Are Titans, Barons the two best teams in the Metro-Mesa League?

The Eastlake High School football team has won the last two Metro-Mesa League championships. Will the Titans make it three in a row in 2015?

If not, it’s going to take a very good team to unseat them.

“We look very good but we’ll be playing some young players and are replacing a lot of good seniors from last year,” EHS head coach Lee Price said. “We have one of the hardest schedules in the county and will be tested in every game.”

Price isn’t kidding about the Titans’ schedule this season. Eastlake hosts La Serna to kick off regular season play, then plays at El Toro. Next up on the slate are a slew of top 10 ranked teams in the San Diego Section: Helix, Madison, St. Augustine and Cathedral Catholic.

Eastlake likely belongs in there somewhere and the team’s opening five games will determine just where. The top eight teams in the section qualify for the elite Open Division playoffs. The Titans have been a regular participant in that playoff division since its formation three years ago.

Eastlake enters this season ranked seventh overall among San Diego County teams.

“We always strive to be in the Open Division and win CIF,” Price said.

The Titans finished 7-3 last season, including 4-0 in league, but dropped their opening game in the Open Division playoffs, 38-27, at fourth-seeded Mission Hills.

Eastlake will once again measure its success by its league finish. The Titans expect to be challenged this season by archrival  Bonita Vista while other teams in the league also expect to be competitive.

The Titans’ Oct. 9 game against Bonita Vista — the annual Battle for the Boot rivalry contest — could very well set the course for either team’s championship fortunes.

“We’re going to work hard to win league but the other teams in our league look very good and have a lot of talent,” Price said.

Top returners for Eastlake include senior quarterback/defensive back Izzack Morales, junior defensive back/running back Josh Olave, senior defensive end Nate Sweat, senior running back/defensive end Traylon Reed, senior offensive/defensive lineman Estevan Marron, senior linebacker/offensive lineman Buzz Akerlund and senior defensive back/receiver Milton Earls.

Sweat, a three-year starter and first team all-league selection in 2014, has recorded 25 sacks in the last two years, including 19 last season.

Olave, a fellow first team all-league pick last season, had four interceptions and one fumble recovery in 2014 while Reed, another three-year starter, collected 668 all-purpose yards last year while scoring seven touchdowns.

Morales, an all-league honorable mention selection, is yet another three-year starter. He threw for 434 yards and four touchdowns last season while rushing for 113 yards and two more scores. He looked especially sharp running plays in the team’s scrimmage contest at Grossmont on Aug. 20.

Meanwhile, Marron (6-3, 315) brings size to the line.

Impact newcomers include junior running back/linebacker Kaleb Dueitt, sophomore offensive/defensive lineman Billy Dunkle, sophomore linebacker/running back Ree Ree Tarrant, sophomore defensive back/receiver Christian Olave, junior defensive back/running back Micah Mendillo and sophomore defensive back/receive Micah Pietila-Wiggs.

A member of Eastlake Little League’s United States Little League World Series championship team in 2013, Pietila-Wiggs has established himself as an all-around athlete at EHS after making the school’s varsity baseball team last spring as a freshman.

“Read the press clippings,” Price said succinctly.

Reed, Sweat, Josh Olave and Dueitt all turned in strong performances for the Titans in the scrimmage contest.

“I liked the way our guys flew around and played hard,” Price said. “After looking at the film, we still need a lot of work, but that is what practice is for.”

Spreading the love

The absence of Dean Klaser, a first team all-league pick as a running back last season, looms huge for the Titans this season. Klaser contracted a rare form of cancer shortly after last season ended.

A football and baseball standout, he was unable to play this past spring for the school’s baseball team. His teammates dedicated their season to him and used his inspirational presence at games to advance all the way to the Division I championship game.

The EHS football team is dedicating Friday’s season opener against La Serna to Klaser.

“We will miss Dean a lot this year,” Price explained. “He was a two-way returning starter and has Division I college talent. He is still part of this team, and he will be an inspiration for us because of his strength and optimism. We are praying for his recovery and look forward to him getting back to school and athletics as soon as he can.”

BONITA VISTA LOOKING TO MOVE UP IN LEAGUE STANDINGS, MAKE AMENDS FOR PLAYOFF LOSS

The Bonita Vista Barons would like to forget the outcome of last year’s opening round playoff loss to the Morse Tigers. The Barons started off the game with a bang but sputtered offensively thereafter in dropping a 14-7 overtime decision to the upstart Tigers, who would advance as far as the Division III semifinals before finally ending their season.

There’s a lot to make amends for this season, and the Barons might just do that. The 2015 pigskin campaign could end with a league championship and run deep into postseason play.

Is Bonita Vista ready for the big stage?

“It’s time to walk the walk,” BVHS head coach Chris Thompson stated flatly.

The “walk” in 2015 will once again include one of the San Diego Section’s toughest schedules with the likes of section top 10-ranked teams Madison and Helix on the non-league ledger and Metro-Mesa League rival Eastlake also on tap.

Bonita Vista finished 3-1 in league play last season and, braced by 18 returning starters and impact transfers, appears to have experienced an upgrade during the offseason. Are the Barons ready to challenge Eastlake for the league title? If so, they’ll have to get past challenges from fellow league rivals Olympian, Otay Ranch and Chula Vista first.

Bonita Vista expects to have one of the top passing offenses in the county this season.

Quarterback Anthony Posada threw for 1,389 yards and 11 touchdowns last season as a sophomore to earn second team all-league honors. He’ll be improved with two years of varsity experience under his belt and has already set personal goals of reaching 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns this season.

That should be attainable as the Barons return their top four receiving targets from last season: Jake Rozar, Ethan Williams, Keenan Ellis and Will Kuheleloa.

Ellis and Williams are both deep threats. Ellis averaged 22.4 yards per catch while Williams averaged 15.4 yards per catch. Rozar averaged 13.1 yards per catch while Kuheleloa, a halfback, averaged 8.7 yards per catch.

Williams earned first team all-league honors in 2014.

The Barons’ ground game should also be potent with returners Chris Boguille and transfer Greg Bell handling chores in the backfield. Boguille rushed for 526 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns last season as a junior.

Bell, a senior, is among four BVHS players who are being touted as preseason NCAA Division I prospects. Bell (6-0, 195) averaged 7.6 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns last season with Eastlake while competing in the shadow of Titan stars Isaiah Strayhorn, Traylon Reed and Dean Klaser.

Bell has commanded instant respect with his new team.

“Our running game is going to be nasty,” explained Daniel Kemp, a second team all-league pick last season among defensive lineman. “Greg Bell is an animal when you see him in practice.”

Other Division I prospects besides Bell and Posada include defensive back Quentin Harrison and safety Atoa Fox. Both Harrison, formerly at Calvary Christian Academy, and Fox instantly command attention on the defensive side of the football.

Fox’s assets include his speed and field vision.  Those attributes help land him a spot on last year’s all-league first team honor roll.

Harrison was a one-man wrecking crew for the Royal Knights last season as a junior with 1,092 all-purpose yards (295 yards rushing, 464 yards receiving, 201 kick return yards and 123 interception return yards). He scored 12 total touchdowns last season while making five interceptions en route to being named to the All-CIF team for small schools.

Other top returners include all-league first team pick Gabe Melhorn (offensive/defensive line) and Kemp, both seniors.
Kemp, one of three returning defensive linemen, will anchor a talented defensive line while Melhorn will be counted on to provide senior leadership to a young offensive line.

They are joined by fellow returners Chris Rouston and Adrian Ramirez, both junior offensive linemen, senior defensive lineman Moli Faalogo, senior outside linebackers Tristan Schultz and Luis Penz, senior inside linebacker Aaron Diehl, junior free safety Lorenzo Perry and senior cornerback Travian Lanier.

Top newcomers include junior tight end/defensive end Alex Gutierrez, running back/cornerback Josh Godfrey, offensive lineman Samuel Tapia and defensive end Diego Torrez, all juniors, and sophomore offensive lineman Diego Vasquez.

Optimism is high among the Barons, particularly the BVHS head coach.

“We will be as deep in skill positions as anyone in the county,” Thompson said. “Bell and Boguille will form one of the top backfields in the county.”

“I think we’ve upgraded ourselves,” Posada said. “We only lost one returning starter on the offensive side of the ball. Our team strength is good. We’re a family and all work together.”

Mustangs seek to move up in Metro-Mesa League standings, prosper

While he was coaching softball at Eastlake High School, Lance  Christensen’s Lady Titans were perennial contenders for the Metro-Mesa League championship. There’s no reason that the Otay Ranch High School football team, which he is now coaching, cannot be as well.

Christensen forged a 5-6 record in his first year at the Otay Ranch helm last season. The Mustangs finished 1-3 in league play but qualified for the San Diego Section playoffs.

Otay Ranch ended the 2014 campaign with a 48-25 playoff loss to the Lincoln Hornets.

The team is looking to move up in the standings this year.

“We feel very good about the upcoming season,” Christensen explained. “We have a good number of returning skill players. This is my second year, so the kids understand the expectations of the coaches better, and the coaches are much more familiar with the players.”

Underclassmen were key contributors on last year’s team. Junior receiver Adrian Rodriguez earned first team all-league honors on offense while junior defensive back Sam Stephens was a first team all-league defensive pick.

Additionally, junior defensive back Sergio Ayon was a second team all-league selection on defense while junior Devin Lloyd was an honorable mention selection.

Rodriguez led the team with 42 catches for 788 yards and seven touchdowns and also paced the team with 902 all-purpose yards.

Stephens amassed five interceptions, four pass deflections and two rumble recoveries on defense. He was also a contributor on offense with 214 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

Ayon led the team with 77 tackles and three sacks. He  had two touchdowns — one rushing and one on a fumble return.

Other returners who will bring experience and cohesiveness to the team include quarterback Oscar Limon, free safety Tyshawn Cook, tight end/defensive lineman Ennovy Halton, strong safety Omar Soto offensive/defensive lineman Jankin Autele, offensive linemen Nico Flores and Oscar Aceves, defensive lineman/tight end Hector Gonzalez defensive lineman Alladin Delapa, quarterback/wide receiver Arturo Saenz and linebacker Eric Matos.

Impact newcomers include linebacker/running back Fenuki Kauvaka, linebacker Nick Sandoval, running back Fanu Autele, defensive/offensive lineman Manu Ta’a and tight end Alex King.

Otay Ranch will compete for a Division II playoff berth this season. If everything falls into place for the team, the Mustangs could be in line to host a first-round playoff game in November.

Olympian Eagles regrouping to take flight again

The Olympian Eagles are two years removed from being two-time Metro-Mesa League champions — the kingpins of the Metro Conference’s prep pigskin realm.

The Eagles finished 4-7 last season with a 35-14 first-round playoff loss at Mt. Carmel and will be looking to rebound this season.

There’s a lot of history to ponder.

Olympian finished 8-4 in 2013 and was 11-1 in 2012, 9-4 in 2011, 10-2 in 2010 and 11-1 in 2009. The Eagles posted three semifinal appearances during that span, reaching the Division III semifinals in 2012 and making Division IV semifinal appearances in both 2009 and 2010. Olympian finished runner-up to Cathedral Catholic in the 2011 San Diego Section Division III championship game.

The team experienced a run of four league titles from 2009 to 2012 — two in the Metro-Mesa League (2011-12), one in the Metro-Pacific League (2010) and one in the former South Bay League (2009).

Senior quarterback Garry Cannon and junior running back Noah Lacsina are the team’s top returning offensive leaders.
Cannon, a first team all-league pick in 2014, completed 50 of 131 passing attempts for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 704 yards and scored five touchdowns but threw eight interceptions.

Lacsina, a second team all-league selection last year, had 552 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns as a sophomore in 2014.

Returner starters include junior offensive lineman Dominic Gudino, senior offensive/defensive lineman Jerome Hoover, senior defensive lineman Israel DeLeon, junior defensive back Brandon Ridgels, senior linebacker Jorge Lazo and senior linebacker/tight end Antonio Riggens. Other top  returners include senior safety/receiver Collin Andrews and Paul Thompson, senior punter Raul Ayala, senior running back/defensive back Isaiah Leonguerrero, junior offensive/defensive lineman P.K. Sansano, senior running back Seth Calvert and junior kicker Ralphy Gomez.

Gudino (290), DeLeon (260), Hoover (250) and Sansano (220) all have good size on the line.

Gudino earned second team all-league honors in 2014 while Hoover and Ridgels were both an all-league honorable mention picks.

Top newcomers include senior running back/defensive back Adrian Samano, junior linebackers/running backs Andrew White and Brennan Vicente, junior defensive back Royce Casiano, junior running back Jakobi Dye and junior offensive lineman Jason Miller.

Head coach Paul Van Nostrand lists Cannon as the team’s top college recruit with interest being shown from Cal Poly, Montana and Western New Mexico.

Van Nostrand lists the Eagles’ top assets as speed and players coming up from a junior varsity team that finished 9-1 last season. He noted the team’s relative youth will be an area to build on.

Spartans retooling under new coach, seek solid foundation

The Chula Vista High School football team is under new direction this season, and new head coach Daryl Butterfield hopes to lead the Spartans into a new direction: a winning direction.

“The boys are working hard, I’m real proud of them,” Butterfield explained. “We’re doing a lot of technique work. We’re learning to hit, we’re learning to tdrive our feet, snap the ball and hand off the ball. We’re working hard.”

The 2015 edition of the Spartans is lean on top returners but not necessarily on talent.

Players being counted on to fill key roles this season include senior quarterback Emiliano Orozco, senior center Jesus Araujo, junior running backs Sergio Figueroa and Adrian Corona, wide receivers Timothy Wilkins and Cameron O’Neal, senior inside linebacker Gabriel McPherren and senior defensive end Jonathan Zamudio.

Chula Vista will be looking to improve on last season’s 2-8 finish.

“We’re going to run the ball and every now and then throw the ball,” Butterfield said. “Our bread and butter this year will be running the ball.”

The Spartans possess excellent size on the defensive line, which might hinder other teams running on them.

“We have good-size kids who are over six feet and our linebackers have some speed,” Butterfield said.

The new CVHS coach said the transition in head coaches has been smooth so far.

“We have a good coaching staff, a mix of veterans and young guys, and most importantly, a lot of ex-Spartans,” Butterfield said. “Our goal this year is to play one game at a time and expect to win … We’re going to be fine.”

Chula Vista hosted Mar Vista in a scrimmage contest last Friday. Butterfield said the two-team practice session went well.

“We got in 80 percent of our kids; they played hard and with discipline,” Butterfield said. “The season starts this Friday.”

San Diego Section
Preseason Rankings
(SD Sportscasters/Sportswriters Poll)

1. Helix Highlanders
2. Mission Hills Grizzlies
3. Cathedral Catholic Dons
4. St. Augustine Saints
5. Oceanside Pirates
6. Madison Warhawks
7. Eastlake Titans
8. El Capitan Vaqueros
9. Torrey Pines Falcons
10. Carlsbad Lancers
Others: San Marcos Knights, Rancho Bernardo Broncos, Christian Patriots, Ramona Bulldogs, Steele Canyon Cougars, Bonita Vista Barons, Valhalla Norsemen, El Camino Wildcats, La Costa Canyon Mavericks, Bishop’s Knights, Granite Hills Eagles

Week 1 schedule
Friday, Aug. 28
Hilltop at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
La Serna at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
Mt. Carmel at Olympian, 7 p.m.
Valhalla at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
Cardenas Federal Prep (Tijuana) at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
Bonita Vista vs. Vista at Southwestern College, 7 p.m.
Kearny at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
San Diego at Mar Vista, 7 p.m.
Chula Vista at Mt. Miguel, 7 p.m.
Southwest at Santana, 7 p.m.
Mater Dei Catholic at Valley Center, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29
Sweetwater at Santa Fe Christian, 2 p.m.