The Chula Vista Spartans take a two-game winning streak into Friday’s San Diego Section Division IV first-round playoff game against the visiting Coronado Islanders.
The Spartans defeated west side archrival Sweetwater, 17-14, last Friday to conclude regular season play with a 6-4 record. Chula Vista finished second in the Metro-South Bay League standings with a 2-1 record.
“Our game against Sweetwater was reminiscent of some of the old school games in the ’80s and ’90s — it was a tough, ground-it out gut-check game for both teams, and one we are proud to have won,” CVHS first-year head coach Howard Bannister III said. “We have nothing but respect for Sweetwater coach (Bryan) Wagner and staff and what they are doing over there.”
Marty Sesma opened scoring in the game for Sweetwater on a one-yard touchdown run.
An interception return by Guillermo Gutierrez set up Chula Vista’s first touchdown of the game — an eight-yard run by Kajahan Duncan.
The two touchdowns offset one another for a 7-7 halftime deadlock.
The Spartans took a 10-7 lead on a 31-yard field goal by Isaac Gardner. But the visiting Red Devils had a surprise for the hosts when Raul Romero took a shovel pass to score from 21 yards out to give Sweetwater a 14-10 advantage on the scoreboard.
Duncan later scored on a five-yard run to provide Chula Vista with the comeback win in the longest-running rivalry game in the San Diego Section.
The Spartans have now won 13 of the last 15 meetings, though the Devils continue to lead the series 38-30-3.
Duncan carried the ball 22 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns. As a team, Chula Vista rushed 43 times for 216 yards.
Sesma rushed 19 times for 86 yards and one touchdown. SuHI quarterback Brandon Sweeney completed eight of 12 passing attempts for 109 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Romero had four catches for 81 yards in the loss.
Naseem Monroy and Gutierrez each recorded one interception while Ubaldo Nolasco and Darrian Guerra shared one sack.
The Spartans, seeded fifth in the Division IV field, recorded their first winning season since 2012. Bannister said he believes his team has the potential to go far in the playoffs.
“We believe we can be a sleeper team in Division IV,” Bannister said. “We believe we have what it takes to compete with anyone because of the competitive schedule we had this year. We play Coronado this week and expect a competitive game plan from Coronado coach Hines and staff. We will take it one week at a time.”
Chula Vista is averaging 214.1 rushing yards per game.
Duncan has rushed for 624 yards and scored seven rushing touchdowns this season while Victor Agraz has rushed for 547 yards and scored twice.
Eddie Barajas has rushed for 262 yards while Justin Cantwell has rushed for 242 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Cantwell and Nolasco each have three touchdown receptions.
On defense, Agraz has 70 tackles, Nolasco has 13 sacks and Duncan has two picks.
Duncan leads the team in scoring with eight touchdowns — seven rushing and one receiving.
Coronado (3-7) is led by quarterback Bryce Alexander, who has passed for 689 yards with five touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 291 yards and three rushing touchdowns. On defense, Cal Frank has six sacks.
San Diego Section Football Playoffs
OPEN DIVISION
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 17
(8) Grossmont (7-3) at (1) Mission Hills (10-0), 7 p.m.
(5) Torrey Pines (6-4) at (4) La Costa Canyon (7-3), 7 p.m.
(6) St. Augustine (7-3) at (3) San Marcos (8-2), 7 p.m.
(7) Madison (8-2) at (2) Helix (9-1), 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 24
Grossmont-Mission Hills winner vs. Torrey Pines-La Costa Canyon winner, 7 p.m.
St. Augustine-San Marcos winner vs. Madison-Helix winner, 7 p.m.
Championship game
Saturday, Dec. 2
Southwestern College
Teams TBA, 7 p.m.
DIVISION I
First Round
Thursday, Nov. 9
(11) Mt. Carmel (3-7) at (6) Cathedral Catholic (4-6), 7 p.m.
(10) Valhalla (2-8) at (7) Rancho Bernardo (5-5), 7 p.m.
Results:
Cathedral Catholic 63, Mt. Carmel 0
Rancho Bernardo 23, Valhalla 6
Friday, Nov. 10
(1) El Camino (5-5) bye
(9) Poway (3-7) at (8) Olympian (5-5), 7 p.m.
(12) Bonita Vista (0-10) at (5) Oceanside (4-6), 7 p.m.
Byes: (1) El Camino (5-5), (2) Eastlake (8-2), (3) Carlsbad (5-5), (4) Point Loma (6-4)
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 17
Poway-Olympian winner at El Camino
Bonita Vista-Oceanside winner at Point Loma
(6) Cathedral Catholic at (3) Carlsbad
(7) Rancho Bernardo at (2) Eastlake
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 24
Teams TBA, 7 p.m.
Championship game
Friday, Dec. 1
Southwestern College
Teams TBA, 7 p.m.
DIVISION II
First Round
Friday, Nov. 10
(9) Westview (6-4) vs. (8) Christian (8-2), 7 p.m.
(12) Vista (3-7) at (5) Lincoln (8-2), 7 p.m.
(11) West Hills (6-4) at (6) Granite Hills (8-2), 7 p.m.
(10) Mira Mesa (5-5) at (7) Steele Canyon (6-4), 7 p.m.
Byes: (1) Ramona (10-0) (2) Bishop’s (9-0), (3) Valley Center (9-1), (4) Otay Ranch (7-3)
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 17
Westview-Christian winner at (1) Ramona
Vista-Lincoln winner at (4) Otay Ranch
West Hills-Granite Hills winner at (3) Valley Center
Mira Mesa-Steele Canyon winner at (2) Bishop’s
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 24
Teams TBA, 7 p.m.
Championship game
Southwestern College
Saturday, Dec. 2
Teams TBA, 3:30 p.m.
DIVISION III
First Round
Friday, Nov. 10
(9) Mt. Miguel (4-6) at (8) Escondido (4-6), 7 p.m.
(12) Patrick Henry (3-7) at (5) Imperial (4-6), 7 p.m.
(11) Santana (4-6) at (6) Rancho Buena Vista (5-5), 7 p.m.
(10) Mar Vista (5-5) at (7) La Jolla (5-5), 7 p.m.
Byes: (1) El Centro Southwest (10-0), (2) Santa Fe Christian (6-4), (3) San Pasqual (6-4), (4) Hilltop (6-4)
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 17
Mt. Miguel-Escondido winner at (1) Southwest El Centro
Mar Vista-La Jolla winner at 92) Santa Fe Christian
Santana-Rancho Buena Vista winner at (3) San Pasqual
Patrick Henry-Imperial winner at (4) Hilltop
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 24
Teams TBA, 7 p.m.
Championship game
Saturday, Dec. 2
Southwestern College
Teams TBA, noon
DIVISION IV
First Round
Thursday, Nov. 9
(11) Calexico (2-8) at (6) Kearny (8-2), 7 p.m.
Result: Kearny 45, Calexico 6
Friday, Nov. 10
(9) El Cajon Valley (2-8) at (8) Serra (5-5), 7 p.m.
(12) Coronado (3-7) at (5) Chula Vista (6-4), 7 p.m.
(10) Clairemont (5-5) at (7) La Jolla Country Day (4-5), 7 p.m.
Byes: University City (9-1), (2) San Diego (10-0), (3) Central Union (9-1), (4) Monte Vista (5-5)
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 17
El Cajon Valley-Serra winner at University City, 7 p.m.
Coronado-Chula Vista winner at (4) Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
(6) Kearny at (3) Central Union, 7 p.m.
Clairemont-La Jolla Country Day winner at (2) San Diego, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 24
Teams TBA, 7 p.m.
Championship game
Friday, Dec. 1
Southwestern College
Teams TBA, 3:30 p.m.
DIVISION V
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 10
(8) Southwest (4-6) vs. (1) Vincent Memorial (8-2), 7 p.m.
(5) Maranatha Christian (6-3) vs. (4) Classical Academy (4-5) at Del Norte, 7 p.m.
(6) Tri-City Christian (5-5) at (3) Montgomery (7-3), 7 p.m.
(7) Army-Navy Academy (5-5) at (2) Crawford (6-4), 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 17
Southwest-Vincent Memorial winner vs. Maranatha Christian-Classical Academy winner, 7 p.m.
Tri-City Christian-Montgomery winner vs. Army-Navy Academy-Crawford winner, 7 p.m.
Championship game
Saturday, Nov. 25
Southwestern College
Teams TBA, 7 p.m.
