EL CAJONEL CAJON — Aside from one glorious football season in 2014, El Capitan is quite pleased to once again be in position to compete for a league championship.
In its rightful position in the Grossmont Conference. In the Valley League. After six mostly painful seasons in the Grossmont Hills League with perennial county contenders Helix, Granite Hills, Steele Canyon and Grossmont.
The Vaqueros accomplished step No. 1 on Friday night in overwhelming host El Cajon Valley, 48-7, to open Valley League play. It was the first time these two had played in eight seasons.
“Is that not crazy it’s been that long,” said El Capitan coach Ron Burner, who is in his 17th season. “This is where we ought to be. That other league was like purgatory.”
Savigon Yokley threw three touchdown es and ran for another to lead the Vaqueros (4-1, 1-0) past the Braves (1-4, 0-1). He was 7 for 10 ing for 169 yards and rushed seven times for 66 yards.
Two of those TDs went to his twin, Antwone Yokley. The first was 48 yards on a seeming desperation heave at the end of the first quarter. The second covered 34 yards after Savigon scrambled left, threw off his back foot and was hit hard by a Braves defender only to watch Antwone haul in the long toss a few steps short of the goal line.
“He’s my main receiver, and I know he’s going to be there downfield to make catches for the team.”
Time and time again. Antwone finished with four catches for 125 yards.
This one wasn’t all peaches and cream, however.
In a strange first half, the Braves took the early lead on their 11th play, following a punt return fumble recovery by Ruben Cosio at the 17-yard line. Three plays later, Cosio corralled a short from Daniel Jacobs and turned it into a 14-yard TD. Cosio also converted the PAT to make it 7-0 at 4:49 before El Captain ran a single play.
On the last play of the first quarter, Savigon Yokley found Antwone Yokley deep down field for a 48-yard TD to tie the game.
Late in the half, following a fumble recovery by Chad Allread, Yokley connected on a short to tailback Angel Diaz, who turned it into a 23-yard TD to give the Vaqueros a 14-7 lead with 0:47 left.
On the next play for ECV, Cosio took a handoff and tossed a 55-yard to Kal-El Gordon to 2-yard line. Jacobs was then sacked by Diaz for a loss of 17 yards. Then, Savigon Yokley intercepted a in the end zone and returned it 60 yards with 0:06 left.
However, El Cap’s Jacob Jones suffered a severe left leg injury and was taken away by ambulance. The half ended 14-7, but it was all El Capitan after intermission.
Savigon Yokley started it with a 5-yard TD keeper and then hit his brother for a 34-yard TD before Diaz rushed for a 40-yard TD to make it 34-7.
Backup QB Bruce Newland rushed for a 16-yard TD, and Andrew Russell scooped up an offensive fumble and tip-toed the last 5 yards for the final tally.
Diaz rushed eight times for 75 yards. The Vaqueros forced five turnovers to enhance their field position greatly.
“It just comes down to execution,” said El Cajon coach Nick Osborn. “Things break down. It’s the little things. We shot ourselves in the foot several times. You can’t win like that.”
El Capitan has a bye next week before playing host to Santana, also considered a strong contender to win the Valley League.
Lindgren is a freelance writer.
Grossmont Valley League
EL CAPITAN 48, EL CAJON VALLEY 7
El Capitan 7 7 20 14 — 48
El Cajon Valley 7 0 0 0 — 7
ECV — Cosio 14 from Jacobs (Cosio kick)
ECap — A. Yokley 48 from S. Yokley (Dietrich kick)
ECap — Diaz 23 from S. Yokley (Dietrich kick)
ECap — S. Yokley 5 run (run failed)
ECap — A. Yokley 34 from S. Yokley (Dietrich kick)
ECap — Diaz 40 run (Dietrich kick)
ECap — Newland 16 run (Dietrich kick)
ECap — Russell 5 run (Dietrich kick)
