El Cap’s Benitez steps in, Powers picks off

By Ramon Scott
Updated: August 29, 2026

Dominic Megginson (26) wraps up a Chula Vista ball carries as Ethan Soule closes in.

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

EL CAPITAN 14, CHULA VISTA 9

By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com

CHULA VISTA — El Capitan lost the player who had carried its offense on the first play Friday night.

The Vaqueros still found a way to carry home their first victory.

Junior Santiago Benitez rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns after Michael Castillo was injured on the opening snap, and El Capitan’s defense intercepted three passes in a 14-9 nonleague victory over Chula Vista.

Castillo entered the game after rushing for 169 yards and two touchdowns in El Capitan’s season-opening loss at Pearl City. He gained seven yards on his first carry Friday but was injured on the play, abruptly forcing the Vaqueros to change their plans.

Benitez responded to the unexpected assignment with 15 carries for 93 yards, an average of 6.2 yards per attempt, and scored both El Capitan touchdowns.

The junior had not recorded a carry in the opener, but he became the central figure in an offense that needed his production immediately after Castillo went down.

Junior Drake Alduenda added 42 yards on eight carries, helping the Vaqueros finish with 143 rushing yards. Benitez and Alduenda combined for 135 yards on 23 attempts as El Capitan relied heavily on its running game.

The Vaqueros generated only 38 yards through the air, completing two of five passes while using junior Hayden Passanisi and sophomore Daniel Montijo at quarterback.

Both completions went to junior Cota Lachappa, who finished with 38 receiving yards. Passanisi completed a 20-yard pass, while Montijo supplied an 18-yard completion.

Chula Vista’s defense consistently pressured the El Capitan quarterbacks and was credited with seven sacks and eight tackles for loss. Still, the Vaqueros avoided throwing an interception and produced enough offense to capitalize on a dominating defensive performance of their own.

El Capitan held Chula Vista to 24 rushing yards on 21 attempts, an average of just 1.1 yards per carry. The Spartans finished with 185 total yards and committed four turnovers, including three interceptions.

Senior Ryder Powers delivered two interceptions, returning them for a combined 53 yards, and also made 10 tackles. Powers completed his all-around performance by converting both extra points.

Sophomore Robinson Silva led El Capitan with 13 tackles and added the Vaqueros’ third interception. Senior Ethan Soule recorded five tackles, including two for loss, while senior Dominic Megginson made five stops with one tackle for loss.

Junior Diego Jones also had a tackle for loss, and senior Kash Ludlum added another as the Vaqueros controlled the line of scrimmage whenever Chula Vista attempted to run.

Spartans quarterback Isaiah Orta completed 9 of 26 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Senior Jaylen Clark caught four passes for 88 yards and scored Chula Vista’s touchdown, while Gabriel Ruiz added three receptions for 59 yards.

Chula Vista’s nine points included a touchdown, an extra point and a safety, but the Spartans never generated enough sustained offense to overcome El Capitan’s two rushing scores.

The victory brought El Capitan back to 1-1 after its 28-21 loss in Hawaii and gave the Vaqueros a successful conclusion to an unusual opening stretch consisting of consecutive road games.

BENITEZ APPEARS TO BE NEXT MAN UP

When Michael Castillo was injured on the game’s opening play, El Capitan lost the runner who had accounted for 174 of its 225 yards from scrimmage in the season opener at Pearl City.

Junior Santiago Benitez was thrust into the primary role and responded with 15 carries for 93 yards and both El Capitan touchdowns.

Benitez averaged 6.2 yards per carry, while junior Drake Alduenda added 42 yards on eight attempts. Together, they produced 135 of the Vaqueros’ 143 rushing yards.

WILDCAT CANYON ROAD MATCHUP RETURNS

El Capitan now returns to Lakeside for its home opener against Ramona (0-2) on Friday in the renewal of the Wildcat Canyon Road matchup.

Ramona leads the recorded series 5-3. The teams met eight times between 1993 and 2010, with El Capitan winning in 1994, 2005 and 2006.

Ramona has won the last four meetings, including a 42-21 victory in 2010, but the schools have not faced one another in 16 years.

The Bulldogs will arrive searching for their first victory after an 0-2 start. The Vaqueros will bring a defense that just produced three interceptions and permitted only 24 rushing yards, along with a newly discovered option in Benitez if Castillo remains unavailable.

WILDCAT CANYON SERIES

Year	Result for El Capitan
1993	Lost 34-31 at Ramona
1994	Won 21-7
2005	Won 19-14 at Ramona
2006	Won 30-14
2007	Lost 49-21 at Ramona
2008	Lost 35-7
2009	Lost 9-0 at Ramona
2010	Lost 42-21

Recorded series: Ramona leads, 5-3
Current streak: Ramona has won four straight
Last meeting: Ramona 42, El Capitan 21 (2010)
Friday’s game: Ramona at El Capitan, 7 p.m.