Bonita Vista Barons 47, Chula Vista Spartans 14

The Bonita Vista Barons (7-2, 3-0) extended their three-game winning streak by dominating the point of attack and defeating the Chula Vista Spartans 47-14.

Senior RB Greg Bell had a career night with a career best 303 rushing yards on 13 carries and four total touchdowns (3 rush, 1 pass) against the Spartans. He had 154 rushing yards in the third quarter with the help of a 64-yard and 71-yard touchdown run.  The back also had one of the most alert plays I have ever seen from that position at any level. Bell took the hand off on a draw, made a couple guys miss in the backfield, got walled-off by a few Spartan defenders near the sideline and flicked the ball less than five yards downfield to Ethan Williams who does his own razzle-dazzle eluding tacklers for a 16-yard touchdown.

Everything is going right for the SDSU verbal commit as he has performed admirably in league play. In the three league games, Bell has 697 rushing yards averaging 14 yards per carry with nine touchdowns (8 rush, 1 pass). He has single-handedly put the Barons in a position to win league since 2005.

The Barons are winning games in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Their defense played stellar led by the senior line-backing core of Tristan Schultz, Atoa Fox, and Luis Pena. The secondary also had a couple interceptions with CB Jordan Ingco taking one back 45 yards to the house for a pick six in the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, Chula Vista’s (1-8, 0-3) night didn’t play out as well as their first drive might have indicated. The Spartans had their best opening drive of the season going 88 yards on 17 plays chewing up 8:30 off the clock in the first quarter. The time of possession for the Spartans in the first half kept the game close with the Spartans only down 14-7 at halftime, but after Bell took the first play from scrimmage in the second half 64 yards for the score it was all downhill from there.

In Week 11, Bell and the Barons will play at home against Otay Ranch (5-4, 2-1) and Chula Vista will travel to Eastlake (4-5, 2-1) to take on the Titans. 

PREVIEW

Bonita Vista (6-2, 2-0) looks to continue their run at the Metro-Mesa League title as they travel to Chula Vista (1-7, 0-2) to battle the Spartans.

The Barons have already beat the top two opponents, Eastlake and Olympian, in league play and have Chula Vista, who they beat last year 41-3, and Otay Ranch (4-4, 1-1) standing in their way. This will be third-year Head Coach Chris Thompson’s best season yet never having eclipsed five wins in a season.

The star player that has gotten Bonita Vista to this point is Senior RB Greg Bell, who is averaging 141 yards and two touchdowns per game. His imposing play against the Barons toughest opponents has been most impressive this year. The SDSU verbal commit has shown to play as big as the spotlight and that’s what you look for in a star player.

There is no doubt Bell could single handedly beat the Spartans, but in order for the Barons to compete in the Division III playoffs, they have to work on becoming a more complete offense. Quarterback Anthony Posada has played better of late but struggled earlier in the season against playoff teams. Gaining confidence in the passing attack against a lesser foe is a good option for a team looking to make a strong run in the playoffs.

The Baron’s haven’t won a league title since 2005, but this year is a classic story of two ships sailing in the opposite direction. The Spartans have had three different coaches in as many years and are still looking for land. Head Coach Daryl Butterfield has yet to turn the program in the right direction and hopes to stay afloat in their last two games of the season against the league’s best teams (Bonita Vista, Eastlake).

You can catch highlights of this game and all others throughout the county only on KUSI’s Prep Pigskin Report at 1030 PM.