East on long side of playoff scoreboard
- Updated: November 13, 2021
Santana and Mt. Carmel in playoff action on Friday. / Ken Todd
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
The successful seasons of the front-running Grossmont Valley League teams came to a screeching halt on Friday night in the CIF quarterfinals.
The clubs had tremendous campaigns but were little match for higher-seeded clubs once they hit the road.
In fact, all six East County clubs lost road playoff games.
West Hills head coach Casey Ash during a ceremony on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
RAMONA 51, WEST HILLS 0 — While it could’ve been contended that the playoff rating system didn’t do the previously unbeaten Wolf Pack any favors, it would be hard to think that the home field could’ve swung the scales on the Bulldogs’ massive Division III victory.
The Wolf Pack didn’t make many mistakes in their historic run but had a season-high in turnovers against the Bulldogs.
West Hills (11-1) rushed for 68 yards and passed for 45 yards.
Max Conaway had four receptions for 37 yards.
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Junior Rye Schultz had an interception for the Wolf Pack.
Ramona (8-3) will meet Mt. Carmel in the Division III semifinals.
West Hills head coach Casey Ash was named the San Diego Chargers’ San Diego County Coach of the Year for the 2021 season.
Coach Ash was honored, along with other selected coaches from the region, were honored before the Chargers’ home game last Sunday.
“Ramona was better than we were,” said the coach. “We have nothing to hang our heads about. It was a tremendously rewarding season for all and will be remembered fondly.
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MATER DEI CATHOLIC 55, EL CAPITAN 0 — Mater Dei Catholic proved its historic might against the visiting Vaqueros in a D3 quarterfinal.
The Crusaders’ 55-0 victory caught many by surprise. Not by the fact that Mater Dei won, but by such a decisive margin.
MDC (9-0) led 41-0 at halftime, holding El Capitan to three-and-out on its first three possessions of the game.
El Capitan (9-3) finished with its best record in seven years and a team that will be remembered for several, if not many, years to come.
“(Mater Dei Catholic) belongs in D1 with the athletes that they have,” El Capitan head coach Ron Burner said. “It was a great season for us and a lot of fun.”
A Santana player comes down with the ball on Friday against Mt. Carmel. / Ken Todd
MT. CARMEL 34, SANTANA 10 — Top-Seeded Mt. Carmel controlled its San Diego CIF Division III quarterfinal with the visiting Sultans from start to finish.
Mt. Carmel (10-1) is having quite a historic season led by Fresno State-bound Jayden Virgin, who scored the first three touchdowns of the game.
The Sultans’ Logan Jordan had a memorable night despite the loss.
Jorden had four sacks and finished with nine tackles.
Santana (8-3) scored a touchdown in the final seconds of the game, as Jorden also caught a 37-yard pass from Alex Rico for a touchdown.
Rico, a sophomore, passed for 100 yards.
Dylan Anderson had a team-high three pass receptions for the Sultans.
Junior Landon Bailey had six solo tackles and three assists for Santana.
The Sultans led 3-0 after a 21-yard field goal Jackson Scott with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Sultans fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half and Mt. Carmel turned it into a scoring drive.
“I was proud of how our guys played against the top team in the division,” Santana head coach Tim Estes said. “Our defense really stepped up and did a great job. I’d match our defense up with any of the teams in our division.”
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MIRA MESA 34, CHRISTIAN 16 — Mira Mesa (7-3) and Christian (6-5) were tied in the second quarter after the Patriots scored a touchdown.
Christian High trailed just 14-10 at halftime.
“We made too many mistakes and had costly penalties that hurt us,” Christian High head coach Dan Mitchell said. “Mira Mesa made plays on third and fourth down. They did the little things in the second half and that was the difference.”
The Patriots didn’t get the opportunity to compete with the Marauders for the Eastern League championship, as their regular season contest was canceled.
“Hats off to (Mira Mesa),” Mitchell added. “But more importantly, for our seniors, it was a pleasure coaching this team.”
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MISSION BAY 35 EL CAJON VALLEY 7 — The Braves’ Kal-el Gordon shredded the Buccaneers’ defense, rushing for 204 yards.
Bucs scored on the opening drive of the game in building a 28-0 lead before the Braves scored in the third quarter.
For El Cajon Valley, the season ended the way it started – with a loss to Mission Bay.
“Mission Bay could compete in (Division V) but there were many opportunities for us to score and make the play but we didn’t finish those opportunties,” El Cajon Valley head coach Nick Osborn said.”
Gordon, a junior, scored on a 7-yard run.
El Cajon Valley finished 3-9, but Gordon finished the season with 1,400 yards rushing. He scored 11 touchdowns on the season (9 rushing).
“Our linemen performnaed well on boths sides but we could not keep up with their air attack,” Osborn said. “I’d love another opportunity to play them. I’m proud of the boys for a well-played season. They continue to grow and amaze us in what they were able to overcome both as a team, and personally.”
Sophiomore Omar Jaimes led El Cajon Valley with six solo tackles, including two for loss.
Senior Ruben Cosio recovered a fumble for the Braves.
“We did things that our program hadn’t done in a long time,” Osborn added. “For that, I’m proud of both the players and coaches for all of the hard work they put in. It showed in what they were able to accomplish.”
