Olympian beats Eastlake to remain undefeated

CHULA VISTA – It was a simple question coming into Friday night’s game at Eastlake: “Is Olympian’s 2-0 record for real?”

Behind a career-high performance by senior quarterback Jayden Fuentes, Olympia responded with a resounding yes.

Fuentes threw for a career-high 351 yards and three touchdowns to lead the unbeaten Eagles to a resounding 44-17 victory over Eastlake on Friday night.

“It’s not a statement, we’re here to stay,” said Fuentes, who completed 17 of 24 passes, with all three TD throws coming in the explosive second quarter for Olympian. “Honestly it’s the coaching, we have a lot of great skill players and we trust in our line.”

Entering the game, it was the first time the Eagles started 2-0 since 2016 when they beat Santa Fe Christian and Sweetwater before falling to Poway in Game 3. In that 8-5 season they lost to Mater Dei Catholic in the D2 Final. It was also the last time the Eagles beat the Titans.

In the first two games the Eagles (3-0) defeated Clairemont (36-7) and Vista (49-0) by a combined 85-7.

The last time these East Chula Vista rivals played was October 1, 2021, and Eastlake won the Metro Mesa game 54-0.

This game started innocently with a scoreless first period. Then things exploded.

On the fourth play of the second quarter Fuentes set up his 3-yard scoring pass to Mikey Talavera with a key 19-yard completion to Patrico Flatts for a 7-0 lead.

His next one was the play of the night. He dropped back, looked down the middle to senior Gio Ware streaking by the defender. He hit Ware in stride just past midfield, and Wade raced the rest of the way for the 86-yard score.

“That one to Gio was the best,” said Fuentes, who had thrown for 453 yards and five TDs in the first two games. “I saw he was one-on-one so I had to take it.”

Fuentes’ career best coming into the game was 284 yards against Escondido Charter his sophomore season.

His third TD of the quarter sent the Eagles into the locker room with a 21-3 lead as he hit Flatts for a 24-yard touchdown with 31 seconds left before intermission.

“He gives us a certain calmness as our leader,” said Olympian first-year coach Lew Barnes. “He’s our Joe Montana. He’s playing exactly as I expected.”

The Olympian defense chipped in on the scoring in the second half. On the third play after halftime, senior Jorgani Estrada intercepted an Eastlake pass and returned it 47 yards for a 27-3 lead.

The Eagles went on to add a 22-yard field goal by Eisuke Simmons and TD runs of 1 and 3 yards by Jeremiah Delgado Faucher and Walter Ignacio respectively.

Eastlake (1-2) got a pair of late TD runs by David Branco.

“I’m not going to be happy until the end of the year,” said Barnes. “Sure we have a lot of potential, but we have have a lot of hard work still to do.”

Olympian 44, Eastlake 17

Olympian – 0 21 9 14 – 44

Eastlake – 0 3 7 7 – 17

O – Talavera 3 pass from Fuentes (Simmons kick)

E – FG Vargas 25

O – Ware 86 pass from Fuentes (Simmons kick)

O – Flatts 24 pass from Fuentes (Simmons kick)

O – Estrada 53 interception return (kick failed)

O – FG Simmons 22

E – Branco 1 run (Vargas kick)

O – Faucher 1 run (Simmons kick)

O – Ignacio 3 run (Simmons kick)

E – Branco 6 run (Vargas kick)