Your Local SEO and Digital Marketing Experts in San Diego County
LAKESIDE – With his team gathered around him, El Capitan High School football coach Ron Burner held an oversized Southern California Regional plaque overhead and yelled out a question.
“You know what this means?” Burner said. “Means we’re going to state!”
The Vaqueros, Division 5-AA champions, earned the right to advance with a 33-19 win over Victorville Silverado at home on a frigit Friday night.
El Capitan 11-3, winners of 10 in a row, advances to the state championship game against the winner of Summerville and Sacred Heart Prep on Friday at Fullerton UHSD Stadium.
El Capitan dominated the first half, but led just 7-0.
The Vaqueros put together a 12-play, 45-yard drive late in the half with quarterback Brandt Barker scrambling the last six yards for the score.
El Capitan let an opportunity slip away late in the first quarter, taking possession at the Silverado 5 after a blocked punt.
Two runs netted a yard, then Barker threw incomplete in the end zone.
Brayden Ford tried a 21-yard field goal that hit the upright.
The second half was completely different as Barker threw for 243 yards and finished with 306.
He had touchdown tosses of 56 yards to Michael Valencia and 20 yards to Ayden Benegas.
Barker also had a 60-yard completion to Logan Dulyea that broke Silverado’s back late in the game. And Barker had a 37-yarder to Benegas, a 24-yarder to Brady Copp and passes of 38, 24 and 16 yards to Valencia.
“We just started making plays,” Barker said. “Our offense line is a little beaten up, so we were a little conservative in the first half. Kind of just feeling them out.
“Coach fired us up at halftime, and we got after it.”
Valencia, who had four catches for 134 yards, said Silverado was the best team the Vaqueros have faced.
“They are one of the most athletic teams we’ve faced,” Valencia said. “They were quick and physical. But we got it done.”
The defense played well for El Cap, holding Silverado (9-6) quarterback Jace Weiss to 219 yards on 13 of 30 attempts. Most of his yards came on big plays as the Hawks were forced to throw the ball while trailing.
Weiss came into the game having thrown for 2,998 yards and 37 TDs.
Marlon Ames, Tod Carter and Evan Ortega put the pressure on Weiss the entire game.
The Hawks were held to 24 yards net rushing.
“Honestly, when we started the season 1-3, I didn’t know if this was possible,” Barker said.
“But we came together, stayed together and got it done.”El Capitan last got this far in the postseason 10 years ago, winning a SoCal title before losing in the State Championship.
El Capitan 33, Silverado 19
Silverado 0 0 13 6 – 19El Capitan 0 7 17 9 – 33
EC — Barker 6 run (Ford kick)
EC — Valencia 56 pass from Barker (Ford kick)
S — Foster 85 kickoff return (Ortega kick)
EC— Benegas 20 pass from Barker (Ford kick)
EC — FG Ford 27
S — Tharpe 16 pass from Weiss (kick failed)
EC — FG Ford 35
EC — Copp 5 run (kick failed)
S — Tharpe 43 pass from Weiss (pass failed)
Originally Published:
Your Local SEO and Digital Marketing Experts in San Diego County
