The host Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders (2-0) got two touchdowns from C.J. Verdell and single scores from Chris Jones and Dominick Wood-Anderson (who also had two sacks) in besting the El Capitan Vaqueros, last year’s San Diego Section Division II champions, in what has to ranks as one of the Crusaders’ biggest wins in recent years.
Verdell scored two rushing touchdowns while Jones ran for one score and passed for another.
El Capitan took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter but the hosts responded with three touchdowns in the second quarter to lead 21-14 at halftime. Mater Dei Catholic scored the only points of the second half with a touchdown in the third quarter.
Ruben Duran racked up a team high 14 tackles for the Crusaders while Jovan Bayless and Jayden Emberton-Gaines each had 11 tackles.
The hosts ruled the air defensively with four interceptions, including two by Bayless and one each by Quentin Frazier and Micah Scott. Mario Williams also caused one fumble.
Alex Golembiewski had five kickoffs, four of which went for touchbacks. He also had one 35-yard punt. Duran averaged 36.7 yards on three punts.
Oscar Valenzuela scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone to open scoring in the game. El Capitan quarterback Phoenix Cates then connected with Chance Colson on a five-yard scoring pass to double the Vaquero lead.
But the Crusaders, starting with better field position in the second quarter, erased that deficit with three touchdowns of their own. Verdell scored on a 33-yard dash to trim the visitors’ lead to 14-7. The game was tied, 14-14, with just under three minutes to play in the first half when Verdell bolted ahead for a 68-yard touchdown run.
Jones scored the third Mater Dei Catholic touchdown of the quarter to put the hosts on top for the first time in the game. Jones then hit Anderson-Wood, a transfer from Steele Canyon, for a scoring pass in the third quarter to extend the Crusader lead.
Defense played a key role in the game, especially on the part of the hosts. Frazier’s pick ended a promising El Capitan drive at the MDCHS three-yard line. The Crusaders also engineered a goal-line stand at the one-yard line to deny the Vaqueros on another occasion.
Colson led El Capitan (0-2) with 16 tackles while teammate Josh Benson made 13 stops. The Vaqs racked up four sacks – one each by Colson, Holden Dones, Dylan Helmholtz and Valenzuela.
The Crusaders next play at Francis Parker (0-2) on Friday, Sept. 11, in another non-league game. Kick-off is 7 p.m. The Lancers have dropped non-league contests against Nuview Bridge (42-6) and Hoover (42-0) to open the season.
Jones has passed for two touchdowns while also rushing for two touchdowns in two games while Verdell has scored three rushing touchdowns and also caught one scoring pass to give him a team-leading four touchdowns on the season.
Bayless (28), Duran (27) and Emberton-Gaines (24) lead the team in total tackles. Bayless leads the team with two picks.
