East County Sports

Nothing’s changed as Vaqueros win again

Savi Yokley runs with an escort of blockers on a 60-yard touchdown. / Michelle Hames

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

EL CAPITAN 46, CANYON HILLS 12

 

EastCountySports.com staff report

 

TIERRASANTA – El Capitan senior Savigon Yokley is already recognized as one of the county’s top players coming into the 2021 season.

When asked last week if Yokley would be considered one of the county’s elite players if he was lined up regularly at a skill position, Vaquero head coach Ron Burner responded: “He is already elite.”

Indeed he is, coach.

Yokley, who invoked his leadership to continue working as the team’s starting quarterback this season, accounted for six touchdowns on Friday night, including three passing scores, as the Vaqueros trounced re-branded Canyon Hills (formerly Serra), 40-14, on Friday night.

The Rattlers, who had their beautiful, new scarlet and black uniforms delivered just a few hours before kickoff, may have been a bit discombobulated with an imported coach from Arizona who took over just a couple of weeks ago, but the Vaqueros would’ve been a menace to most county teams on this night given their performance in winning their fourth-straight game, currently the East County’s longest winning streak including the recent spring season.

Senior Alex Fa’aea scores a touchdown for El Capitan in the first quarter. / Michelle Hames

Yokley teamed up with twin brother, Antwone, on two of the passing scores, including a 22-yard, one-handed catch with a defender draped on the receiver’s back with 1:48 left in the first quarter to take a 13-6 lead.

Savigon Yokley rushed for two touchdowns, including a 60-yard, first-play take-off down the right sideline on a keep that extended the lead to 21-6 after the QB called his own number on the two-point conversion.

But the piece de resistance may have been his 94-yard touchdown reception from junior QB Bruce Newland.

The savvy Savi easily outjumped his defender, who fell to the ground as he secured the high floater near the left numbers and then found himself with a lot of room to run down the middle of the field.

The score was his third touchdown of the night and put El Capitan ahead 46-6 with 1:35 left in the third quarter.

“(Savigon) was ready to come out tonight and throw and he delivered,” Antwone Yokley said. “The line did a good job giving him time to do his thing and the team made it happen.”

The starting quarterback also threw a second touchdown to his brother, a 35-yard connection in the third quarter, and he also rushed for a 12-yard score on a waggle in the second quarter to help account for the six touchdowns in all.

“We had a great game against a great team,” Savigon Yokley said. “We had a hard week of work and getting after it. We executed the plan and played our hearts out.”

Senior Alex Fa’aea scored on a 12-yard run just 1:45 into the game for the first score, but Serra, er, Canyon Hills answered with a 2-yard score with 5:20 to get in the first quarter by Aidan Adams, who apparently became the first Rattler to score for a school that has resided at the same location for 45 years.

Savi Yokley also accounted for 311 yards of total offense.

“I feel more comfortable in the pocket right now so look out,” Savi said. “We are something special this year.”

Sophomore Julian May caught the other touchdown pass, a 35-yarder with 54 seconds left in the first half, as El Cap took a 34- 6 lead into intermission after three second-quarter touchdowns.

May also had an interception, which included a 37-yard return and a pass breakup in the end zone. Sophomore linebacker Saxon Plasterer lived up to his name throughout the evening for El Cap.

“We have a lot to work on as we made a ton of mistakes but all are fixable on both sides of the ball,” said the scrupulous Burner.

The hosts conquered the brown-and-gold end zone a final time with 2:45 left in the game on Adams’ second rushing touchdown.

El Capitan hosts Hilltop on Thursday night (date change), trying to extend that winning streak to five games. The Lancers lost to Valhalla on Friday evening, 14-8, in El Cajon.

“We have to get back to practice one day sooner,” said Antwone Yokley, who finished with four receptions from his twin bro for 74 yards. “Time to focus on Hilltop and get prepared to go out and get another win. We’ve been working hard and doing what we need to do as a team to win games. We’re looking forward to keeping the streak going.”

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