It might not have been the best game in the 21-year history of the Chula Vista Kiwanis Bowl series but the Sept. 1 matchup between the Hilltop Lancers and host Chula Vista Spartans certainly owned the most dramatic ending.
Hilltop senior quarterback Jorge Garcia hurdled a wall of defenders at the goal line to score the game-winning touchdown with a mere 12 seconds remaining in regulation play to allow the visitors to claim a 21-19 victory.
It was a sudden and electrifying comeback by the Lancers, who trailed 19-7 early in the final quarter.
“Kudos to the everyone on the team — offense and defense,” Hilltop head coach Bryan Wagner told his team after the turnabout win. “Everyone came through. It was a great win. I told the team that if we played the way we played against El Capitan the week before (a gritty 9-7 comeback win by the visiting Vaqueros) that no one could beat us.
“We didn’t come out like we did against El Cap, but we made a couple plays and squeaked this one out. It was tough.”
The Spartans carried play throughout the early going in building a 13-0 halftime lead.
Chula Vista used a fake punt to start its opening scoring drive that culminated with senior Octavio Ramirez bulling in from the one-yard line with 6:39 to play in the first quarter.
Ramirez bulled in from two yards on the Spartans’ next scoring drive, but the extra-point try was unsuccessful.
The visitors regrouped after halftime and appeared a different team. The Lancers (2-1) drove the ball down to the CV five-yard line but turned the ball over on downs. Chula Vista was short on an attempted fourth-down conversion of its own and Hilltop took over on the 20-yard line.
The Lancers attempted a pass into the end zone on fourth down that fell incomplete, but a pass interference penalty kept the drive alive, putting the ball at the eight-yard line.
Garcia passed to senior Luis Mendoza for Hilltop’s first touchdown of the game, and Manny Pablos’ extra-point conversion narrowed the score to 13-7 with 2:20 remaining in the third quarter.
But the hosts responded with a defensive touchdown on a strip fumble recovery in the end zone just eight seconds into the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 19-7.
Hilltop’s rally to victory stared at the 4:23 mark of the quarter when Garcia scored on an end-around from 13 yards out to narrow the score to 19-14.
The Lancers promptly recovered the ensuing onside kick but were stopped short on a fourth-down play deep in Chula Vista territory. The Hilltop defense forced a punt, and the Hilltop offense took over on the CV 39-yard line. The Spartan defense appeared to halt the Lancer field march, but a personal foul penalty gave the visitors a new set of downs at the CV 14-yard line.
An incomplete pass stopped the clock at 1:14. A quarterback scamper moved the ball to the one-yard line with time still running on the clock. It was up to the Lancers to either convert on their next play or have time run out for a Spartan victory.
Garcia made the play with barely enough time to spare.
Hilltop High School quarterback Jorge Garcia leaps over the goal line to score the game-winning touchdown in this year’s Chula Vista Kiwanis Bowl game played Sept. 1 at Chula Vista High School, The host Spartans led, 19-7, before the Lancers rallied with two late touchdowns. Photos by Phillip Brents
Chula Vista (0-3) advanced the ball to their own 34-yard line on the ensuing kickoff with six seconds to play but the game ended on the next play with a pass to midfield.
Garcia completed 11 of 27 passes for 138 yards with one touchdown and rushed 13 times for 51 yards with another touchdown. He finished the game with 189 total yards.
Mendoza caught three passes for 53 yards with one touchdown while junior Nick Moore had four receptions for 34 yards.
Ramirez rushed eight times for 41 yards with two touchdowns while CV senior quarterback Jacob Pedroza carried the ball eight times for 53 yards. Pedroza was nine-for-17 yards through the air for 114 yards to finish the game with 167 total yards.
Sophomore Elijah Gillespie had four catches for 41 yards while senior Arbahl Saucedo caught three passes for 38 yards.
Both teams finished with 102 rushing yards.
Photos by Phillip Brents
Hilltop has won the last two Kiwanis Bowl games (and seven of the last eight meetings). Despite the latest loss, Chula Vista still leads the series 11-10.
The game is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Chula Vista. The winning team receives a donation of $1,500 while the losing team receives $1,000, so there are really no losers and winners, other than on the scoreboard.
Each team was accorded defensive and offensive most valuable player awards. Receiving individual trophies were Hilltop’s Mendoza (offensive MVP), Hilltop junior Freddy Fleck (defensive MVP), Chula Vista’s Ramirez (offensive MVP) and CV senior Mathew Robertson (defensive MVP).
Fleck made eight tackles in the game.
For the Lancers, senior Subastian Calara had one sack while senior Damion Cepeda had one interception.
Spartan senior Angel Zuniga had an interception to stop a Hilltop drive in the second half.
Kiwanis Bowl:
By the numbers
Chula Vista Kiwanis Bowl Series
2002: Chula Vista 44, Hilltop 14
2003: Chula Vista 57, Hilltop 37
2004: Chula Vista 27, Hilltop 20
2005: Hilltop 32, Chula Vista 13
2006: Chula Vista 47, Hilltop 7
2007: Chula Vista 42, Hilltop 19
2008: Chula Vista 42, Hilltop 8
2009: Chula Vista 49, Hilltop 18
2010: Hilltop 35, Chula Vista 14
2011: Chula Vista 17, Hilltop 10
2012: Chula Vista 42, Hilltop 20
2013: Hilltop 21, Chula Vista 7
2014: Chula Vista 36, Hilltop 27
2015: Hilltop 35, Chula 33
2016: Hilltop 38, Chula Vista 16
2017: Hilltop 29, Chula Vista 6
2018: Hilltop 37, Chula Vista 0
2019: Hilltop 35, Chula Vista 29
2021 (spring): Chula Vista 42, Hilltop 21
2021 (fall): Hilltop 24, Chula Vista 0
2022: Hilltop 21, Chula Vista 19
2022: Hilltop 21, Chula Vista 19
Kiwanis Bowl XXI memories: Hilltop 21, Chula Vista 19
Hilltop’s offensive player of the game Luis Mendoza (top) and defensive player of the game Freddy Fleck. Photos by Phillip Brents
High School Football Scoreboard
Phoenix Red Mountain 35, Mater Dei Catholic 16
La Habra 35, Eastlake 28
Mira Mesa 42, Otay Ranch 0
West Hills 24, Olympian 0
Redwood City Sequoia 14, Bonita Vista 7
Fallbrook 67, San Ysidro 0
Morse 60, Mar Vista 39
Hilltop 21, Chula Vista 19
Sweetwater 20, Canyon Hills 19
Red Devils, Aztecs trending upward in rankings
It’s always interesting to look at the high school football standings through Week 3 to see what, if any, trends are starting to develop.
That said, the Metro Conference will not have an undefeated team in the 2022 season after the Southwest Raiders dropped a 42-13 decision at undefeated Kearny last Friday in non-league play.
The Raiders had entered the game with a 2-0 record as the lone undefeated South County team through the opening two weeks of play.
Moving up
Both the Sweetwater Red Devils and Montgomery Aztecs are trending upward after posting dramatic wins the second week in a row to improve to 2-1 on the season.
Sweetwater edged visiting Canyon Hills, 20-19, while Montgomery dropped visiting Mt. Miguel to its first loss of the season with a last-minute 12-7 victory.
The Devils and Aztecs join Hilltop with 2-1 records to start the season. San Yisdro, Castle Park and Olympian are all 1-2 on the season.
Six Metro Conference teams are still searching for their first wins of the season, interestingly all four from the top tier Metro-Mesa League: Mater Dei Catholic (0-3), Eastlake (0-3), Otay Ranch (0-3) and Bonita Vista (0-2). Mar Vista and Chula Vista from the Metro-Pacific League are both 0-3.
Red hots
The Red Devils won for the second consecutive week in dramatic fashion. The previous week it came down to host Sweetwater scoring the game-winning field goal in the final four seconds to win 9-7 against the visiting Coronado Islanders; this week it was the Devils stopping a potential game-winning two-point conversion by visiting Canyon Hills to preserve a 20-19 non-league victory.
Sweetwater seemed far removed from its 42-0 season opening loss at Mt. Miguel.
“We changed our offense around and with the second week running it we have improved, but we need to learn how to finish games,” SuHi head coach Ervin Hernandez said. “Leading 20-6 in the fourth quarter we need to come together and play to win. We let them come back but pulled off a close one stopping their two-point conversion.”
Sweetwater scored touchdowns in the opening two quarters to lead 14-6 at halftime. The Devils snapped a scoreless third quarter stalemate with the first touchdown in the fourth quarter to build a 14-point lead.
But Canyon Hills scored the final two touchdowns in the game to challenge for the win. The first Rattlers TD and point-after conversion narrowed the SuHi lead to 20-13, leaving the visitors seven points behind. On the second touchdown by Canyon Hills in the final quarter, the Rattlers decided to go for eight points with a two-point conversion to take the lead.
The two-point play failed, leaving the hosts ahead by one point.
Both sophomore Zarayan Crews (11 carries, 45 yards) and junior Xzavier Crews (five carries, 37 yards) scored rushing touchdowns while senior Gabriel Gomez (nine carries, 47 yards) added a third rushing touchdown in the game for Sweetwater.
The Devils logged 260 rushing yards against just 17 passing yards.
Senior Cesar Guerra had two carries for 44 yards and one pass reception for 17 yards. Junior Julian Ramos had 16 carries for 69 yards and converted two extra-point attempts.
Defensively, junior Miguel Mireles posted a team-leading eight tackles while junior Carlos David Delgado had eight stops. The hosts recorded four sacks — one each by junior Izell Wright, senior Gilbert Garcia, Gomez and Mireles.
Senior Solomon Ojajuni had one interception.
The Devils had a short week by hosting undefeated Mission Bay (3-0) on Thursday before playing at Monte Vista on Sept. 16. All three teams — Sweetwater, Mission Bay and Monte Vista — are vying for Division IV playoff berths. The Bucs entered the week ranked third in the division while the Devils were ranked eighth and the Monarchs (0-3) ranked last among the 17 teams.
Aztec Nation
Senior Nate Ong scored the game-winning touchdown with a minute left in the fourth quarter on a quarterback sneak to lift the host Aztecs past the previously unbeaten Matadors as the Aztecs won for the second week in a row.
“Players and coaches are working hard,” MOH head coach Freddy Dunkle said. “We attack each week like a championship game.”
Ong completed three of seven passing attempts for 49 yards while rushing five times for nine yards in the victory.
Senior Jordan Benton (two catches, 44 yards) had one touchdown grab while senior Victor Flores caught one pass for 28 yards.
Senior running back Isaac Cervantes carried the ball 16 times for 79 yards to lead the hosts on the ground.
Mt. Miguel (2-1) had out-scored tits opening two opponents 71-0.
The Matadors out-gained Montgomery 179-158 in total offensive yards but coughed up three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble) in suffering its first loss this season. The Spring Valley team tallied 125 passing yards and 54 rushing yards while the Aztecs totaled 109 rushing yards and 49 passing yards.
Flores keyed the hosts with 11 tackles, including two for a loss, while senior middle linebacker Gideon Baraka was credited with seven tackles (two for a loss).
Overall, the Montgomery defense recorded seven tackles for a loss and three sacks. Benton and Flores both made interceptions.
Junior Dalaias Garcia averaged 49.7 yards on three punts.
Senior Chris Akridge led the Mt. Miguel defense with 10 tackles (two for a loss) and one sack. The Matadors also finished the game with two sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery.
The Aztecs carried their two-game winning streak into Thursday’s non-league game at El Cajon Valley (1-2) and will host Mission Bay on Sept. 16.
Land of Troy
Castle Park had shown signs of getting its offense together after debuting the season with a 52-0 non-league loss at Rancho Buena Vista. The Trojans lost, 48-33, to visiting Calexico on Aug. 25 and finally broke through with a 51-14 non-league win last Friday at Orange Glen.
Highlights were aplenty for the Trojans (1-2).
Sophomore Ladell Hampton had 10 carries for 112 yards and three touchdowns while senior Jalen Hopkins rushed five times for 41 yards and two touchdowns. The visitors generated six rushing touchdowns overall as senior Jeremiah Simler rushed five times for 115 yards and one touchdown.
Sophomore quarterback Dylan Villareal completed two of three passes for 77 yards, including a 36-yard scoring pass to senior Sergio Cobos.
Castle Park amassed 278 rushing yards in the victory.
Hampton keyed the visitors with 122 all-purpose yards while adding 10 yards on kick returns. Senior Isaack Lucero had one catch for 41 yards.
Defensively, junior Noah Mathews had eight unassisted tackles and one assist for nine total tackles while junior Adrian Samaniego had one sack.
Cobos had a big night with three successful extra-point conversions and a 42-yard field goal for six kicking points.
The Trojans racked up 355 yards in total offense compared to 183 for the hosts. The Patriots (0-3) scored all of their 14 points in the third quarter after trailing 41-0 at halftime.
Castle Park has two big Division V road match-ups coming up against undefeated Vincent Memorial (top-ranked in the division) next Friday and Sept. 16 at Crawford (second in the division).
San Diego Section Football Rankings
Top 50 Teams
(MaxPreps through Sept. 4)
- Cathedral Catholic 1-2
- Carlsbad 1-1
- Madison 3-0
- Helix Charter 3-0
- Lincoln 2-1
- Mater Dei Catholic 0-3
- Poway 3-0
- Mission Hills 2-1
- Ramona 2-1
- Torrey Pines 1-2
- Mira Mesa 2-1
- Del Norte 3-0
- Granite Hills 2-1
- University City 2-1
- Central Union 2-1
- San Marcos 2-1
- La Costa Canyon 1-2
- Christian 2-1
- La Jolla 2-1
- Scripps Ranch 1-2
- El Camino 2-1
- Mt. Carmel 2-1
- Eastlake 0-3
- Rancho Buena Vista 3-0
- Patrick Henry 0-2
- Bishop’s 2-1
- Fallbrook 2-1
- Steele Canyon 1-2
- Brawley 1-2
- Point Loma 2-1
- Otay Ranch 0-3
- Imperial 2-0
- St. Augustine 1-1
- San Pasqual 2-1
- Santa Fe Christian 2-1
- Valley Center 1-2
- Palo Verde Valley 2-1
- Mission Bay 3-0
- Rancho Bernardo 0-3
- West Hills 2-1
- El Capital 2-1
- Oceanside 0-3
- Morse 2-1
- La Jolla Country Day 3-0
- Coronado 2-1
- Vincent Memorial 3-0
- Montgomery 2-1
- Vista 0-3
- Mt. Miguel 2-1
- Escondido 2-1
Division I
- Cathedral Catholic (1-2), 2. Carlsbad (1-1), 3. Madison (3-0), 4. Helix Charter (3-0), 5. Lincoln (2-1), 6. Mater Dei Catholic (0-3), 7. Poway (3-0), 8. Mission Hills (2-1), 9. Torrey Pines (1-2), 10. El Camino (2-1)
Division II
- Ramona (2-1), 2. Mira Mesa (2-1), 3. Granite Hills (2-1), 4. Central Union (2-1), 5. San Marcos (2-1), 6. Christian (2-1), 7. La Jolla (2-1), 8. Mt. Carmel (2-1), 9. Brawley (1-2), 10. Otay Ranch (0-3)
Division III
- Del Norte (3-0), 2. University City (2-1), 3. Rancho Buena Vista (3-0), 4. Patrick Henry (0-2), 5. Point Loma (2-1), 6. Bishop’s (2-1), 7. Imperial (2-0), 8. San Pasqual (2-1), 9. West Hills (2-1), 10. El Capital (2-1)
Division IV
- Fallbrook (2-1), 2. Palo Verde Valley (2-1), 3. Mission Bay (3-0), 4. La Jolla Country Day (3-0), 5. Coronado (2-1), 6. Montgomery (2-1), 7. Mt. Miguel (2-1), 8. Sweetwater (2-1), 9. Francis Parker (1-2), 10. Hilltop (2-1)
Division V
- Vincent Memorial (3-0), 2. Crawford (1-1), 3. Escondido Charter (3-0), 4. Classical Academy (2-1), 5. Mar Vista (0-3), 6. El Cajon Valley (1-2), 7. San Ysidro (1-2), 8. Army-Navy Academy (3-0), 9. Southwest (2-1), 10. Castle Park (1-2)
