Dons play Mustangs tough

Campbell throws for 212 yards, but Dons fall 31-22 in nonleague play Oct. 14

By Dick Sparrer

A year ago, first place in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League was on the line when Del Mar played host to Pioneer in football.

This year, the teams play in different BVAL divisions, so there was really nothing on the line when the clubs collided last Saturday night at Westmont.

But you sure couldn't tell it by the Dons.

Del Mar gave unbeaten Pioneer all it could handle before falling 31-22 when the Mustangs scored with 3:00 left in the game.

And even at that, the Dons weren't finished. Del Mar battled right down to the final minute before falling to the Mustangs in the nonleague game.

Jason Campbell completed 17 of 37 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown, but it was three interceptions that proved his undoing. When Dan Scheffer picked off a pass in the end zone with just over a minute left to play, the Mustangs were able to hang on for the victory.

But Campbell certainly had the Dons in the game most of the night.

The senior quarterback was on fire early in the game, completing the first eight passes he threw. And he helped throw a real scare at Pioneer when he hooked up with Jamin Caplin on a 55-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter to cut the Pioneer lead to just 24-22.

A Del Mar fumble a few minutes later gave the Mustangs good field position at the DM 35, but Chris McSwain gave the Dons new life when he picked off a Pioneer pass near the goal line and ran it back to the nine.

But Campbell's second-down pass was picked off and returned for a touchdown. The extra point all but did in the Dons, putting the Mustangs up by nine points.

Still, Campbell led the Dons down the field. He hooked up D.J. Eddy for eight yards, McSwain for six and Andrew Palmyra for 10 to get the Dons past midfield. Campbell went to Palmyra for 12 more to the Pioneer 32, but an interception two plays later stopped the threat.

What a game it was, though, for Campbell and the Dons.

Del Mar's first two touchdowns of the night came without the club's offense on the field.

Pioneer scored first, but the Dons made it close when Cody Sampson blocked a punt and Daniel Castaneda scooped it up at the 3-yard-line to coast in for the touchdown. The extra point kick was blocked, but the Dons trailed just 7-6.

That's how it remained until Pioneer scored with 33 seconds left in the half. But the Dons answered back quickly.

McSwain grabbed the kick off at his own 16 and raced up the middle for 84 yards and a touchdown. The pass for the 2-pointer fell incomplete, but the Dons trailed just 14-12 at intermission.

Pioneer kicked a field goal in the third quarter to lead 17-12, but the Dons answered again. A heads-up play by Nick Salvador to cover a fumbled punt gave the Dons possession at third own 32, and Campbell tossed 23 yards to McSwain and 16 yards to Palmyra to set up a 39-yard field goal by Ted Perry.

This time it was Pioneer answering quickly. Andrew Orpeza returned the Del Mar kick off 88 yards for a touchdown to put Pioneer up 24-15.

There was no quit in the Dons, though. Eric Garza recovered a punt fumbled by Pioneer, and after a penalty and a 9-yard loss, Campbell hit Caplin in stride with a perfect pass for a 55-yard touchdown. Perry's kick cut the lead to 24-22 with 11:50 left in the game.

But that was as close as the Dons would get. Campbell led Del Mar to a 270-yard night offensively with his 17 pass completions for 212 yards. Palymra caught six passes for 76 yards, Kyle Kelly four for 18, McSwain three for 34 and Caplin two for 59.

Palmyra led the rushing attack for the Dons with 12 carries for 72 yards.

Salvador, Garza and Jeremy Beene were the tackling leaders for Del Mar with eight stops each. Sampson got in on six tackles and McSwain, Donald Warren, Palmyra and Daniel Mayorquin were in on four each.

Jerry Walker and Senad Kraja finished with three tackles apiece. Walker joined with Salvador to sack the Pioneer quarterback.

Greg Johnson, Caplin and Zack Alexander were others in on tackles for the Dons.

Del Mar, now 3-3 for the year and 1-1 in the Santa Teresa Division, will return to league play this week. The Dons will celebrate their homecoming when they host Willow Glen on Oct. 21, 1:30 p.m.

Warriors fall

Westmont lost a lopsided 55-0 decision to Piedmont Hills last Friday night in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.

Senior quarterback Chris Snyder had a big night in the loss, completing 9 of 20 passes for 152 yards. Todd Bethke pulled in four passes for the Warriors and Brian Mazikowski and Connor McDonald caught two apiece.

Westmont, playing without three starters on the defensive unit, could not stop the powerful Pirates. What's more, the Warriors could manage just 34 yards rushing in the loss.

The Warriors, 3-3 for the year and 0-2 in league play, will try to get back on the winning track this week when they host Andrew Hill on Oct. 20, 7:15 p.m. The Falcons are 3-3 for the year and 1-1 in league play after pounding Willow Glen 60-29 last Saturday.

Washington scores

Saladin Washington scored again, but the Prospect football team was crushed 62-8 by Gunderson.

Washington scored on a 1-yard run in the second period and Curtis Wills passed for the 2-point conversion to cut the Gunderson lead to 21-8 before intermission, but the Grizzlies scored six unanswered touchdowns in the second half.

Prospect fell to 2-4 for the year and to 1-2 in league play with the loss. The Panthers will take a week away from the Santa Teresa Division scheduled this week when they host Overfelt on Oct. 21, 7:15 p.m., at Westmont in a nonleague game.

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