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- ROUND UP: Wolf Pack Take Down Eastlake
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- It takes the Pack to sweep Scotties
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- DIII: Southwest Eagles soar to championship
- 2018 EAST COUNTY SOFTBALL Schedule / Scores / Standings
- DV: LIONS ROAR TO CHAMPIONSHIP
- Williams, Vaqueros sweep into D3 final
- D2: After walk-off thrill, Sultans slump
- DII: SULTANS HAVE MADDY, MADDY, MAD POWER IN PLAYOFF WIN
- DIII: Vaqueros end Scotties’ upset run
Valley champ El Cap shifts to Hills
- Updated: August 20, 2025
2025 El Capitan Vaqueros Football Preview
By EastCountySports.com staff
LAKESIDE – The current San Diego CIF Division 4 and Grossmont Valley League champion El Capitan Vaqueros return to the the Grossmont Hills League in 2025 with momentum, but also with one of the toughest challenges in program history.
Fresh off capturing the CIF San Diego Section Division 4 championship and winning a state playoff game, the reward for Ron Burner’s squad is a promotion into the Grossmont Conference’s power league, where every week will bring a playoff-caliber opponent.
Burner, now in his 21st season, brings back 12 starters from last year’s 11-4 team, including several All-League selections.
The Vaqueros’ offense will be headlined by returning All-Conference tight end Braiden Linder, a Division I prospect who doubles as a force on defense. At quarterback, sophomore Hayden Passanisi has made big strides in the offseason and is expected to take the reins, while junior captain Bryce Banegas, a two-way starter, provides steady leadership and depth under center.
The backfield is deep, with veteran Brody Copp and sophomore playmaker Michael Castillo, who has the speed to score from anywhere on the field. Freshman Robinson Silva adds another dimension to the running game. Out wide, the Vaqueros feature proven talent in Michael Valencia, who broke out last year, and Logan Dulyea, while All-League safety Spencer Chastang will add toughness and athleticism as a two-way contributor.
Up front, El Capitan has experience with Banegas and Manny Ramirez, joined by fellow returner Manny Martinez and newcomers Brody Cosgrove, Ethan Duncan, and Dylan Schmidt.
On defense, the Vaqueros boast one of the section’s premier linemen in Joshua Vasquez, a disruptive All-League standout. The linebacking corps is as steady as they come, with four experienced returners: Bruin Ford, Tod Carter, Lincoln Walker, and Banegas. In the secondary, Chastang anchors a ball-hawking group alongside junior Ryder Powers—who had multiple interceptions as a sophomore—plus the versatile Dulyea, Carter, and a wave of promising newcomers.
Despite their championship pedigree, the Vaqueros enter 2025 as underdogs in the Hills League, a step up in class that includes several of San Diego’s perennial powers. Still, Burner and defensive coordinator Shaun McDade believe the challenge will harden their group for another playoff run.
“There’s no doubt the competition will be tougher, and we may not be favored in any league game,” McDade said. “But our kids will be prepared each week, and they’ll leave everything on the field.”
With a young roster full of upside and a battle-tested core of leaders, the Vaqueros will be aiming to prove they belong in their new league—and to keep building a foundation for not only this season, but for years to come, no matter which league they are assigned to, and the competition likely to make them even tougher in a similar playoff assignment as last season.
