There are three games left in the regular season for the Otay Ranch High School football team. A quick look at the Metro-Mesa League standings has the Mustangs in a first-place tie with the Bonita Vista Barons.
Whether either team will still be unbeaten in league at the end of Week 11 remains to be seen. But for the moment, both remain the proverbial teams to beat.
The 2015 Metro-Mesa title, at least for the moment, goes through Otay Ranch and Bonita Vista.
Both teams picked up wins last Friday: The Mustangs defeated host Chula Vista, 34-14, in their league opener to improve to 4-3 on the season, while the Barons rolled past host Castle Park, 27-15, in a non-league game after edging defending league champion Eastlake, 28-23, the week before.
“I’m really excited about this football team,” Otay Ranch head coach Lance Christensen said following the win over the Spartans (0-2 in league play, 1-7 overall). “I think the kids have really taken ownership of the team. The team captains have taken a dedicated leadership role on the team.”
The Mustangs’ four team captains include senior running back Sam Stephens, senior receiver Adrian Rodriguez, senior defensive specialist Janken Autele and senior linebacker/fullback Sergio Ayon.
Rodriguez caught scoring passes of 19 and 29 yards to help Otay Ranch race out to a 34-0 lead to dampen Chula Vista’s 69th homecoming celebration. Fenuki Kauvaka scored one rushing touchdown while quarterback Oscar Limon scored on a sneak and Juan Martinez scored on an interception return.
The Mustangs led 13-0 at the end of the opening quarter and 28-0 at halftime before the Spartans scored two touchdowns —both by Adrian Corona — after the visitors had begun to liberally substitute players in and out of their lineup after moving ahead by 34 points.
Otay Ranch defenders collected three picks in the game; the Mustang varsity unit held the hosts to 36 total yards in offense through the opening three quarters.
Corona spoiled Otay Ranch’s shutout bid on a 61-yard touchdown run with 5:59 left in the fourth quarter; Corona scored from the seven-yard line with 34 seconds remaining in the game.
The Mustangs host Eastlake (1-1 in league, 3-5 overall) in their next game, likely the biggest of the season for both teams as they battle for supremacy in the league standings. The Titans rolled past visiting Olympian, 42-7, last Friday after being stung the previous week by Bonita Vista.
Both teams are looking for top tier seeds in the upcoming San Diego Section playoffs. Otay Ranch remains fourth in the Division II power rankings while Eastlake has moved up to No. 5 in the Division I power rankings.
“I think the most notable thing about this team (the Mustangs) is their focus at practice,” Christensen said. “They exhibit purpose and discipline in practice and I think that leads to a much greater chance of success on Friday nights.”
On the season, Limon has passed for 902 yards with nine touchdowns and six picks for a 114.6 quarterback rating. Rodriguez has caught 16 passes for 446 and six touchdowns while Stephens leads the Mustangs with 632 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Rodriguez paces Otay Ranch with eight touchdowns, including one rushing and one touchdown on a punt return.
Nick Sandoval leads Otay Ranch with 62 total tackles, followed by Ayon with 53.
Metro-Mesa co-leader
Bonita Vista (1-0 in league, 5-2 overall) plays at Olympian (1-1 in league, 5-2 overall) in its next game. Both teams have much to play for besides a shot at the league title. The Barons have moved up to No. 1 in the Division III power rankings while the loss to Eastlake dropped the Eagles to seventh in the Division I power rankings.
The Barons overcame an early 7-0 deficit to prevail in last Friday’s win over Castle Park. The visitors scored 17 points in the second quarter and added 10 more in the third quarter to build a 27-7 advantage on the scoreboard.
Quarterback Anthony Posada enjoyed one of his better performances this season by passing for 212 yards and one touchdown while Greg Bell rushed for 70 yards and scored one TD. Quentin Harrison caught four passes for 139 yards, including one touchdown.
Jake Rozar also scored on a 51-yard interception return while Matt Michaud kicked two field goals and tacked on two PAT conversions for eight kicking points on the night.
Chris Boguille and Trevian Lanier led the Barons with five tackles apiece while Josh Godfrey, Daniel Kemp and Gabe Melhorn each combined for sacks.
Bell leads Bonita Vista with 956 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns, including 12 rushing TDs.
Metro-Mesa League Standings
(Through oct. 16)
Bonita Vista Barons 1-0, 5-2
Otay Ranch Mustangs 1-0, 4-3
Eastlake Titans 1-1, 3-5
Olympian Eagles 1-1, 5-2
Chula Vista Spartans 0-2, 1-7
Prep Scoreboard
Friday, Oct. 16
Metro-Mesa League
Otay Ranch 34, Chula Vista 14
Eastlake 42, Olympian 7
Non-League
Bonita Vista 27, Castle Park 15
Mar Vista 55, Southwest 8
Mater Dei Catholic 45, Montogmery 0
Hilltop 28, Lincoln 19
EIGHT-MAN
Citrus League
Friday, Oct. 16
Ocean View Christian Academy 2, Warner Springs 0 (forfeit)
Ocean League
Saturday, Oct. 17
Chula Vista Calvary Christian Academy 52, San Diego Jewish Academy 21
