Eastlake starts 2025 with shutout win over Bonita Vista

by Kevin J. Farmer

CHULA VISTA – Eastlake head football coach Jose Mendoza really likes his team. He likes them better after Week 1.

“We may have lost some kids to transfer or whatever, but we worry about ourselves and what we have and the group we have,” said Mendoza. “There’s something special about them, they get along so well and it shows in the way they’re playing.”

After a slow start, Mendoza’s Titans were ignited by a late first-half touchdown that carried over to a dominate third quarter as they went on to down host Bonita Vista 21-0 Friday night in the season opener at the Barons’ campus field.

The victory in the 2025 rendition of The Boot Rivalry Game was the ninth straight win for Eastlake over the Barons, taking a 19-14-1 lead in the series.

“I think we could have done better, we came out pretty slow,” said quarterback Tyler Balko. “You kind of expect that though in a rivalry game like this. There was a lot of talking out there.”

Balko (6-for-13, 51 yards, TD), had his best drive of the night as Eastlake took over the ball with three minutes left in the first half at their own 27.

His completions on the drive, including the 18-yard score to junior Jovani Ceja, came with just 57 seconds left before halftime. JP Navarrete had a pair of key runs on the drive of 17 and 15 yards.

“We worked on scrambling out on a roll and we’re starting to get to know where everybody is,” explained Balko. “It felt kind of surreal being my first TD of my senior year.”

The next two scores came on a pair of explosions by junior running back Navarrete.

On the eighth play of the opening drive of the second half, Balko looked like he was handing off to the left on a sweep. He then slyly tucked the ball in Navarrete’s belly, who exploded up the middle for the 15-yard score with 9:17 left in the third quarter.

“I knew we had all the momentum coming out in the second half,” said Balko.

“It seems you always start the way you finish,” said Mendoza. “I think it gave us a lot of confidence.”

A special team’s play by senior Anthony Zaravia set up the final score of the night. Zaravia blocked a Barons punt with 2:10 left in the third quarter, recovering it at the Bonita 19.

Navarrete’s second explosion up the middle for a score came on the first play after the blocked punt.

Navarrete finished the night leading all rushers with 114 yards on just 12 carries and a pair of TDs.

As for the Eastlake defense, Mendoza was pleased more than he thought.

“I love it; we just line up and read our keys,” said Mendoza. “Honestly, that’s tough offense to stop, I never expected a shutout. But I’ll take it.”