2024 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
EL CAPITAN 21, MIRA MESA 14
EastCountySports.com staff report
LAKESIDE – El Capitan junior BREWIN FORD and senior teammate LUKAS GARCIA teamed up for a big defensive play late in the first half to provide a big momentum shift, not to mention a huge touchdown, as the Vaqueros defeated visiting Mira Mesa, 21-14, in the season opener on Thursday night.
After El Capitan appeared to make a possibly costly mistake with a fumble of a punt in its own 32-yard line in the final minute of the first half with a score tied 7-all, Ford and Garcia ended up with a clear beeline of the scrambling Marauder quarterback on a third-down play as Mira Mesa was trying to capitalize on the error.
Ford made the first contact of the QB, who was moving to his left, then Garcia started his wrap-up for what was going to be a huge sack that would likely end the first half.
However, Garcia stripped the ball and it deflected up into the arms of a surprised Ford, who was able to race 65 yards down the right side line with :34 second remaining in the first half and El Cap went into halftime with a sudden 14-7 lead.
El Capitan senior MARLON AMES had two sacks on Mira Mesa’s first series.
Vaquero senior quarterback BRANDT BARKER floated a pass to AYDEN BANEGAS down to the 3-yard line and BRADY JORALEMON bounced off his own guys then off the Marauders to crash into the end zone for a 7-0 lead just less than four minutes into the game.
Mira Mesa drove swiftly to tie the game with 12-yard touchdown run from Ryder Lai. He also had a 25-yard run to take it down to the 17, and it appeared that the offenses could rule on Opening Night.
A couple of other first half drives netted yardage on both sides, but the Vaqueros had a field goal attempt blocked, while the Marauders missed a try wide after a 46-yard run got them into kicking range.
Barker threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to his slot receiver Banegas over the middle to extend the lead to two touchdowns in the fourth quarter with 11:52 left.
“It was a great game,” El Capitan head coach Rob Burner said. “The defense played hard and came up with a huge play. Brandt had his best game and made some great throws and reads.”
In the 4th with 3:22 left, Mira Mesa got a touchdown reception by Connor Shea from 16 yards to make it 21-14.
“It was a hard fought win,” Joralemon said. “Lots of stuff to work on but also stuff to be proud of. Our defense played a great game and kept us in it. We will come together and get better and better each week. We go 110 percent every play and if we can do that, I know our team will succeed. Overall, a great win for our team, looking forward to the next.”
This was only the second meeting ever between the schools. Mira Mesa won 21-7 in the season opener of 1983, 41 years ago at Mira Mesa.
El Capitan then went on to win their next eight games, going 8-0 to complete the season as Grossmont League champions, then they dropped the CIF opener to Castle Park, 34-21, at El Capitan to finish 8-2. It was a terrific season considering the Vaqueros were a combined 3-22-1 over the previous three season.
