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Vaqueros top Barons for another victory
- Updated: September 15, 2025
El Capitan senior Logan Dulyea. / Rob Riingen
2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
EL CAPITAN 21, BONITA VISTA 7
EastCountySports.com staff report
LAKESIDE – Just two weeks after opening the season without scoring a single point in their first two contests of the season, the El Capitan Vaqueros have suddenly found their stride.
On Friday night, they put together their second straight victory with a 21-7 win over visiting Bonita Vista, evening their record at 2-2 and building momentum heading into Grossmont Conference play.
Bonita Vista (0-4) grabbed an early lead in the first quarter when a tipped pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Cole Margetts, who went 59 yards to the end zone for a 7-0 Barons advantage.
That proved to be the only offense the visitors could muster, as El Capitan’s defense completely shut down the Barons the rest of the way, limiting them to minus-8 yards rushing, just 15 yards passing, and negative total yardage overall.
“The defense held them to negative yards total offense,” El Capitan defensive coordinator Shaun McDade said. “Bruin Ford, Bryce Banegas, Todd Carter, and Spencer Chastang had a great defensive game.”
The Vaqueros pulled even late in the second quarter when sophomore running back Michael Castillo took a draw play up the middle for a 49-yard touchdown, tying the score at 7-7 with 4:14 left before halftime. Castillo finished with 96 yards rushing on 13 carries and added a 28-yard kickoff return to push his all-purpose total to 124 yards.
After halftime, El Capitan’s offense broke the tie for good.
Sophomore quarterback Hayden Passanisi, who was efficient throughout the night, connected with senior receiver Logan Dulyea for a 35-yard touchdown strike in the third quarter. Passanisi finished 9-of-15 passing for 122 yards, with Dulyea leading the receiving corps with three catches for 56 yards.
The Vaqueros added a clinching score in the fourth quarter when sophomore Landon Bond pounced on a loose ball in the end zone for a fumble recovery touchdown, sealing the 21-7 victory.
On defense, El Capitan collected two sacks, six tackles for loss, and an interception by senior Lincoln Walker. Ford and senior Matthew Eckis recorded sacks, while Banegas, Carter, and Chastang combined for 19 total tackles.
Senior kicker Ryder Powers was perfect on three PATs and also contributed two tackles on defense.
The Vaqueros’ offensive totals reflected steady balance, with 145 yards on the ground and 122 through the air. Junior Braiden Linder added two receptions for 44 yards, while juniors Michael Valencia and Daunte Painter combined for 46 rushing yards.
The victory marked a dramatic turnaround for El Capitan, which had been shut out in its first two games of the season.
After last week’s 14-6 breakthrough win over Chula Vista, the Vaqueros have now stacked consecutive victories and carry confidence into next week’s Grossmont Conference showdown.
El Capitan will host Monte Vista, a familiar rival. The Vaqueros edged the Monarchs for the Grossmont Valley League championship last season before moving up this year into the Grossmont Hills League.
Kickoff against Monte Vista is set for Friday night in Lakeside.
