The outcome of the Eastlake-Bonita Vista Battle for the Boot rivalry game is always hotly contested and doesn’t necessarily mirror the teams’ regular season records.
Eastlake ran off a string of nine consecutive wins from 2006 to 2014. Bonita Vista has won the last two games.
It would seem the scales might tip back in Eastlake’s favor this year, but nothing is certain.
The Titans improved to 6-2 on the season, 1-1 in Metro-Mesa League play, following last Friday’s 49-7 Senior Night win over visiting Mater Dei Catholic.
The Barons fell to 0-3 in league play, 0-9 on the season, following last Friday’s 61-21 loss to Metro-Mesa League leader Otay Ranch.
Friday’s game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Southwestern College.
“Eastlake is excited to compete for the boot again,” Titan head coach Dean Tropp said. “It’s always fun playing your rival because it doesn’t matter what both teams have been doing all year — kids play hard in this game.”
Eastlake has a lot to play for besides bragging rights in the annual rivalry game. With two games to close regular season play, the Titans are within reach of posting an 8-2 record and, presumably, grabbing a high seed in the upcoming Division I San Diego Section playoffs.
Eastlake ends regular season play with a Nov. 3 home game against east side rival Olympian (1-1, 4-4).
The Titans appeared rejuvenated following a bye week in dismantling the Crusaders last week with seemingly one impact play after another. Eastlake racked up 460 yards in total offense — 293 rushing and 167 passing.
The hosts scored six rushing touchdowns — two by Roman Coe (four carries, 11 yards) and one each by Rayshawn Parks-Price (five carries, 85 yards), Ryzhon McCoy (five carries, 58 yards), Parker Merrifield (20 carries, 67 yards) and Micah Pietila-Wiggs (one carry, 45 yards).
Parks-Price and McCoy each broke off 35-yard runs.
Quarterback Daniel Amon completed seven of 10 passing attempts for 100 yards with one touchdown to finish the game with a 135.4 quarterback efficiency rating. He also rushed twice for 76 yards, including one sprint for 73 yards.
McCoy completed four of seven passing attempts for 67 yards.
Jalyn Jackson led EHS receivers with two catches for 58 yards, including one massive 55-yard TD catch and carry.
Overall, seven Titans caught passes in the game.
Amon finished the game with 176 total yards — 100 passing, 76 rushing. McCoy collected 135 total yards — 67 passing, 58 rushing and 10 receiving.
Josh McCurty lead the team with 12 tackles and one sack. Jackson and Bernard Coe each had one interception.
Merrifield averaged 49.2 yards on six kickoffs and 39.3 yards on three punts.
Amon has thrown for 1,037 yards with 11 touchdowns against four interceptions.
Roman Coe leads Titan rushers with 449 yards on 89 carries while Merrifield has rushed for 397 yards on 53 carries. Coe has scored five touchdowns while Merrifield has scored four touchdowns.
Pietila-Wiggs (23 carries, 198 yards) leads Eastlake with six rushing touchdowns; Parks-Price and McCoy each have three rushing touchdowns.
On the season, the Titans have scored 22 rushing touchdowns and 13 passing touchdowns.
Top receivers include Jackson (15 catches, 443 yards), Pietila-Wiggs (23 catches, 291 yards) and Kevin Bateman (11 catches, 150 yards). Jackson leads the group with five touchdowns while Pietila-Wiggs and Bateman each had three TD catches.
Pietila-Wiggs leads Eastlake in overall scoring with nine touchdowns.
Defensive leaders include McCurty (115 tackles), Donyal Thompson (seven sacks, two fumble recoveries) and Pietila-Wiggs (four interceptions).
BATTLE FOR THE BOOT
RIVALRY TROPHY
2016: Bonita Vista 20, Eastlake 17
2015: Bonita Vista 28, Eastlake 23
2014: Eastlake 45, Bonita Vista 20
2013: Eastlake 27, Bonita Vista 0
2012: Eastlake 48, Bonita Vista 6
2011: Eastlake 49, Bonita Vista 23
2010: Eastlake 35, Bonita Vista 13
2009: Eastlake 28, Bonita Vista 0
2008: Eastlake 49, Bonita Vista 12
2007: Eastlake 27, Bonita Vista 16
2006: Eastlake 34, Bonita Vista 10
2005: Bonita Vista 14, Eastlake 7
2004: Bonita Vista 10, Eastlake 10
Olympian Eagles aim to get back on track for CIF playoffs
The Olympian Eagles are coming off their bye week with a 4-4 record, 1-1 in Metro-Mesa League play. The Eagles host Mater Dei Catholic (1-1, 4-4) this Friday, then close regular season play with a monster matchup at Eastlake on Nov. 3.
In the current MaxPreps San Diego Section rankings, Eastlake is 13th while Otay Ranch (3-0, 6-3) is 19th and Olympian is 21st. In terms of Division I teams, Eastlake is ranked third while Olympian is ranked seventh.
“We need to get on a positive roll going into the playoffs and it starts this week,” Olympian head coach Paul Van Nostrand said. “Mater Dei got us twice last year; we will see how we respond.”
Quarterback Nico Mendoza leads the Eagles with 1,428 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Treyvion Davies leads Olympian with 542 rushing yards, followed by teammates David Tirey with 338 rushing yards, Albert Robinson with 247 rushing yards, R.T. Brown with 242 rushing yards and Arnold Escano with 174 rushing yards.
Davies leads the group with six touchdowns. Brown has scored three touchdowns while Mendoza, Tirey and Christian Funke each have scored two touchdowns.
Top receivers include Isaiah Williams with 49 catches for 613 yards and Mikael Tyler with 16 catches for 229 yards. Williams has seven touchdown receptions while Tyler has caught four scoring passes.
Jared Desmond leads the Eagles with 94 tackles while teammate Rock Gonzalez ranks second on the team with 85 tackles. Gonzalez is the team leader with 11 sacks.
Tyler has two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Williams leads the team with eight touchdowns — seven receiving and one rushing.
Mendoza leads the team with 1,458 total yards — 1,428 passing and 30 rushing.
