Down goes Carlsbad.
La Costa Canyon upset its crosstown and Avocado West League rival 37-21 on Friday, handing the previously undefeated Lancers, the county’s top-ranked team, their first loss of the season.
Friday nights have been unpredictable this season. Mission Hills shut out LCC 14-0, Carlsbad beat Mission Hills 38-21, and the Mavericks completed the cycle by knocking off the Lancers.
“It felt great to beat them,” LCC senior tight end Jake Hopper told The Coast News. “We very clearly outline before every season that beating our rivals is of huge importance to us, so we took on this week with tons of focus and preparation.
“We talk about being ‘homegrown’ all the time in our program. We all played Pop Warner together and grew up together. We don’t really have any transfers, and it just speaks to our culture as a team that we do things the right way, outwork and outprepare everyone we play, and get rewarded on Fridays.”
“We finally put everything together and played a complete game,” LCC junior wide receiver Blake Larson said. “We have so much belief in each other, and that says a lot about our chemistry and friendship within the team.”
“It’s always fun to play against your rivals,” senior kicker Jack Kovatch said. “I think the game is a great representation of all the hard work our team puts in each week paying off.”
The win moved the Mavericks to 6-3 heading into the final week of the regular season.
“I hope it shows the rest of San Diego who we are and what our goals are,” LCC senior offensive tackle Joey Gonzales said. “We deserve a spot in the Open Division and don’t plan on losing.”
Mavericks running back Ryder Montgomery stole the show on Friday, rushing for more than 100 yards and four touchdowns. Montgomery, who began the season as a backup, has scored 10 touchdowns in the past three games.
“When his number was called, he answered the call and went above and beyond,” Larson said.
Late in the third quarter, La Costa Canyon put the game out of reach when quarterback Jackson Miller found tight end Diego Botron down the right sideline for a 41-yard touchdown, extending the Mavericks’ lead to 30-7.
“We had tons of great players stepping up: Ryder Montgomery, Luke Labrum. I’d single out senior middle linebacker Tyler Tschop,” LCC junior linebacker George Collins said. “He’s the conductor of the defense. His IQ for the game is something else. He knows what everyone does on every play. He leads us with this discipline that keeps us locked in the whole game, and it’s truly special to play with him.”
In the loss, Carlsbad running back Darian Webb continued his torrid season, scoring three touchdowns and totaling 299 all-purpose yards.
Carlsbad closes out the regular season against Del Norte at 7:15 p.m. Oct. 30, while La Costa Canyon visits Torrey Pines at 7 p.m.
El Camino snaps 15-game losing streak
El Camino snapped a 15-game losing streak Friday night, outlasting Del Norte 24-21 at Herb Meyer Stadium for its first win in 399 days. The Wildcats’ last victory came on Sept. 19, 2025, with a 17-7 win at Apple Valley.
“I’m so proud of my team for coming together,” El Camino junior quarterback Kai Storer told The Coast News. “We haven’t had the easiest season, but every week we come out and grind and get better.”
“Everyone was very electric after the game,” El Camino senior kicker Adam Spencer said. “It was amazing to be able to bring home the win.”
The Wildcats responded to early adversity. Del Norte took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter on Madox Romans’ 1-yard touchdown run, but Storer answered with a rushing touchdown to tie the game, 7-7. After Del Norte’s Marquez Beans returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, Spencer connected on a 40-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-10 at halftime.
Beans opened the second half with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown, extending Del Norte’s lead to 21-10. Storer scored his second rushing touchdown to make it 21-17, then delivered the decisive score with a 20-yard touchdown run with about a minute remaining. Spencer’s extra point put El Camino ahead 24-21.
Storer finished with 147 rushing yards and all three of El Camino’s touchdowns.
“Kai had an absolutely amazing game and was running, throwing — that kid does it all,” Spencer said.
Storer also credited the entire team for its effort against a challenging schedule.
“We have one of the toughest schedules in San Diego County this year and have had to play ball against the toughest competition,” Storer said. “We have been battle-tested, and last night we fought so hard. Our line and defense really stepped up and collectively we all just had each other’s back and wanted this win so bad.”
Spencer has made all 15 of his extra-point attempts and six of seven field goals this season. He credited long snapper John Abernathy and holder Julius Roscoe for helping him convert his kicks.
“I couldn’t have made any of my kicks without the snap from John Abernathy or the hold from Julius Roscoe,” Spencer said.
El Camino’s defense recorded three interceptions, two by junior Brandon Williams and one by senior Alvin White. Senior wide receiver Michael Pruitt added four catches for 78 yards.
The 1-8 Wildcats travel across town to face Oceanside High in the City Championship next week to close out the regular season.
North County Scoreboard
- San Marcos 35, Torrey Pines 28
- El Camino 24, Del Norte 21
- Mission Hills 31, Rancho Bernardo 21
- La Costa Canyon 37, Carlsbad 21
- Oceanside 34, Poway 13
- Ramona 49, Escondido 7
- Fallbrook 35, Vista 0
- Santa Fe Christian 48, Escondido Charter 7
- Cathedral Catholic 42, Point Loma 7
- Westview 37, Rancho Buena Vista 20
San Diego County Top 20 — Week 10
- Carlsbad (8-1)
- Mission Hills (7-2)
- Cathedral Catholic (6-3)
- La Costa Canyon (6-3)
- Santa Fe Christian (10-0)
- Helix (7-2)
- Granite Hills (7-2)
- Lincoln (4-5)
- Oceanside (5-4)
- San Marcos (5-4)
- Rancho Bernardo (7-2)
- Torrey Pines (5-4)
- Poway (4-5)
- Del Norte (4-5)
- St. Augustine (5-4)
- Point Loma (6-3)
- Mater Dei Catholic (4-6)
- Holtville (7-2)
- El Camino (1-8)
- Ramona (5-4)
