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The scoreboard may remain the same but everything else about Castle Park High School’s Swift Stadium is new — brand new.
The Trojans hosted their first varsity football game on the modernized, new-look field last Friday. They won, 32-0, over the Victory Christian Knights to make it a festive occasion for Castle Park fans.
Senior Evan Lopez scored the first touchdown in the first official varsity game. He actually scored the opening two touchdowns as the Trojans built a 19-0 halftime lead.
He finished the game with 52 rushing yards on five carries. Junior Damian Hernandez rushed for 63 yards on 12 carries and scored one touchdown.
Daniel Torres rushed for 41 yards on three carries and scored once. He also scored on an interception return. Senior Jesus Gonzalez led all ball-carriers with 78 yards on nine carries.
The Trojans bullied the Knights for 265 rushing yards.
Smiles were all around the CPHS sideline. Trojan head coach Airrien Smith had the biggest one.
“This is beautiful — it’s been a long time coming,” the Castle Park alumnus said. “The team put in a great effort.”
Smith was part of the Trojans’ 1999 team that lost 21-14 to University of San Diego High (forerunner to Cathedral Catholic) in the Division III championship game. He never really left the school, he said.
This is his 12th season on the coaching staff and third as head coach.
Castle Park finished 1-9 last season and looks to improve on that this season. They host Clairemont this Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the school’s homecoming game.
The lure of the new stadium is overpowering.
The Trojans over-powered the Knights until the very late going.
Victory Christian collected 124 rushing yards on 27 attempts and just 23 passing yards on three of 11 completions.
Senior Kyle Capili led the Knights with 63 rushing yards on eight carries while freshman Adrian Avila gained 41 yards on 13 carries.
Freshman J.D. Lair gained a bit more confidence as the game went on. Sophomore Michael Aguirre had two catches for four yards while junior Nathan Garcia caught at 19-yard aerial for the team’s biggest play of the game.
Aguirre led everyone on the field with 93 all-purpose yards after tacking on 89 yards on five kick returns. Sophomore Isaiah Gerdes led the Knights with seven tackles. Sophomore Mateo De Alba and freshman London Brigante shared one sack.
Capili also blocked a field goal attempt. Aguirre also punted twice for 98 yards, including a 57-yard roller toward the end zone.
Victory Christian (0-1) next plays at Anza Hamilton this Friday at 7 p.m. The Bobcats (0-1) are coming off a 39-0 home loss to Mountain Empire. Since there are no longer any regular season ties, one team will walk off the field with its first win of the season.
Hilltop tips host Nado, 8-7, in defensive matchup
The Hilltop Lancers are off to a 1-0 start to the 2026 high school football season but it wasn’t necessarily easy after the defending Metro-South Bay League champions escaped with a tenuous 8-7 non-league win last Friday in Coronado.
“It was a close game all the way through,” Hilltop head coach Bryan Wagner said. “They blocked a punt for a touchdown in the first quarter. It was a defensive battle. We finally got on the board in the third with a safety and then scored in the fourth but missed a two-point conversion.
“They did miss a field goal early in the fourth. They were driving late in the game and Lajuan Johnson intercepted the ball to seal the game. Our defense played a great game!”
The pick was Johnson’s second of the game.
Tre Nichols scored the Lancers’ touchdown.
Hilltop hosts El Cajon Valley this Friday in another non-league game in a bid to improve to 2-0 on the young season. The Braves are coming off a 37-0 shutout loss at e Mar Vista last Friday.
Roundup: Crusaders thwarted on PAT in 29-28 loss to Nighthawks; Red Devils escape with 47-46 thriller
The visiting Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders squandered a 22-7 lead and had a chance to bounce back for a tie only to have the point-after touchdown conversion blocked to leave them with a one-point loss in last Friday’s non-league season opener at Del Norte High School.
The Crusaders scored on all four of their drives in the first half. Overall, sophomore Jayden Blondin passed for 284 yards and three touchdowns while senior Bryce Howard-Collins rushed 15 times for 23 yards and one touchdown.
Blondin’s three TD passes went to junior Khalonie Jordan (five catches, 126 yards), senior Warren Florence (five catches, 60 yards) and junior Kamari Alfred (one catch, 10 yards). Blondin also rushed six times for 39 yards as the Crusaders collected 359 total yards.
Alfred’s TD catch brought the defending Metro-Mesa League champions to within one point on the scoreboard.
Mater Dei Catholic head coach Rashard Cook said the game came down to “just a few plays here and there.” Otherwise he seemed pleased by his team’s performance out of the gate.
The Crusaders will need to regroup when they host four-time defending CIF champion Granite Hills in Friday’s home opener (7 p.m.). The No. 7 Eagles enter the non-league contest smarting from last. Friday’s 44-29 non-league loss at Oceanside.
Red Devils on top
Junior Faisal Musah rushed for 216 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns and added a kickoff rerturn for a fourth touchdowns on the night while senior Manny Kramer passed for 174 yards and three scores, including a 70-yarder to senior Abdul Osman (four catches, 96 yards). Senior Noah Calingay had six catches for 78 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
Sweetwater’s defense logged three interceptions — one each by junior Cordel Hunter, Calingay and sophomore Tavion Cunningham.
Otay Ranch 23, RBV 14
The Mustangs recorded one passing touchdown from sophomore quarterback Caleb Delaughter (11-of-20, 119 yards) to senior Brayden Hyman (two catches, 64 yards) and rushing scores from sophomore Jeremiah Jordan (seven carries, 64 yards) and senior Jaidon Castillo (15 carries, 47 yards).
PREP FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD
Friday, Aug. 21
Non-League
Hilltop 8, Coronado 7
Castle Park 32, Victory Christian Academy 0
Eastlake 28, Bonita Vista 0
Mar Vista 37, El Cajon Valley 0
Otay Ranch 23, RBV14
Sweetwater 47, Vista 46
West Hills 28, Chula Vista 13
Mt. Miguel 42, Montgomery 26
University City 38, Olympian 13
Hoover 52, Southwest 21
Southwest El Centro 7, San Ysidro 0
Wolf Pack puts bite on CV Spartans, 28-13, in season opener
The West Hills High School football team is looking for success for the new season led by an experienced group of returners.
“We return 15 starters from last year’s team and have high expectations for 2026,” Wolf Pack head coach Casey Ash said.
Chalk it up to a 1-0 start after last Friday’s 28-13 season opening non-league win over the visiting Chula Vista Spartans.
Senior quarterback Evin Dill ran for 104 yards and scored one touchdowns and passed for 99 yards while completed three touchdown passes — two of which were caught by junior Chuck Rosolino (three catches, 43 yards). Junior Rene Uglade also threw a 28-yard TD to senior Caden Johnson on a sweep pass. Senior E.J. Lee-Fields (two catches, nine yards) also caught a TD pass.
“Offensively, we were able to control the line of scrimmage because of the strong play of our offensive line.,” Ash said. “Defensively, we got stronger as the game went on and held Chula Vista under 50 yards rushing.”
Senior Scottt Miller had one interception for seven yards while junior Lucas Sauls and senior Seth Creech each recorded sacks.
Junior Isaiah Orta keyed Chula Vista with 216 passing yards and two touchdowns — one each to seniors Myshawn Mitchell (one catch, 12 yards) and senior Gabriel Ruiz (four catches, 125 yards). The Spartans’ run game was limited to 36 yards on 21 carries.
West Hills next travels to Bonita Vista this Friday for another non-league matchup. The Barons are coming off a 28-0 loss at Eastlake.
