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Vaqueros end score drought in first win
- Updated: September 8, 2025
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2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
EL CAPITAN 17, CHULA VISTA 14
EastCountySports.com
LAKESIDE – For two weeks, the El Capitan Vaqueros were left searching for points. On Friday night, they finally found them – and a win to go with it.
El Capitan snapped a rare scoreless drought and edged Chula Vista, 17-14, in Lakeside to secure its first victory of the season.
The Vaqueros (1-2) had been shut out in consecutive games to start the year – something that hadn’t happened to the program in nearly half a century.
The last time El Cap failed to score in back-to-back contests came in 2014, and the last time they opened a season with consecutive shutouts was 1975, when that year’s squad went the first four weeks without a point.
This time, sophomore Michael Castillo made sure history didn’t repeat itself.
Castillo carried the ball 16 times for 106 yards, including a touchdown that put El Capitan on the scoreboard for the first time this fall.
Sophomore quarterback Hayden Passanisi added balance in the passing game, completing 7-of-12 passes for 105 yards. He found senior Logan Dulyea for a touchdown strike, giving the Vaqueros their first passing score of the season. Dulyea finished with two catches for 47 yards.
The decisive points came from junior kicker Ryder Powers, who drilled a 32-yard field goal and was perfect on two PAT attempts, accounting for five points in a game ultimately decided by three.
Chula Vista (1-2) answered behind senior Isaiah Heard, who produced both of the Spartans’ touchdowns.
Heard rushed for one score and also hauled in a 72-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jose De la Cruz.
De la Cruz passed for 187 yards on 7-of-21 attempts, with one touchdown and one interception. Junior Gabriel Ruiz was the top target, pulling in four receptions for 97 yards.
El Capitan’s defense, which had kept the team in games despite the early offensive struggles, once again played a central role.
Senior Brewin Ford led the unit with 13 tackles, four tackles for loss, and a sack, while senior Spencer Chastang added 12 tackles and two pass breakups.
In all, the Vaqueros collected four sacks and 12 tackles for loss, with Powers also grabbing an interception from the secondary.
Chula Vista countered defensively with strong efforts from Darrion Frisson and E. Richardson, who each recorded 11 tackles. Richardson also posted a sack, while sophomore Cesar Ceja had another.
The Spartans defeated El Capitan 35-21 in Lakeside last season.
For the Vaqueros, the win was more than just a mark in the standings. It was a reset after an opening stretch that threatened to mirror one of the program’s most frustrating historical starts.
El Capitan will host winless Bonita Vista next Friday.
