Braves show flash, dash with Gordon
- Updated: September 12, 2021
El Cajon Valley during a time out on Friday night. / Dave Dickens
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
EL CAJON VALLEY 41, CLAIREMONT 12
EastCountySports.com staff report
EL CAJON – El Cajon Valley junior running back Kal-El Gordon rushed for 230 yards and scored three touchdowns and the Braves put all their resources on display in a 41-12 win over visiting Clairemont in a non-league game at Priest Field on Friday night.
The Braves finished with over 400 yards in total offense, including 101 yards passing from senior quarterback Daniel Jacobs, who passed for three touchdowns on just four completions on the night, all to underclassmen.
Sophomore Paris Dixon had a 25-yard touchdown reception to open the scoring after the Braves recovered a fumble on the first series, while Gordon, a junior, had a 27-yard scoring catch.
Sophomore Shane Hopson caught a 4-yard score which made the score 28-6 in the first half.
Dixon had had a pair of interceptions, ss the Braves defense was swarming in the first half against Clairemont (0-4), the section’s lowest-rated team.
El Cajon Valley (1-3) had six takeaways in all as Gordon, Damarrion White, Luis Hernandez, and Enrique Hernandez all recovered fumbles.
White’s fumbled led to a 16-yard score by Gordon.
After the Braves scored their first touchdown, they went for an onside kick and recovered it, and then scored on the ensuing drive for a quick two-touchdown lead when Jaheim Mendenhall went in from a yard out.
The Chieftains stayed in the game early thanks to a long pass and subsequent touchdown run to trail 14-6.
Gordon had a 7-yard touchdown run to put the Braves back up two scores.
White had four tackles, including two for loss.
Senior Ruben Cosio had four tackles, a 45-yard reception, and kicked 5-of-6 PATs.
Gordon gave the credit to the Braves’ blockers, including sophomore Christian Preciado, senior Jesse Higuera, and senior Enrique Hernandez.
“I always tell my players week in and week out it’s not about the scoreboard but how they react, even in winning,” El Cajon Valley head coach Nick Osborn said. “I always tell them you can’t just show up on Friday to play, you have to show up Monday for practice and continue through the week. The difference tonight is we executed.”
El Cajon Valley will have to pull out all the stops next Friday night when its hosts the El Capitan Vaqueros (3-1).
