On Homecoming, Hyde, Johnson show future
- Updated: October 6, 2018
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
CASTLE PARK 40, EL CAJON VALLEY 21
By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com
EL CAJON – It seems like every week, El Cajon Valley sophomores CLARENCE JOHNSON and DAMARIUS HYDE are getting better and better on the football field.
And the duo continues to turn in bigger and bigger plays each week, too.
Trailing in the ballgame from nearly the outset, the Braves’ new duo kept getting the team back in the ball game against visiting Castle Park on Friday night.
After the Trojans took a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, Johnson impressed for the second-straight week with a big kick return to the Trojan 38.
On the next play, Hyde broke off the right side and broke some tackles on the way to a 38-yard score, boosting the hosts’ confidence in front of a Homecoming crowd.
After the Trojans tried to put the game away with a four-touchdown lead Johnson had another strong kick return past midfield to give the Braves a scoring chance.
Hyde picked up his second touchdown of the game on a nifty run off a couple of Trojan tacklers for a score with 6:57 to play in the third, bringing the margin to within 34-14.
Castle Park senior quarterback Diego Rodriguez threw for four touchdowns – three of them to senior teammate Joel Torres.
Rodriguez and Torres connected for the first two scores of the game, the first one coming on the Trojans’ first possession after the Castle Park defense stopped the Braves on a three-and-out to open the game.
Torres caught a pass in stride for a 35-yard score and a 7-0 lead.
Castle Park senior Isaiah Morineau had an interception on the final play of the first quarter, then Rodriguez and Torres made good on a 29-yard connection for a 14-0 score.
Trojan senior Tyrone Lake added a 25-yard run for a score to put the visitors back up by two scores.
A combined sack by Castle Park’s Mauricio Mendez and Victor Rodriguez set up a final first-half scoring drive, as Martinez had his third passing touchdown of the half thanks to a terrific leaping catch in the left side of the end zone by senior Christian Bustos.
Torres caught his third touchdown from Martinez just 1:06 into the third quarter.
El Cajon Valley’s DARREL DAVIS returned to the lineup and had an interception on the first play of the fourth quarter. Davis also caught a pass on a final scoring drive.
The Braves got a final touchdown with 1:33 left in the game when Davis took a reception well into CPHS territory, then senior BRANDON ROBINSON scored on a screen pass from senior quarterback ATLANTAS EIDEJUS.
El Cajon Valley junior AARON RUIZ had a tackle for loss in the first half. The Braves added a sack in the third quarter.
The Braves (0-7, 0-1 Grossmont Valley League) will travel to take on Mount Miguel in a league tilt.
