Vaqueros, Braves win playoff openers
- Updated: November 4, 2023
2023 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
CIF SAN DIEGO SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS
FIRST ROUND
ECS staff report
DIVISION III
(9) EL CAPITAN (7-4) 30, at (8) PATRICK HENRY (5-6) 14
Brandt Barker had a 58-yard pass completion to G.T. Taylor for a touchdown with under two minutes to play in the first quarter.
Barker then threw a touchdown pass to Jonathan Biffle from 38 yards for another score near the end of the first quarter.
The Vaqueros extended the lead to 23-7 in the third quarter on a touchdown pass.
El Capitan scored a touchown early in the fourth quarter on a pass, to make it 30-7.
The Vaqueros got a safety 30 seconds into the game, then the Patriots scored a touchdown with 8:32 remaining in the first quarter.
Cody Cappelletti threw a -yard pass to Hamilton Collins for the touchdown for Henry.
Henry scored on a fourth quarter pass as Quino Bracamontes had the reception.
The Patriots haven’t defeated a Grossmont Conference opponent in the postseason since 2008. Meanwhile, the Vaqueros snapped a 7-game playoff losing streak to the city Cinference, last winning in 2006 over Cathedral Catholic, 52-28.
DIVISION V
(3) EL CAJON VALLEY (5-6) 49, (6) KEARNY (7-4) 6
ECV’s Paris Dixon a long touchdown catch an run to open the scoring.
The Komets answered with a bomb as Brodie Stump threw it way up in the air and Elijah Duffy brought it down for the touchdown.
ECV’s Darick Dubose snagged a bobbled ball out of the air and ran it back for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Massih Ehsan, a senior, scored a rushing touchdown in the second quarter with 3:41 remaining before halftime.
Dubose had another interception early in the third quarter quarter on the opening possession by the Komets.
El Cajon Valley extended the lead to 36-6 in in the third quarter with 2:15 left.
Dubose added a rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter giving El Cajon Valley a 43-6 lead with 10 minutes left.
El Cajon Valley will face Sweetwater, 44-20 winners over the Southwest Eagles, in the quarterfinals.
For ECVHS, the 49 points is the school’s most since registering 55 points in consecutive playoff victories over Orange Glen (6-26) and at top-ranked Castle Park (56-32) on their way to a berth in the CIF championship game against Oceanside at Qualcomm Stadium.
(4) HOOVER (7-4) 48, (5) MONTE VISTA (3-8) 41
Hoover scored a touchdown with a play to the left side in the second quarter.
Hoover led 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The Monarchs had a mild rally in the third quarter, pulling to within 34-27 with under a minute to play.
The Monarchs kept clawing back and trailed just 41-34 late.
But Hoover would respond quickly and in a big way to keep the margin at two touchdowns midway through the fourth quarter.
But back came the Monarchs, as they wouldn’t go down without a fight. They just ran out of time against the resilient Cards.
The composite 89 points is the most in a Monarchs playoff game since 2017, aschool-record 71-48 win over San Diego in the semifinals.
(1) VINCENT MEMORIAL (8-3) 42, (8) VALHALLA (3-8) 15
READ the story in The Imperial Valley Press
HOLTVILLE – We know the Norsemen went to Olive Garden before taking the bus trip to face the Scots, but that was the highlight as the Norsemen trailed by four touchdowns at halftime.
The Norsemen did crack the scoreboard in the third quarter with a touchdown on a run from seven yards by quarterback Braxton Estes.
The setback was Valhalla’s largest since 2008, when Orange Nation fell to state-ranked Cathedral Catholic, 49-13, in the section finale at Qualcomm Stadium.
DIVISION II
(8) OCEANSIDE (7-4) 28, (9) STEELE CANYON (5-6) 0
And nearly as advertised, the game was nearly scoreless at halftime but the Pirates scored a touchdown with 1:15 left in the first half.
The Pirates scored their second touchdown in the third quarter.
Oceanside extended the lead to three touchdowns in the third quarter on a touchdown in the fourth quarter, then moments later, tacked on their fourth score of the game and second within a matter of minutes with 5:46 to go in the game when David Daniels scored.
Senior Michael Lindley scored on a 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the Cougars.
Since winning the CIF state championship in their division in 3027, the Cougars are 1-5 in postseason play, including five straight losses.
