Resilient Vaqueros rustle Longhorns

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 12, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

EL CAPITAN 21, No. 18 RANCHO BUENA VISTA 12

EastCountySports.com staff report

VISTA – The question wasn’t if the El Capitan Vaqueros could bounce back from their first loss of the season when they traveled to play the Longhorns of Rancho Buena Vista on Friday night.

It was whether or not El Cap could do it without four starters on both sides of the ball – including star two-way players – from its regular lineup?

The answer was a resounding, yes… yes, they could.

The El Capitan defense limited the county rushing leader to his lowest output of the season and the Vaqueros returned to Lakeside with a 21-18 victory over the previously unbeaten Longhorns.

“So proud of my players,” El Capitan head coach Ron Burner said. “They fought all night long. Players stepped up and played lights out. Held a great running back and running team to 12 points.”

Credit the defense certainly, but the offense persevered, as well, after RBV led early.

Senior Savigon Yokley threw eight completions to his twin brother, Antwone, for 108 yards, including a 50-yard catch-and-run score in the second quarter.

Savi also rushed for a touchdown in the second quarter as El Cap posted a 14-6 lead at halftime.

The Longhorns scored in the first quarter just six minutes into the game when Connor Underhill found Jayden Finley for a score following an interception on the Vaqueros’ initial series of the game.

Savigon Yokley then threw the short pass to Antwone, who turned it into the 50-yard touchdown to take a 7-6 lead.

The Vaqueros extended the lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Savi a few plays after Antwone returned a punt 41 yards to the RBV 6.

Underhill passed to star back Gino Trapasso for a touchdown with 6:54 left in the game. The Vaqueros intercepted the two-point conversion to hang on to a 14-12 lead.

Junior Angel Diaz scored on an 8-yard run for an insurance touchdown for El Capitan (3-1). Diaz pounded out 27 yards on four attempts.

“We’ve had two offensive linemen out, our middle linebacker Alex (Fa’aea) and our running back Xavier (Peace) all out last two weeks,” Burner said. “We told the kids, ‘someone else has got a step up and we’re just gonna have to have to play hard and want it more.’ and that’s what they did.

“Savigon played defense we had some offensive linemen play defensive line to stop their great running back. The defense played lights out, especially the second half and it was a great team win.”

Savi finished with 156 yards of total offense and was 10-of-13 passing.

“(The Yokley twins) played well but the whole team played well,” Burner said. “We played as a complete unit and everybody did their job, which makes a lot easier work.”

The defense was especially on-point.

Sophomore Shune Hayes had seven tackles and defended two passes for El Cap.

Junior Austin Cordiero had an interception, two tackles, and defended another pass.

Senior John Rose, of the Vaqueros, had five tackles, including one for loss.

Sophomore Julian May had 4 1/2 tackles, including one for loss. He also registered nine carries on offense for 32 yards, caught a pass for 12 yards, and returned three punts for 36 yards.

Javy Aguinaldo, a senior, had 4 1/2 tackles for El Capitan.

El Capitan senior Daisean Desinor rushed for 72 yards, including a 49-yarder, while also defending a couple of passes on defense.

El Cap sophomore Saxon Plasterer forced a fumble, which was recovered by senior Andrew Russell early in the game.

Trapasso rushed for 101 yards on 23 carries for RBV (3-1).

El Capitan will open the Grossmont Valley League season on Friday night when they travel to face the El Cajon Valley Braves at Priest Field.