Vaqueros’ turnover had effect on season, turnovers impact finale
- Updated: November 14, 2015
By Ramon Scott
© EastCountySports.com
POWAY (11-14-15) — El Capitan suffered its fourth shutout in 11 games this season that includes a forfeit win over Mater Dei.
In Friday’s (Nov. 13) opening round of the San Diego Section Division I playoffs the Vaqueros were eliminated from the post-season by Poway 21-0.
It was a familiar scene for the Vaqueros (2-9), who scored only 69 points in 11 starts. They did produce a decent defensive stand all tolled, allowing only 24.3 markers per game.
El Capitan suffered a turnover on the first series of the game, as the Titans’ Leo Rousas made the recovery.
Later in the opening quarter, the El Capitan quarterback brought down a high snap and took off running to get enough for a first down, but fumbled, and the Titans’ Dusty Marvin recovered.
The game was scoreless after one period.
Poway scored 1:35 into the second quarter as Jared Adelman punched in a TD on a 1-yard run, for a 7-0 lead.
Later in the second, the Vaqueros tried a run out of punt formation, but were called for an illegal formation.
El Capitan suffered a sack and an interception late in the second quarter, which resulted in a Poway touchdown, as Conor Boyle hit Robbie Sullivan for a 13-yard TD with just :58 left before halftime.
El Capitan forced a fumble in the third quarter at the conclusion of a 35-yard rumble by Adelman, as they stayed within two scores entering the fourth.
Vidalez hooked up with CONNOR ROOSA for a 43-yard connection in the second half, but a sack forced a punt.
The Vaqueros were stopped on a fourth-down try out of punt formation, then the Titans’ Devin Celestine pounced on a bad snap later in the quarter, setting up a first-and-goal at the Vaqueros’ 5.
Jacob Gaines rushed in from 1-yard out with 1:52 left in the game for the final margin.
The Vaqueros fumbled the ensuing kickoff, as Saimon Georgari popped it out and Conner Kirkegaard fell on it on the El Cap 22 with 1:44 to go in the fourth.
El Capitan quarterback PHOENIX CATES completed 7 of 14 passes for 133 yards. Vidalez came off the bench to hit 2 of 3 passes for 31 yards.
Five Vaqueros shared in the pass receiving chores with Roosa grabbing 2 for 58 yards. NOAH COHEN led the receiving brigade with 3 catches for 38 yards.
The Titans (6-5) mounted just 161 yards of offense against the Vaqueros defense, while the Titans’ D registered five sacks – three by Sean Miller – and had five takeaways en route to claiming their first post-season victory and first shutout since 2012.
Poway advances to the quarterfinals, where it will face No. 4 Point Loma (7-3) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Clairemont High School.
The Vaqueros forced three turnovers, but El Capitan (2-9) fumbled the ball eight times and threw an interception, as Poway scored all 21 of its points off turnovers.
