yards by adding 104 yards on kick returns. The Sultans amassed 221 yards on kick returns, including 77 yards by junior Kolten Thornton and 38 yards by senior Maddox Esoo.
Sophomore Tatum Morehouse had one sack on defense while junior Ryder Davey recovered a fumble.
