El Cajon Ford East County GOTW: Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders 41, El Capitan Vaqueros 14

RECAP: The El Cajon Ford East County Game of the Week ventured to El Capitan High School for our week two featured match up.  It was the season opener for the Vaqueros, who hosted the PPR’s 7th ranked Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders.  The Crusader’s lone loss in their 2015 State Championship season was to the Vaqueros, after they had to forfeit their previous victory due to an ineligible player. 

The Vaquero defense started this year’s contest strong.  Antonio Olivieri came up with three big plays, including a sack, on the game’s opening drive.  Connor Roosa also picked up a sack for a loss of 6 later in the first quarter.  The Crusaders finally broke through the defense and drew first blood at the end of the first quarter.  After converting on a 4th and 12 play, Mater Dei Quarterback Chris Jones found Kyle Moses for the touchdown.  The point after attempt was no good, putting Mater Dei up 6-0 entering the second quarter.

Moses and Oregon bound CJ Verdell continued to wreak havoc on the Vaqueros for the rest of the game.  Verdell darted through four attempted tackles 21 yards to the endzone early in the second quarter.  Then Moses, now on defense, snagged an El Cap pass and returned it 57 yards for the score. 

Jovan Bayless picked up the Crusader’s second interception of the game a short time later.  Mater Dei capitalized on this turnover, as well, with a Chris Jones to Quentin Frazier touchdown connection to put the Crusaders up 25-0 at half. 

Verdell led the Crusaders’ charge in the second half with a 62 yard touchdown run to put Mater Dei up 32-0.

The Vaqueros got on the board on their next possession.  Steven Hosaka, in double coverage, made a great grab in the endzone on a laser thrown by Phoenix Cates.

The Crusaders responded on the ensuing kick off – and Moses completed the scoring trifecta – returning the kick 79 yards for another touchdown.  Moses finished the night with an offensive, defensive and special teams touchdown.

The Vaqueros added another late touchdown on a 16 yard scamper by Connor Roosa, but this one was all Mater Dei as the Crusaders took it 41-14.

PREVIEW: The 2016 Week 2 El Cajon Ford East County Game of Week takes us to El Capitan High School where the Vaqueros are hosting the Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders.  The Vaqueros are coming off of a week one bye; while the Crusaders enter with a 1-0 record after a convincing 48-7 victory over Mar Vista.

The Crusaders are the defending Division III State Champions, finishing 2015 with a 14-1 overall record.  Their lone loss came on a forfeit to El Capitan (who finished the season 2-9) which means this week’s match up may provide some great bulletin board material and motivation for the returning players disappointed about last season’s only blemish.  Mater Dei has 17 starters from last year’s championship squad back, including Running Back and Oregon commit CJ Verdell and Quarterback Chris Jones. 

Vaquero Head Coach Ron Burner said not to count his team out against the Crusaders just yet.  “We are going to surprise some people this year,” Coach Burner stated.  He noted that although they had a down season last year, the Vaquero defense is returning most of its key players and that defense “kept us in a lot of games last year.  There was only one game that we weren’t still within three points at the half.”  He also added that Senior Quarterback Phoenix Cates had arrived to El Capitan with only two weeks left in camp last year.  Now he “has been in the system for a year.  He understands the offense and he looks good”.

We will have previews from the week two East County Game of the Week during the Friday Pre-PR at 5pm and 6pm and all of the highlights during the Prep Pigskin Report at 10:30pm.