The El Capitan Vaqueros had a not so unpredictably rough ride last year as a member of the Grossmont Hills League. The Lakeside squad finished 0-4 in league play while being outscored 160-51.
The Vaqueros finished 4-7 overall, including a four-game winning streak in non-league games against Chula Vista (17-14), Bonita Vista (21-7), Monte Vista (38-0) and West Hills (16-3).
But league play threw them off a bucking bronco with losses to Steele Canyon (35-14), Helix Charter (41-21), Granite Hills (42-6) and Mount Miguel (42-10). Not all the games were as the final scores suggested.
El Capitan received enough votes for their challenging schedule to earn the No. 2 seed in the San Diego Section Division IV playoffs. However, the Vaqs were unable to salvage their season with a 22-7 quarterfinal-round loss to 10th-seeded La Jolla Country Day.
The 2025 season proved to be one of two halves.
Contrast that to the 2024 season when the Vaqueros won the Division IV championship to mark the 10th anniversary of the school’s first CIF championship in 2014.
El Cap finished runner-up to Carmel in the 2024 Division 5-AA state bowl championship.
A precedent for excellence is out there.
“I believe we have a shot at a very good season,” head coach Ron Burner remarked about the upcoming 2026 pigskin campaign. “We lost some key guys on defense but we have a few new players from out of state who are very good and hard-working. It’s going to be a fun season. Our offense will still be young but talented.”
A return to the Grossmont Valley League lineup with 15 returning starters in tow could position the Vaqs for a league championship.
Top returners include junior offensive lineman Dyan Schmidt, junior running back Michael Castillo, senior strong safety Ryder Powers, junior receiver Cota LaChappa, senior defensive back Dominic Megginson, junior quarterback Hayden Passanisi, senior offensive lineman Ethan Duncan-Celeste, senior tight end/defensive end Braiden Linder and senior defensive back/linebacker Kash Ludlum.
Linder, Castillo and Duncan-Celeste all earned all-league honors last season.
Passanisi passed for 1,014 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions last season while Castillo led the team with 558 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Junior strong safety Colton Kidd, senior running back Anthony Mattar, sophomore linebacker/running back Robinson Silva, senior receiver Elijah Arzu, senior offensive/defensive lineman Gabe Wolf and sophomore defensive back/receiver Shayne Whitmore headline the impact newcomers.
Mattar, Arzu and Wolf all played last season at Granite Hills, winning a league championship. Kidd, from Alpine, is listed at 6-1, 190. Wolf is listed at 6-4, 280. Mattar, low to the ground at 5-1, is a load to bring down at 200 pounds.
Burner carries a 126-109-2 career coaching record into the new season. He has a winning formula.
El Capitan kicks off the season Aug. 21 with a non-league game in Pearly City, Hawaii. Thd Vaqs will meet Chula Vista Aug. 28 in a non-league encounter at Montgomery High School before hosting Ramona on Sept. 4.
El Cap opens league play Oct. 2 at Santana.
Men of Steele
Quarterback Gavin Caha and receiver Josiah Stocker turned in fabulous seasons as juniors last year in helping lead Steele Canyon to a 9-4 overall record and runner-up finish in the Division II championship game.
Caha passed for 2,126 yards with 25 touchdowns while Stocker reeled in 464 receiving yards and four scores.
Luke Rode led the Cougars with 57 tackles also as a junior.
