The Star-News offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
The Legacy of Pride trophy is the embodiment of the Chula Vista-Sweetwater high school football rivalry, the longest continuous rivalry series of its kind in San Diego County, now in its 80th year.
After residing the last three years at the National City school, the trophy will be making a return visit to Chula Vista following the host Spartans’ 21-14 come-from-behind victory last Friday. The game ended in light rain with three unanswered CVHS touchdowns.
The Legacy of Pride victory doubled as the Spartans’ first win in their new campus stadium. Sweetwater leads the ong-lasting series 45-30-5.
“We had a lot of mistakes, a lot of penalties in the first half,” CV head coach Jimmy Clark III said. “We did much batter after our first score. It was the second half that we found what was successful for us and we stuck to that the rest of the game.”
Sweetwater bolted out to a 14-0 lead on a 69-yard breakaway scoring run by senior Abdul Osman and a follow-up rushing score by senior Noah Calingay.
The Spartans chipped away for the game’s final 21 points, though it took a while.
Chula Vista made it a 14-7 game at halftime. The hosts scored to tie the game, 14-14, on the first play of the fourth quarter.
The Spartans scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with little time left in the game.
Sweetwater got the ball back but turned the it over on downs to end the game.
Chula Vista kept its playoff hopes alive by inching its overall record to 3-6 while the Red Devils saw their postseason hopes dim further with a 1-8 overall record and eight game losing streak.
Both teams close out Metro-South Bay League play this Friday. Chula Vista is at Hilltop (1-1 in league, 5-4 overall) while Sweetwater hosts Bonita Vista (2-0 in league, 5-4 overall).
“Every year we come out (in this rivalry game) and battle to the end,” Sweetwater coach Brandon Burris said.
Chula Vista gained 286 yards in total offense.
Sophomore Asher Richardson led the hosts with 20 carries for 150 yards and one touchdown while senior Elijah Richardson had 11 carries for 37 yards and one touchdown. Senior Gabriel Ruiz gained 40 yards on four carries with one touchdown.
Senior Jalen Clark had two catches for 42 yards.
Elijah Richardson paced the Spartans with nine tackles while junior Alfred Francis registered one sack.
Sweetwater generated 155 yards in total offense – 154 yards on the ground. Calingay led the Red Devils with 23 carries for 95 yards while Osman had four carries for 67 yards.
Chula Vista will battle Hilltop for rights to this year’s 25th annual Chula Vista Kiwanis Bowl championship. The Lancers have won eight of the last 11 rivalry games but the Spartans continue to lead that series 13-11.
“The Legacy of Pride trophy was a big win for the community,” Clark said. “We haven’t won both rivalry trophies since 2013.”
Bonita Vista 22, Hilltop 8
The visiting Barons took the fast track to the Metro-South Bay League title by spoiling the Lancers’ homecoming. Senior Angel Cortes scored on a four-yard run and sophomore Lukas Yaomoto tacked on a two-point conversion run to stake Bonita Vista to an 8-0 halftime lead.
The TD was set up by an interception by junior Emiliano Ituarte at the Lancer 36-yard line.
Hilltop countered with the first touchdown in the second half on a wildcat run by junior Tre Nichols III and a two-point conversion run by Nichols to tie the game, 8-8.
But the Barons – and Cortes – had a bit more in the gas tank with the final two touchdowns in the game.
Cortes finished the game with 38 yards on five carries and three touchdowns.
The BV running game was key to victory with 204 rushing yards on 38 attempts against 90 passing yards. Junior Ta’Vion Moore led the way with 27 carries for 150 yards.
Junior Adrian Torrentes led Baron receivers with three catches for 39 yards while senior Max Shy had three catches for 31 yards.
The Bonita Vista defense finished the game with four sacks and two interceptions. Yaomoto had two sacks while seniors Edward Armenta and Julian Lipford each logged one sack.
Senior Dylan Hatton and Ituarte each had picks.
Bonita Vista enters Friday’s regular season finale at Sweetwater ranked 51st among the section’s 86 tackle teams. The Barons are on the cusp of the Division IV-Division V dividing line while Hilltop sits at No. 60, well inside the Division V bracket.
The Barons have won three games in a row while Hilltop had its three-game winning streak snapped.
Sweetwater is ranked 75th, well outside the 64-team cutoff.
Photos by Phillip Brents
