‘We broke their streak!’: Otay Ranch upsets previously unbeaten Olympian

by Kevin J. Farmer

It was the drive the Otay Ranch High football team has been waiting for all year.

All the Mustangs’ early-season frustrations went away as they drove 80 yards in 11 plays, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 32 seconds left to claim a thrilling 35-31 victory over arch-rival Olympian in a non-league game Friday night at Olympian High School. Otay Ranch improves to 2-4, while Olympian fell to 5-1.

The loss ended Olympians’ perfect season, another reason for joy for the Mustangs.

“My heart was pounding on that last drive,” said junior running back Jaidon Castillo, who carried the ball seven times in the drive, accounting for 63 yards. “It was my time. I was tired, but I had to go. Plus, we broke their streak!”

After Olympian rallied to take a 31-28 lead with 6:04 left in the game on a one-yard run by Walter Ignacio, Castillo (22 carries, 156 yards) rushed the ball all but twice on the drive.

The one pass turned out to be AJ Lopez’s third TD pass of the night, a two-yarder to the wide open Xander Mendez with just 32 seconds remaining.

“I saw some guys grow up out there tonight,” said Otay Ranch head coach Howard Bannister. “We lost 44 seniors from last year so we didn’t have a lot of experience. We could be 4-1 and not 1-4 if not for some of that inexperience. They grew up tonight.”

Down 21-10 at the half, Olympian fell behind 28-10 just over five minutes into the second half on a Lopez-to-Deinko Williams 29-yard TD pass.

But the Eagles didn’t quit.

First, Olympian quarterback Jayden Fuentes (14-of-38, 215 yards, 2 TD) hit Andie Deanda (seven receptions, 117 yards, TD) for a 39-yard score up the right sideline to cut it to 28-17.

The defense then jumped in as Jorgani Estrada picked off a Lopez pass and returned it 52-yards to close to 28-24 with 8:30 left in the third quarter before Ignacio gave the Eagles their only lead of the game.

“At half we talked about character,” said Olympian coach Lew Barnes. “We really showed it coming back that way.”

It was a big play which gave the Mustangs the early lead.

Senior David Smith took a screen pass over the middle from Lopez, found an opening and raced 67 yards for a 7-0 lead with 7:03 left in the opening quarter.

The Eagles answered back, driving 73 yards in 14 plays, with Fuentes hitting Ignacio on a fade pass to the left from the 4 on a fourth and goal play with 1:37 left in the quarter.

Olympian would take 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter on a 34-yard field goal by Eisuke Simmons.

Otay Ranch scored twice in the final 2:03 to take a 21-10 lead at halftime.

First Lopez hit Christian Walker for a 43-yard score and after a quick four-play stop, got the ball back. Seven plays later Lopez went in on a quarterback sneak from the 1 on the final play of the half.