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Vaqueros shake off stunning Braves
- Updated: September 19, 2021
El Capitan junior Angel Diaz carries on Friday. / Rob Riingen
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
No. 17 EL CAPITAN 48, EL CAJON VALLEY 7
EastCountySports.com staff report
EL CAJON — The El Capitan Vaqueros regrouped from a stunning early touchdown by the El Cajon Valley Braves with 48 unanswered points to topple the Braves in the schools’ first meeting since 2013.
Ironically, that contest – a Grossmont Valley League game some eight seasons ago – also finished with the same 48-7 count as Friday night’s GVL opener for both teams at Priest Field.
It was also the last time the Vaqueros played a Valley League game, following their promotion (along with Valhalla) to the Grossmont Conference’s upper-tier division.
The home-standing Braves took capitalized on a fumble recovery on a punt and scored an early touchdown when Ruben Cosio had a triple-play, of sorts, for the hosts.
Cosio recovered the fumble at the Vaquero 17, then scored the touchdown on a 14-yard pass play from quarterback Daniel Jacobs, and finally, kicked the point-after with 4:49 left in the first quarter.
Still, in a balanced attack, the Vaqueros were able to eventually mount a lead and politely clear the bench early, as a half-dozen players rushed for more than 20 yards each. Meanwhile, the passing game got a 100-yard performance from senior receiver Antwone Yokley, who hauled in four passes for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Yokleys hooked up for a 48-yard bomb to close out the first period. Later, the duo had a 34-yard hookup for the second connection.
Also scoring two touchdowns was junior Angel Diaz, who reached the end zone for the second consecutive game.
El Cajon Valley senior Jaheim Mendenahll makes a tackle. / Rob Riingen
Diaz caught a 23-yard TD pass from quarterback Savigon Yokley with just 47 seconds left in the first half. Diaz also rushed for a 40-yard score in the second half and finished with 75 yards on the ground for the contest.
Yokley was limited to just 10 attempts, yet three of his seven completions (180 yards) went for scores.
Savi also rushed for a touchdown and had an interception on defense with a 57-yard return to close out the first half.
Overall, behind a strong performance by the offensive line, El Capitan (4-1, 1-0 GVL) averaged nearly 10 yards per rushing attempt, recording 290 yards on the ground on 30 carries.
Meanwhile, the El Cap defense closed with three shutout quarters.
Vaquero quarterback Bruce Newland had a 16-yard rushing touchdown.
Senior Andrew Russell scored on a fumble recovery on offense for El Capitan with two minutes left in the game.
Junior Dom Denha led El Cap with eight tackles (five solo).
El Capitan senior defensive back Jacob Jones suffered a fractured fibula on the final play of the second quarter. Jones had surgery late Friday night.
An even more disturbing irony is that former Vaquero rushing star D.J. Smith suffered a gruesome arm injury in that 2013 game against ECV, leaving him just shy of a 1,000-yard season.
“Much respect to El Cap,” El Cajon Valley head coach Nick Osborn said. “They never let go of their confidence and never let up. I also pray for good health and quick recovery for (Jones).”
Kal-el Gordon rushed for 87 yards on 21 carries for El Cajon Valey (1-4, 0-1).
“We had success on our offense moving the ball consistently but in the end, we just didn’t keep up but turnovers stalled out those drives,” Osborn said.
Cosio had four solo tackles, also completed a 45-yard pass to Gordon, who had 73 yards receiving for 160 total yards on the night.
“I believe this every week and the greatest enemy or opponent that we face each week is ourselves,” El Cajon Valley head coach Nick Osborn said. “Alignment mistakes, too many costly turnovers, and big pass plays on their part put us behind especially going into the second half. The game ran away from us in the second half but with turnover, after turnover, we were defeating ourselves.
“As a staff and as players we know we need to do better. We don’t care what anyone thinks, our boys have a chance to win every game in the league this year but we have to put together complete games to do so.”
El Capitan will head to its bye week, while the Braves are set to face winless Monte Vista, the defending league champs, in Spring Valley on Friday.
VAQUEROS 48, BRAVES 7
El Capitan (4-1).. 7 7 20 14 – 48
ECV — Cosio 14 pass from Jacobs (Cosio kick)
ECap — A. Yokley 48 pass from S. Yokley (Dietrich kick)
ECap — Diaz 23 pass from S. Yokley (Dietrich kick)
ECap — S. Yokley 5 run (run failed)
ECap — A. Yokley 34 pass from S. Yokley (Dietrich kick)
ECap — Diaz 40 run (Dietrich kick)
ECap — Newland 16 run (Dietrich kick)
ECap — Russell 5 run (Dietrich kick)
