It was a very emotional night last Friday in Lakeside as the El Capitan High School football team wrapped up this year’s Grossmont Valley League championship after muzzling the visiting West Hills Wolf Pack, 41-0, in the teams’ annual Tony Burner Memorial trophy game.
The trophy is named in honor of El Capitan head coach Ron Burner’s son who played at West Hills and later coached at El Capitan.
Besides winning back the rivalry trophy, the host Vaqueros also gave the homecoming crowd something to cheer for, including the celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the school’s best-ever 2014 team.
It was the first league championship for the Vaqs since 2022.
“Yes, it was a very emotional night,” the elder Burner summed up. “Our keys were that all facets played lights out all night from the opening series.
“For whatever reason we played a darn near perfect game — the exception was we fumbled the ball going in at the one-yard line. We never had to punt and our great defense held them to 44 total yards for the game.”
The timely victory improved the Vaqueros to 4-0 in league play and a clinching of this year’s league title with four other teams two games back in the loss column with one regular season game remaining.
Senior Brandt Barker passed for 168 yards and four touchdowns — two to sophomore Michael Valencia (nine catches, 94 yards) and one each to senior Ayden Banegas (five catches, 54 yards) and sophomore Braiden Linder (two catches, 14 yards). Senior Brady Jorelmon (11 carries, 69 yards) and sophomore Ryder Powers (two carries, 23 yards) each scored rushing touchdowns.
Patriot Nation
The Christian Patriots earned distinction as this year’s City League champion after defeating the host San Diego Cavers, 20-14, last Friday to improve to 3-0 in league play — one win in the loss column ahead of the second place Cavers (2-1 in league).
Christian improves to 7-2 on the season with the Morse Tigers (0-3,1-8) remaining on the team’s season schedule Friday at 7 p.m. at El Cajon Valley High School.
A win over the Tigers would hand the league title outright to the Pats.
Sophomore Kaleb Runkle passed for 214 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in leading Christian to its fifth straight victory. Senior Brady Eads had six catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns while sophomore Kai Rosier had six catches for 69 yards.
Junior Hank Houston rushed 10 times for 66 yards and one touchdown while Runkle gained 63 yards on seven carries from behind center.
The Patriots out-gained the Cavers 373-300 yards as both teams brought offense to the gridiron.
S
ophomore Jayden Johnson keyed San Diego with 17 carries for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior Chase Togerson had one interception while Houston had one sack to lead Christian defensively.
The Patriots currently sit 25th in the CalPreps/San Diego Section rankings, near the middle of the Division II field.
City League standings: Christian 3-0, 7-2; San Diego 2-1, 6-3; Patrick Henry 2-1, 6-3; Crawford 1-3, 4-5; Morse 0-3, 1-8
CalPreps/San Diego Section Football Rankings
1. Lincoln 7-2
2. La Costa Canyon 9-0
3. Cathedral Catholic 7-2
4. Mission Hills 7-2
5. San Marcos 8-1
6. Granite Hills 7-2
7. Carlsbad 6-3
8. El Camino 5-4
9. Mt. Miguel 7-2
10. Torrey Pines 4-5
11. Rancho Bernardo 7-2
12. Oceanside 6-3
13. Del Norte 6-3
14. Scripps Ranch 8-0
15. Mater Dei Catholic 6-3
16. La Jolla 6-3
17. Santa Fe Christian 8-1
18. Helix 3-6
19. Brawley 8-1
20. Bishop’s 6-2
21. Poway 3-6
22. University City 8-1
23. Pt. Loma 5-4
24. Mt. Carmel 6-3
25. Christian 7-2
26. Imperial 8-1
27. Madison 4-5
28. Valley Center 7-2
29. Central Union 7-2
30. Holtville 9-0
31. Escondido 6-3
32. San Diego 6-3
33. Eastlake 3-6
34. Patrick Henry 6-3
35. St. Augustine 0-10
36. San Pasqual 4-5
37. Otay Ranch 5-5
38. Steele Canyon 4-5
39. Army-Navy Academy 7-2
40. La Jolla Country Day 4-5
41. Ramona 1-8
42. El Capitan 6-3
43. Grossmont 4-5
44. Mira Mesa 0-9
45. Chula Vista 4-5
46. Westview 3-7
47. Montgomery 6-3
48. Mission Bay 2-7
49. Sweetwater 5-4
50. Calipatria 7-1
51. Vincent Memorial 6-3
52. Hoover 6-3
53. Calexico 5-4
54. Classical Academy 5-4
55. Santana 6-3
56. Rancho Buena Vista 1-8
57. Fallbrook 0-9
58. Bonita Vista 4-5
59. Vista 2-7
60. Francis Parker 4-5
61. Coronado 4-5
62. West Hills 4-5
63. Crawford 4-5
64. Kearny 6-3
Others: 68. Monte Vista 4-5, 71.
Valhalla 4-5, 83. El Cajon Valley 0-9, 87. Mountain Empire 1-8
