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Everyone associated with the Chula Vista High School football team knew it was coming. It seemed only a matter of time.
The Spartans, after a 0-4 start, won their first game of the new 2026 season last Friday. It came in convincing fashion at that: 33-12 over the host Olympian Eagles.
“It was a great team win, and I’m really proud of our guys,” Chula Vista head coach Jimmy Clark III said. “We played our most complete game of the season for all four quarters.
“Defensively, we did a great job stopping the run, came away with two interceptions, and blocked a PAT. Offensively, we established the run early and were able to create multiple explosive plays through the passing game.
“I really believe the tough competition we faced early in the season prepared us for this moment. We knew we were going into a tough environment against a big, physical team on their homecoming, and our guys answered the challenge.”
Chula Vista (1-4) scored four rushing touchdowns and added one passing score to drop the host Eagles to 1-4 at the midpoint of the season.
The Richardson brothers did the damage on the ground with 170 yards on 32 carries. Sophomore Asher Richardson rushed 20 times for 79 yards and three touchdowns while senior Elijah Richardson had 12 carries for 91 yards and one touchdown. Elijah Richardson broke off one run for 36 yards.
Junior quarterback Isaiah Orta completed four of six passing attempts for 90 yards with a touchdown pass to senior Gabriel Ruiz (two catches, 47 yards). Senior Jaylen Clark rounded out the CV offense with two catches for 43 yards.
Clark excelled on defense with 12 tackles and one interception while sophomore Edi Iwatt logged 10 defensive stops. Sophomore Angel Gayton also recorded a pick.
Senior Walter Ignacio led Olympian with 252 total yards — 178 passing yards and 74 rushing yards. Senior Josiah Rivera led the Eagles defense with 14 tackles.
The Spartans will look to pick up their second consecutive win when they travel to Crawford (2-2) for a non-league contest this Friday.
The big moment of the season arrives Oct. 9 when the school will host its first varsity tackle football game in the new campus stadium.
“As a coaching staff, we couldn’t be more proud of the fight, grit and resilience this team has shown,” Coach Clark said. “We’ve continued to believe in each other and keep working, and now we’re excited and ready to make a big-time run in the second half of the season.”
Eastlake 44, Vista 0
IIn a rematch of the 2009 Division I championship game at Qualcomm Stadium (won by Eastlake 21-14 over Vista), the Titans left no doubt which was the better team again. The 26th-ranked Metro Conference leaders held the winless Panthers (0-5) to 119 total yards — 118 passing yards and one net rushing yard.
Senior Jovani Ceja led the EHS defense with nine tackles, including two for losses and one sack.
The Titans rang up eight tackles for losses and four sacks in the defensive gem. Senior David Branco had one sack as did senior Andrew Castro and sophomore Javian Ceja.
The hosts also logged three interceptions: one each by Jovani Ceja, Castro and senior Jeremiah White. Ceja returned his pick for a touchdown.
Quarterbacks Joe Waters (junior) and Sean Ryan Hughes (senior) combined to complete five of 10 passing attempts for 91 yards with one touchdown for each signal-caller.
Branco (30 yards) and senior Eidrin Estrelon (32 yards) each had one catch for a TD reception.
Otherwise, Branco was his usual self with 10 carries for 228 yards and two trips into the end zone on homecoming. He broke off one run for 80 yards. He now has scored 15 touchdowns this season (13 on the ground, two through the air) to go with 974 rushing yards (1,038 total yards).
He logged 268 total offensive yards against Vista with three touchdowns.
The Titans controlled the game with 315 rushing yards. Junior R.J. Yamasaki added four carries for 41 yards and one TD.
Eastlake, which racked up 406 total yards against its latest victim, gets a better test this Friday when the Madison Warhawks (3-1) visit. Madison shut out Sweetwater, 30-0, in its last game.
PREP SCOREBOARD
Friday, Sept. 18
Eastlake 44, Vista 0
Chula Vista 33, Olympian 12
Bonita Vista 17, Hoover 14
Mar Vista 26, Montgomery 7
Southwest 23, Sweetwater 20
Westview 38, Hilltop 17
Grossmont 54, Otay Ranch 45
St. Augustine 41, Mater Dei Catholic 21
El Cajon Valley 26, Castle Park 15
Mountain Empire 50, San Ysidro 6
Clairemont 63, Victory Christian Academy 0
SOUTHWEST AT SWEETWATER
PICTORIAL SEPT. 18, 2026
Photos by Phillip Brents
