Which team will step forward in Metro-South Bay League title chase?

Chula Vistaâ??s Francisco Escobar is thumbs up about the Spartansâ?? season. Photo by Phillip Brents

The Hilltop Lancers delighted their homecoming crowd last Friday at Southwestern College with an early 10-0 lead. But Hilltop fans went home disappointed after the visiting Granite Hills Eagles rallied to record a 34-20 win in the non-league matchup.

The Lancers fell to 3-4 in advance of Friday’s Metro-South Bay League opener at Chula Vista High School. Friday’s game will double as the Spartans homecoming game and this year’s Chula Vista Kiwanis Bowl game.

Hilltop will have a chance to play the spoiler’s role this week.

“We are very excited to start league play Friday against Chula Vista in the Kiwanis Bowl,” HHS head coach Andrew Westling said. “Coach (Howard) Bannister and their coaching staff are doing a great job. It should be very well attended and exciting to watch. Both teams have played a difficult schedule to prepare for league play.”

The Lancers built their early lead on a 28-yard field goal by David Delgado and a one-yard touchdown run by Jeremiah Rivera. Rivera’s TD was set up by a fumble recovery by Hilltop.

Granite Hills (5-2) ended the first half with a pair of touchdowns — a 33-yard run by Keyvon Martin and a nine-yard run by Eagles quarterback Jacob Siegfried. Between those two scores, Delgado added another field goal to enable the Lancers to carry a 13-12 lead into halftime.

Hilltop scored one touchdown in the second half to add to its point total but Granite Hills followed the halftime break with its own fireworks display in the form of three touchdowns to run past the hosts.

The Eagles out-scored the Lancers 22-7 in the second half.

Granite Hills took control of the game on the scoreboard with a 14-0 scoring edge in the third quarter to lead 26-13.
The Eagles continued their offensive onslaught in the second half as Martin scored a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to extend the lead.

Hilltop’s Max Ugarte broke the scoring dearth in the game for the hosts but Granite Hills wasn’t finished with the scoring as Gideon Alaba returned a blocked 30-yard field goal attempt for a touchdown.

The visitors tacked on a successful two-point conversion.

Martin finished with two touchdowns in the game for Granite Hills.

Rivera was a workhorse in the backfield with 28 carries for 161 yards. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry. His longest run from scrimmage measured 41 yards.

Hilltop rushed for 190 yards and added 82 passing yards on the arm of quarterback Daniel McPherren. Gus Ferreira caught a 52-yard pass to account for a big chunk of that passing total.

Rivera led the team with 168 total yards.

Max Ugarte hauled in one interception while Tony Meza, Rafael Gama and Marcos Deanda each made fumble recoveries. Noe Sanchez caused one fumble to further buttress the defense.

Both teams had touble holding onto the football.

Chula Vista Kiwanis Bowl  XVI: Lancers looking for three in a row

Date: Friday, Oct. 20
Where: Chula Vista High School
When: 7 p.m. kickoff
Series: Chula Vista leads the rivalry series 10-5, though Hilltop won last year’s game, 38-16, to record back-to-back wins for the first time in the event’s previous 15-year history.

Game Preview

Friday’s 16th annual matchup looks about as even as it’s ever been between the teams, and there is no clear favorite.
The host Spartans are 4-3 on the season while the Lancers are 3-4. Chula Vista enters Friday’s game following a bye to rest and recover from injuries. Hilltop is coming off a 34-20 non-league loss last Friday to Granite Hills.

On the season, Hilltop quarterback Daniel McPherren has thrown for 744 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s also rushed for three scores.

Jeremiah Rivera has rushed for 708 yards and six touchdowns while Max Ugarte leads the team’s receivers with 255 yards and two TDs.

Brandon Marsetti tops Hilltop with three interceptions while David Corona has three sacks.

Chula Vista quarterback Darrion Hamilton has thrown for 286 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions and also rushed for 245 yards and four touchdowns.

The Spartans have found success via the ground game. Senior Victor Agraz leads the team with 404 rushing yards and has scored two touchdowns while sophomore teammate Kajahan Duncan has rushed for 369 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Overall, Chula Vista is averaging 220 rushing yards per game.

Seniors Justin Cantwell and Ublado Nolasco each have two receiving touchdowns. Nolasco (6-3, 220) is a huge target when he comes off the line.

Nolasco is also a big play-maker on defense with 10.5 sacks.

Prep Football Scoreboard
Friday, Oct. 13
Metro-Mesa League

Otay Ranch 35, Olympian 23
Mater Dei Catholic 21, Bonita Vista 0

Non-League
Mar Vista 41, Southwest 8
Montgomery 43, Francis Parker 19
Granite Hills 34, Hilltop 20

Eight Man
Julian 46, Ocean View Christian Academy 0
Horizon Prep 44, Victory Christian Acadmey 34

Saturday, Oct. 14
Non-League

Vincent Memorial 36, Sweetwater 26

Friday, Oct. 20
Metro-Mesa League

Mater Dei Catholic at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
Otay Ranch vs. Bonita Vista at Southwestern College, 7 p.m.

Metro-South Bay League
Mar Vista at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
Hilltop at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.

Metro-Pacific League
San Ysidro at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
Southwest at Montgomery, 7 p.m.

San Diego Section
Playoff Tracker
Division I

Eastlake Titans 5-2
Olympian Eagles 4-4
Bonita Vista Barons 0-8

Division II
Otay Ranch Mustangs 5-3
Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders 4-3

Division III
Mar Vista Mariners 5-2
Hilltop Lancers 3-4

Division IV
Chula Vista Spartans 4-3
Sweetwater Red Devils 3-4
Castle Park Trojans 0-7

Division V
Montgomery Aztecs 4-3
San Ysidro Cougars 3-4
Southwest Raiders 2-5

Eight-Man
Victory Christian Academy 2-3
Ocean View Christian Academy 3-3

San Diego Section
Unbeaten Teams

Division I
Mission Hills Grizzlies 7-0

Division II
Ramona Bulldogs 7-0
Bishop’s Knights 6-0

Division III
Southwest El Centro Eagles 7-0


Division IV

San Diego Cavers 7-0