Moffatt rises to help Wolf Pack roll

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 5, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

No. 27 WEST HILLS 48, EL CAJON VALLEY 12

By East County Sports

SANTEE — Three weeks ago, Xavier Moffatt was playing junior varsity football. Friday night, the West Hills sophomore scored touchdowns on both sides of the ball to help the Wolf Pack take command of their varsity league opener.

Moffatt returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown and caught a 48-yard scoring pass from Evin Dill, helping West Hills defeat El Cajon Valley, 48-12, on Oct. 2.

Mike Ware intercepted two passes, returning one 86 yards for a touchdown, as West Hills built a 42-6 halftime lead. The Wolf Pack finished with four interceptions and seven sacks, repeatedly putting the Braves under pressure and turning defensive opportunities into points.

West Hills, No. 27 in the ECS Top 40 entering the game, improved to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the Grossmont Valley League. El Cajon Valley fell to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in league, ending a two-game winning streak.

The victory came a week after the Wolf Pack suffered their first defeat, a 40-33 loss to Grossmont. This time, West Hills established an early advantage and kept adding to it.

Rene Varela Ugalde supplied the opening touchdown with 4:01 remaining in the first quarter, taking a pitch around the left side. The extra point gave West Hills a 7-0 lead.

In the closing minute of the period, Dill took the snap and moved left before delivering an option pitch to Marcus Leath. Leath shook off a tackle and continued down the left side for a touchdown, helping give the Wolf Pack a 14-0 lead after one quarter.

Moffatt then delivered the first defensive score.

The 5-foot-7 sophomore stepped in front of the intended receiver, cut off the passing lane and raced 60 yards toward the end zone. He pumped his fist near the 10-yard line before completing the return, extending the advantage to 21-0.

The evening took a difficult turn for El Cajon Valley when senior Rashaunn Barr was injured following contact on a deep incompletion with 9:03 remaining in the second quarter. West Hills was penalized on the play, and the game was stopped while Barr received attention.

The Braves subsequently announced that Barr’s injury would keep him off the field.

El Cajon Valley reached the end zone with 8:53 remaining in the half. Sophomore quarterback TJ Ibrahimi connected with senior Amir Miller near the front of the end zone, and Miller finished the play for a touchdown.

The two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, leaving West Hills ahead 21-6.

An apparent El Cajon Valley interception on a subsequent possession did not stand after the play was blown dead and the down replayed. West Hills capitalized when Dill found Moffatt deep for a 48-yard touchdown with 6:18 remaining in the half.

Moffatt’s second score pushed the lead to 28-6.

Ware helped the Wolf Pack stretch the margin with two interceptions. His first return set up a 23-yard touchdown run by Varela Ugalde, who took a direct snap and carried the ball into the end zone for a 35-6 advantage.

On another Braves possession that reached the West Hills 26, Ware intercepted a pass deep in Wolf Pack territory and broke into the open field. His 86-yard touchdown return gave West Hills its second defensive score and the 42-6 lead it carried into halftime.

Junior Braylon Connell added a 2-yard touchdown run with 4:53 remaining. Connell also intercepted a pass and returned it 19 yards, joining Moffatt and Ware in a productive night for the West Hills secondary.

El Cajon Valley’s other touchdown came on the ground from senior Janvier Kashindi, who rushed for 108 yards on nine carries.

Varela Ugalde led West Hills with 54 rushing yards on six carries and two touchdowns. Leath gained 48 yards on two carries, including his first-quarter score.

Dill completed 5 of 8 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. Austin Finley added a 27-yard completion to Jackson Davis.

Miller led the Braves’ receivers with four catches for 83 yards and a touchdown, while Gavino Kendall-Pinal caught two passes for 40 yards.

Ibrahimi completed 7 of 22 passes for 127 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions. West Hills intercepted a fourth pass against the Braves’ other quarterback.

Zach Waters supplied much of the pressure, recording three sacks for 29 yards in losses. The Wolf Pack’s seven sacks accounted for 70 yards in losses, while their four interceptions produced 204 return yards.

The victory gave West Hills an opening league win heading into its annual Mayor’s Cup meeting with Santana.

Moffatt makes his mark

Moffatt needed only one reception and one interception to produce two touchdowns and 108 combined receiving and interception-return yards.

His defensive touchdown extended West Hills’ lead to 21-0. His scoring reception restored the Wolf Pack’s momentum after El Cajon Valley reached the end zone.

Head coach Casey Ash highlighted the sophomore’s rapid progress.

“Three weeks ago Xavier was a JV football player,” Ash said. “Now, he’s a game changer on the varsity on both sides of the ball.”

Moffatt also contributed four tackles, adding to a performance that helped West Hills rebound from its loss to Grossmont.

Pressure from every direction

Waters led the pass rush, but several teammates helped West Hills keep El Cajon Valley from settling into its passing game.

Seth Creech, Enzo Magnarelli and Alonzo Damian recorded one sack apiece. Carter Foley and Kolton Bursley shared another, completing the Wolf Pack’s seven-sack performance.

Waters, Damian and Landyn Antoine each made five tackles. Moffatt, Evan Garrett and Adan Torres added four apiece.

Ware’s two interceptions totaled 125 return yards, including his 86-yard touchdown. Moffatt added 60 return yards and Connell 19.

Ryan Hamilton recovered a fumble, while Creech was credited with a forced fumble.

Kashindi contributes throughout

Kashindi gave El Cajon Valley production on offense, defense and special teams.

Along with his 108 rushing yards and a touchdown, he returned five kickoffs for 97 yards, caught a pass for four yards and led the Braves with 10 tackles.

His 209 all-purpose yards were the game’s highest individual total.

Yousef Petros added eight tackles, including two for losses, while Kendall-Pinal made four stops.

Miller’s four receptions accounted for 83 of El Cajon Valley’s 127 passing yards. His touchdown catch helped the Braves answer West Hills’ initial scoring surge.

Braves stand behind Barr

Barr’s injury interrupted the second quarter and left El Cajon Valley without an experienced contributor on both sides of the ball.

In a subsequent team message, the Braves emphasized Barr’s dedication to the program and the support surrounding him during his recovery. The program said the injury would keep him off the field but did not announce a diagnosis or return timetable. It is possible that Barr’s season has ended.

Barr had contributed 68 receiving yards and an interception in El Cajon Valley’s previous victory at Castle Park.

Series and special teams

West Hills extended its winning streak against El Cajon Valley to 10 meetings and its unbeaten stretch in the series to 14 meetings.

The Braves’ most recent victory over the Wolf Pack came 42-21 in 2005. The unbeaten stretch includes a 24-24 tie in 2009.

Alex Koerner converted six of seven extra-point attempts, with one blocked. El Cajon Valley’s Jonathan Gonzalez was credited with the block.

Chuck Rosolino returned three punts for 11 yards.

Next: Mayor’s Cup matchup

WEST HILLS (5-1, 1-0) at SANTANA (4-2, 0-1)
Friday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. — Santana High

West Hills travels across Santee for the 38th meeting between the city rivals, carrying a 27-10 series advantage and three consecutive Mayor’s Cup victories.

The Wolf Pack won 10-7 last season, following victories of 38-21 in 2024 and 14-0 in 2023. Santana’s most recent victory came 10-3 in 2022.

Two of the last four meetings were decided by one score. That history gives both teams reason to put a premium on protecting possessions and finishing scoring opportunities.

West Hills arrives with a chance to improve to 2-0 in the Grossmont Valley League.

Santana is looking to rebound from a 19-7 loss to El Capitan and avoid an 0-2 league start.

The Sultans generated passing opportunities against the Vaqueros but struggled to turn them into points. Ethan Miller completed 23 of 43 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown, while Koko Thornton caught 11 passes for 104 yards.

Miller found Dillon Timanus for a 13-yard third-quarter touchdown that brought Santana within 12-7, but the Sultans could not complete the comeback.

Thornton’s production gives Santana a dependable target against a West Hills defense coming off four interceptions. The Wolf Pack will need sound coverage and tackling to keep those completions from extending drives.

Waters and the West Hills pass rush offer another challenge. Their ability to force hurried throws helped shape the El Cajon Valley game, and similar pressure could make Santana’s passing possessions more difficult.

For the Wolf Pack offense, Dill’s running and passing, Varela Ugalde’s direct-snap production and Leath’s work on the perimeter provide several ways to test the Sultans. Moffatt adds a receiving threat capable of changing a possession with one catch.

Santana has the opportunity to reclaim the Mayor’s Cup at home and pull both teams to 1-1 in league. West Hills can strengthen its early position in the Valley race while extending its hold on the trophy.

Next: Braves host high-powered Norsement

VALHALLA (4-2, 1-0) at EL CAJON VALLEY (2-4, 0-1)
Friday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. — El Cajon Valley High

El Cajon Valley returns home with productive players to build around as it prepares for a Valhalla team that opened league play with a victory.

Kashindi’s 108 rushing yards and Miller’s 83 receiving yards against West Hills give the Braves a foundation. Supporting Ibrahimi with the running game and protecting the football will help El Cajon Valley sustain more possessions.

Valhalla brings an offense led by quarterback Adrian Wilson, running back Jayden Hunter and receiver T’Marrion Williams.

Wilson is at 179 passing yards per game, Hunter at 90 rushing yards and Williams at 137 receiving yards. Their production gives the Norsemen several ways to move the ball and requires the Braves to remain disciplined against both the run and pass.

Kashindi and Petros will have important responsibilities against Hunter and the running game. Pressure on Wilson, supported by coverage that limits long gains, would help El Cajon Valley create opportunities to get its offense back onto the field.

For the Braves, Kashindi’s running can help create more favorable passing situations. Miller remains a productive target, while Kendall-Pinal gives Ibrahimi another option as the offense adjusts to Barr’s absence.

El Cajon Valley has already shown its ability to respond this season, winning consecutive games after an 0-3 start. Friday brings another opportunity to regroup at home and pursue its first Valley League victory.