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Vaqueros till victory over Norsemen
- Updated: October 21, 2017
El Capitan's YAPHET YOKLEY runs with the ball Friday night against Valhalla. / photo by Don De Mars
2017 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
EL CAPITAN 51, VALHALLA 14
By Gene Yale
Special to EastCountySports.com
EL CAJON – Over the years, El Capitan High School has had an outstanding agricultural education program.
Friday evening (October 20), the Vaqueros football team had lots of horsepower as they plowed the field at Valhalla up one side and down the other, reaping a lopsided victory over the Norsemen, 51-14.
El Capitan’s STAR IULI looks for room against Valhalla Friday night. / photo by Don De Mars
The visitors got a lucky break early when, after being forced to punt in its first possession, the ball hit an unsuspecting Valhalla player as it landed downfield, and was recovered by the Vaqueros on the Norsemen 9 yard line.
Sophomore quarterback WICK HAUSER, returning to duty after being injured in the second game of the season, didn’t waste time getting those plow horses moving.
On first down, he threw a dart to senior wide receiver STAR IULI for a 9 yard TD. Kicker SAL MANGIAVILLANO’s (2-2 PAT) kick was true, and the Lakeside lads took a quick 7-0 lead with 8:10 left in the first quarter.
Less than two minutes later, Hauser connected with junior YAPHET YOKLEY for a 54 yard TD pass, increasing the lead to 14-0, at the 6:33 mark of the initial period.
Like Hauser, Yokley just recovered from his injuries suffered in the second game of the season.
As the quarter was winding down, the Vaquero offense got another opportunity when they started at the Valhalla 45 yard line following a Norsemen punt from deep in their own territory.
A Valhalla player carries Friday night. / photo by Don De Mars
Iuli picked up 15 yards on 1st down with a nifty run, breaking several tackles. On the next play, Hauser hooked up with senior wide receiver DYLAN BURKE for a 20 yard gain to the Valhalla 10 yard line.
Hauser dumped a short pass to senior running back CONNOR ROOSA to the Valhalla 1 yard line, where he was tackled by senior linebacker DYLAN WALSH, as the first quarter ended.
On the first play of the second quarter, Hauser shifted to slot back and senior tight end ANTONIO OLIVIERI took the snap and rumbled into the end zone.
This time, senior kicker DANNY ESTRADA took over the PAT duties, nailed the extra point, and with 11:56 remaining until homecoming halftime, El Capitan was rolling, 21-0.
The onslaught continued.
Roosa galloped into the end zone at the end of a 16 yard run midway through the second quarter, making it 28-0.
Estrada drilled a 32 yard field goal, upping the lead to 31-0, and there was still nearly five minutes left to play until intermission.
El Capitan tackles Valhalla Friday night. / photo by Don De Mars
Then Yokley hauled in a 14 yard TD pass from Hauser, but the PAT attempt went awry, making it 37 zip with 2:06 remaining in the first half.
In the waning moments of the half, the Norsemen offense came to life.
Senior quarterback BRYAN MADRIZ connected with senior wide receiver MICHAEL BAZZI, who was able to shake several tackles for a 17 yard gain to the Valhalla 35 yard line. On the next play, Madriz rolled right, but the ball came loose, forcing him to fall on it at the 28 yard line.
Undeterred with a 2nd and 17, Madriz broke free after being forced from the pocket and scampered 51 yards to the El Cap 21 yard line. On first down, Madriz lofted a fade pass to wide receiver JESAI BENNETT in the end zone, but defensive back JEFTE REYES knocked the ball away at the last second, saving the touchdown.
On third down, Madriz came back to Bennett, this time with a screen pass that resulted in a 12 yard gain to the 9 yard line. The home team was unable to get past the defenders’ 5 yard line in three more plays, leaving 1 second on the clock and 4th down.
Senior tight end JOSH McNISH-HEIDER snuck past the defense into the end zone, where Madriz quickly tossed him the ball for Valhalla’s first score. Sophomore kicker ELIJAH WILLADSEN split the uprights as Valhalla got on the board, 37-7.
El Capitan throws a pass Friday night against Valhalla. / photo by Don De Mars
Hauser took a seat for the second half, replaced by Olivieri, who scored his second touchdown of the evening on another 1 yard run, this time at the 2:07 mark of the third quarter. Hauser did not return to the game.
Sophomore running back DONNY GREEN found pay dirt early in the 4th quarter on a 3 yard run, and Valhalla added a second touchdown late in the game when Schimke got to the goal line on a 2 yard run.
Hauser made the most of his return, racking up 11 completions on 15 attempts for 144 yards and 3 TDs, all in the first half.
