DANA POINT – If opposing wide receivers couldn’t escape the coverage of Capistrano Valley’s defense, then fourth-year head coach Ernie Bucher had no chance. To stay dry, that is.
As time expired on a 64-13 win over Dana Hills, the Cougars gave their coach a bath as Capistrano Valley claimed the outright Sea View League title Friday at Dana Hills High. It’s the program’s first outright title since 1989 and first Sea View League title since splitting with Laguna Hills and Dana Hills. The Cougars (9-1, 4-0) are ranked No. 3 in Division 5.
Once again, defense, which ended the season allowing 8 points per game, played a pivotal role for the Cougars (9-1, 4-0). Rafael Ramos put Capo on the board with a 25-yard interception return on the second play of the game and Nolan Reeve recovered a fumble in the end zone late in the second quarter.
The Cougars intercepted Dana Hills quarterback Corey Cisowski four times.
“It’s fun to watch our defense play, (defensive coach) Dave Ricci does a great job,” Bucher said. “We’re going to need that in the playoffs.”
Kevin Brown and Nathan Manning split time at quarterback and combined for four touchdown passes. Riley Kasper caught two of them, while Michael Dyer and Justin Burk caught one each.
Down 50-0 at halftime, Dana Hills (1-9, 0-4) found a spark on back-to-back possessions on a Ryder Lynch 1-yard TD run and a 15-yard TD pass from Cisowski to Christopher Gabriel.
