Wolf Pack, Vaqueros remain on course
- Updated: October 10, 2022
Alexander Grubbs grabs an interception for the Pack. / Vanilla Gorilla
2022 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
EastCountySports.com
SANTEE — The West Hills Wolf Pack and El Capitan Vaqueros remained on a collision course for the Grossmont Valley League championship on the season’s final night after the two clubs dispatched middle-rung contenders on Friday night.
The Wolf Pack defeated El Cajon Valley, which entered the game with just one league loss, so the Braves were playing at West Hills on its Homecoming in a game that was to be decisive in their season.
El Cajon Valley played a solid, disciplined game to give the Pack all they could handle, trailing just 14-7 late in the first half.
Meanwhile, the Vaqueros beat Mount Miguel by 20 points after trailing at 26-21 at halftime in Lakeside.
Santana has the only other realistic chance at possibly sharing the league title but both of the top two teams would have to suffer a loss and the Sultans would have to win out to force a co- or tri-championship.
The Sultans dispatched Monte Vista by overwhelming the Monarchs in the first half on Friday night.
West Hills 28, El Cajon Valley 15 — West Hills’ Nate Stevens scored two TDs – one receiving (8 yards) and one rushing (13 yards) – as the Wolf Pack improved to 5-2 (3-0 Grossmont Valley).
Vince Keller had a 42-yard TD run for the Pack, while Diego Calderon caught a 15-yard TD from Collin Dill with 24 seconds left in the first half to give West Hills a 21-7 lead.
Calderon rushed 14 times for 73 yards.
Dill was 7-for-10 passing for 92 yards. He also rushed nine times for 34 yards.
Dylan Smith and Alexander Grubbs each had an interception for the Pack.
West Hills senior Braden Wilson, the Grossmont Valley League’s reigning defensive player of the year, had a pair of sacks, then was named Homecoming King following the game.
Kal-el Gordon rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns for El Cajon Valley (3-5, 2-2 GVL).
El Capitan 49, Mount Miguel 29 — Chance LaChappa caught TD passes of 48, 63 and 10 yards from Brandt Barker, while Julian May rushed for TDs of 14 and 22 yards for El Capitan (5-2, 3-0 GVL).
It was another big night for the sophomore connection of Barker to LaChappa.
Barker also threw a 19-yard TD pass to Andrew Conyers.
Barker continues to improve each week and went 13-for-16 with 197 yards in this one.
Angel Diaz added a 5-yard TD run for El Cap.
Bruce Newland and J.D. Perrault each racked up a sack for the Vaqueros.
Michael Segovia forced a fumble, which was recovered by Alex Estrada for El Capitan.
Jeremiah Castillo caught TD passes of 20, 28, and 31 yards in the first half from Mattew Barton for Mount Miguel (3-5, 1-3 GVL), which led 26-21 at halftime.
Not to be outdone, the Matadors’ junior passing tandem of Castillo to Barton hooked up 13 times for 202 yards.
Chris Akridge caught a 24-yard TD pass from Barton.
Barton has passed for 10 touchdowns over the last two games.
Castillo also broke up a pair of passes on defense.
Santana 36, Monte Vista 7 — Santana’s win over Monte Vista gave Sultan head coach Tim Estes his 58th victory with the program, setting the school record for most wins, previously held by Dave Gross, who preceded Estes at the helm and who coached Estes as a player at Imperial High.
Linden Benson (114 yards, 15 carries) rushed for TDs of 10, 1, and 11 yards in the first half for Santana (3-5, 3-1 GVL), while teammates Landen Bailey (10 yards) and Nick Leger (1 yard) also added rushing TDs.
Isaiah Lloyd had two sacks, while teammate Logan Ellis blocked a punt and had a sack.
Michael Valenzuela and Trent Taylor had interceptions for the Sultans.
Da’Marcus Hill had a 22-yard TD run in the first half for the Monarchs.
All of the game’s points were scored in the first half.
Monte Vista fell to 1-6 (0-3 GVL).
No. 7 Granite Hills 41, Christian 3 — In the first-ever meeting between the El Cajon schools that both play their home games at Granite Hills’ Valley Stadium, Zak Darling had a 22-yard TD run on the first series of the game, while Max Turner added a 3-yard TD run on the Eagles’ second drive.
Parlan Sanders had a 54-yard keeper for Granite Hills (5-2), then Joaquin Thomas Jr. added a TD reception from Nico Tomasello.
Easton Peterson had a 59-yard interception return for a TD.
Robert Petrich kicked field goals of 32 and 36 yards.
Sanders and Tomasello combined to go 9-for-15 passing.
Josh Zander had a pair of receptions for 20 yards for the Eagles.
The Eagles averaged 10.6 yards per rush.
Thomas Jr. and Tyler Bertalan combined on a sack.
Montana State-bound end Hunter Provience booted a field goal on the last play of the game for Christian (3-4).
Mission Viejo 58, No. 5 Helix 27 — Kevin Allen scored three touchdowns in the first half and another in the second half for Helix (5-2).
Allen had a TD on a 29-yard screen pass from Ryland Jessee to give Helix a 7-0 lead 3:30 into the game. He added a 24-yard score in the second quarter to cut a Mission Viejo (6-1) lead to 14-13, while his third TD had the Highlanders up 20-14, although they trailed 28-20 at halftime.
A 6-yard TD by Allen from Jessee with 4:38 in the third quarter cut the Diablo lead to 38-27.
Jessee passed for 200 yards on 13-of-22 attempts with no interceptions.
Allen finished with 100 yards rushing on 18 carries. He caught four passes for 91 yards.
Helix’s Randy Evens Jr., a senior, had a breakout game with four receptions for 55 yards, including a 39-yard play.
Senior Quincy Herron had three receptions for 44 yards for the Scotties.
Kairo Kahananui had an interception and a sack for Helix. Jirah Savaiineaea also had a sack for the Scotties.
Mission Viejo senior Kadin Semonza was as advertised, passing for 325 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 54 yards and a score.
