Oceanside CA— Fresh off a big road 41-10 win at San Pasqual last week, the undefeated Wildcats played host to the La Costa Canyon Mavericks in El Camino’s Homecoming game, Friday night at Herb Meyer Stadium. A storybook ending wasn’t to be for the Wildcats (5-1, 0-1) as the Mavericks (5-1, 1-0) stopped a late fourth quarter drive defeating El Camino 34-28.
In just his second varsity start, 15 year-old sophomore quarterback, Jaden Casey got the Wildcats on the board first with a 18 yard touchdown pass to John Armentrout on their second possession of the game, 0-7 with 3:59 left in the first quarter.
The Mavericks struck right back on their second possession when Junior quarterback, Tanner Clark, capped a five play drive with a 15 yard sprint to the endzone, 7-7, 2:13 left in the first period.
Nine seconds later, on the first play from scrimmage, a fumble on a bad snap exchange was recovered by the Mavericks, Sam Johnson in the end-zone and quickly, La Costa Canyon was up 14-7.
La Costa would score again when Zach Goodkin caught a pass from Tanner Clark in mid-stride, broke a tackle and sprinted 63 yards for the score, 21-7 with 9:29 left in the second quarter.
The Wildcats threatened again, in the second period, but Caseys pass bounced off the outstretched hands of Josten Ignacio, at the Mavericks 2 yard-line, and intercepted by Pierce Maczko who returned the ball to the La Costa 22.
El Camino did get on the board late in the second quarter on touchdown reception by John Armentrout with 50 seconds left in the half, 21-14.
In the 50 seconds left in the half, Tanner Clark engineered a five play drive, with two key receptions by Zach Goodkin which resulted in a 34 yard field goal by Jake Koehnke as time ran out, 24-14 at the half.
The halftime show featured more than 400 El Camino High-school students, fireworks and the crowning of Stevie Silvano as Homecoming Queen.
The fireworks didn’t end at halftime. The Mavericks had the ball deep in their own territory when, all of a sudden, a barrage of fireworks went off from behind the north end-zone disrupting play in an already long, penalty filled game that took more than three hours to complete.(See video below)
The Mavericks would up their lead after blocking a punt at the Wildcats 8 yard-line. After a penalty and a sack moved the Mavericks back, Tanner Clark hit Conner Rafferty for a 15 yard TD and a 31-14 lead with 6 minutes gone in the third quarter.
Casey led the Wildcats on a quick four play drive with a big 22 yard reception by John Armentrout and a strike to Aris Jackson for the touchdown 31-21.
Aris Jackson would come up big on the other side of the ball when he made a touchdown saving tackle on Kyle Wadda at the Wildcats 20 yard-line. The Mavericks would settle for three points and a 34-21 lead with just over 2:00 minutes left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, on third and 18 at the Maverick 48 yard-line, Jaden Casey hit John Armentrout at the La Costa Canyon 14 yard-line where he was brought down by Connor Brown. Two plays later, Casey hit tight-end, Manuell Kariuki for the score. PAT good and it was 34-28 with 6:26 left in the game.
A fumble on La Costa Canyons next possession, at mid-field, gave the Wildcats an opportunity to take the lead but excellent coverage by the Mavericks secondary caused two coverage sacks on Casey to preserve the win.
Up next for the Wildcats is a road game at Vista (2-4, 1-0) who beat Del Norte 22-0. La Costa Canyon will host cross-town rivals, Carlsbad (3-3, 1-0) who beat Torrey Pines (1-5, 0-1), 35-14.
In other scores, the Oceanside Pirates (4-2, 0-0) were soundly defeated at Mission Hills (6-0, 0-0) 0-45. Oceanside will travel to play Torrey Pines next Friday. Mission Hills will travel to RBV (0-6, 0-1) who lost at San Marcos (4-2, 1-0), 49-14
Fallbrook- 28
Escondido- 14
Valley Center- 10
San Pasqual- 16
Classical Academy- 20
Army-Navy- 7
La Costa Canyon Holds off El Camino Rally
October 10, 2015
John Armentrout leaps over La Costa defenders