Week 3 South Bay Game of the Week: Hilltop Lancers 43, San Ysidro Cougars 3

Javin Deanda and Marko Aki continue to dominate defenses as they connected for four touchdowns blowing the Hilltop Lancers past San Ysidro, 43-3, in our South Bay Game of the Week. 

Aki, our Big Pig on Campus winner, had five receptions for 74 yards and touchdowns from 4, 1, 27, and 40 yards out.

Hilltop (3-0) came out the gates slower than anticipated, possibly due to a 45-minute delay in kickoff, but it was the running game that opened up their passing attack. 

Running back Jeremiah Serrano gashed the Cougar defense for 105 yards in the first half on only seven carries. He also maneuvered his way in for a nine-yard touchdown accounting for seven touchdowns (6 rush, 1 receiving) on the season. 

The Lancer defense had to step up in a major way and did with big hits resulting in turnovers. San Ysidro’s last three offensive possessions ended in forced fumbles from the Lancer defense. The offense capitalized on all three of those possessions with touchdowns.

It was only a 6-0 score at the end of the first quarter, but Hilltop shifted it into gear scoring 34 unanswered to end the first half.

Hilltop will look to remain undefeated as they host Valhalla (2-0) in Week 4, and San Ysidro (0-3) will stay on the road traveling to Crawford (1-2) to play the Colts.  

PREVIEW

Back-to-back Metro-South Bay champions, the Hilltop Lancers (2-0), get their first crack at South Bay Game of the Week in 2019, hosting the San Ysidro Cougars (0-2) for their home opener in Week 3.

Head coach Andrew Westling, entering his fourth year, has not had a start to a season like this, scoring 92 points through the first two games.

The combination of Javin Deanda and Marko Aki has been the best quarterback-receiver tandem in the County through the first two weeks.

Deanda, second in the county with 750 passing yards, has a clean slate of five passing touchdowns and no interceptions. Aki leads the County with 382 receiving yards and 22 receptions. Wide receiver Lai Zumstein has also made an impact through two games, averaging 21 yards per catch on seven catches for 149 yards and one touchdown.

Hilltop running back Jeremiah Serrano balances the Lancer attack rushing for 224 yards — second-best in Division III. The senior back has also added six receptions for 108 yards totaling six touchdowns (five rush, one receiving).

Hilltop is the hottest team in the South Bay heading into Week 3 and they will be tough to beat as they’re hitting on all cylinders offensively.

Defensively is another story. The Lancers have played on the road against quality offenses in El Capitan and Escondido. However, allowing more than 40 points per game to begin the season is an area of improvement that coach Westling surely will look to improve on.

San Ysidro lost a close contest, 20-14, in Week 1 against Mission Bay, and did not fare well in Week 2, losing to Bonita Vista, 57-0.

The Cougars are ready to bounce back against a formidable foe. They will look to ride the legs of running back Josue Juarez. Juarez leads the team with 117 rushing yards averaging six yards per tote. The senior is a dual-threat back with four receptions, second-best on the team.

Make sure to catch the highlights on KUSI’s Prep Pigskin Report at 11 p.m. and follow @RedJacketArmy for live updates.