Hilltop Lancers 35, Chula Vista Spartans 33

The Hilltop Lancers (2-1) erased a 13-point deficit to defeat Chula Vista in a nail biter, 35-33, to bring the Kiwanis Trophy back to Hilltop.

The Spartans (0-3) jumped out to an early 20-7 lead after rushing touchdowns by running backs Adrian Corona and Gabriel Munoz and quarterback Emiliano Orozco. The ground game was effective for Coach Butterfiled and the Spartans early as Adrian Corona rushed 12 times for 145 yards in the first half.

However, late in the second quarter is when the Lancers turned the momentum converting on a long fourth down with a fake punt. Alex Tejada, the starting quarterback and punter, threw the ball deep to Luis Hernandez for a 38-yard hookup. That set up Noe Sanchez punching it in from 2 yards out to bring the score 20-13.

To open up the second half with the ball, Hilltop pulled another rabbit out of their hat with a second fake punt this time Tejada connecting with tight end Niko Santana for 26 yards. Tejada capped the drive off with a 10-yard touchdown, his second rushing score of the night, to put the Lancers ahead 21-20.

On the ensuing drive, Chula Vista tried their own trickery with a fake punt that came up 1-yard short, but their defense kept them in the game stopping Hilltop on a fourth-and-1 late in the third quarter.

The penalties were racking up for the Spartans in the second half while the Lancers were racking up yards on offense. By the time running back Michael Gomez found a hole off the left side for a 4-yard score to put Hilltop up 28-20, Alex Tejada had connected with Luis Hernandez seven times for 150 yards in the air.

Meanwhile, Hilltop kept the Kiwanis Bowl Series trend alive as the road team has won the last three meetings between the two programs. The series is still in favor of the Spartans, leading 10-4, but the Lancers have won the last 2-of-3.

Looking towards Week 4, Hilltop will head back home to play Grossmont (2-0) while Chula Vista will get another crack at home against Sweetwater (0-3) to continue the county’s longest rivalry in its 69th season.

PREVIEW

In Week 3, the PPR travels to Chula Vista (0-2) where the Spartans battle the Hilltop Lancers (1-1) in the 14th Annual Kiwanis Bowl.

The rivalry between Chula Vista and Hilltop goes back to 1959 when Hilltop was first established giving the city of Chula Vista its second high school.

The South Bay’s best known rivalry involves Chula Vista and Sweetwater who currently play in the county’s longest rivalry heading into its 69th year, but the Kiwanis Bowl trophy has resurrected the importance of the rivalry between two programs that are separated by 2 miles.

When looking at the programs in 2015, Hilltop has the slight advantage with an 8-6 win in the season opener against Castle Park. The Spartans haven’t competed at any point this season through the first two weeks.

First-year Head Coach Daryl Butterfield, who was denied the head coaching position the season before, is having difficulty on offense and defense being outscored 94-24 by their opponents.

It’s hard to find something positive when a team loses 50-0 like the Spartans did to San Marcos last week, but they have their first home game of the season and the Spartans lead the Kiwanis series 10-3.

Make sure to catch the highlights on the Prep Pigskin Report at 1030 PM Friday Night.