GRANADA HILLS — El Camino Real football’s pass attack and stonewall defense earned the team its first West Valley League win over the year on Friday.
The Royals took down the Highlanders, 28-8, stuffing run after run throughout the night, allowing Granada Hills to get going on just one drive.
“Coach (Stephen) Perry, the defensive coordinator, came up with a great scheme, and our defense made a lot of plays that Granada Hills is not used to seeing,” said El Camino coach Rick Hayashida. “The offense did enough, so it was a good night for everybody.”
El Camino (3-4, 1-1) was led on offense by sophomore quarterback Gabriel Varga, who added a pair of touchdowns and a smooth 234-yard night through the air.
The Highlanders defense had no answer for the Royals’ short pass game early on, as numerous bubble screens and quick slants gutted Granada Hills (3-4, 1-1).
Varga was flawless early in the game as he completed his first 10 passes until a spike late in the second. The quarterback led two more scoring drives in the third quarter, but running backs Shane Bogacz and Takia Campbell punched in short-rushing scores.
The sophomore’s connection with senior receiver AJ Gupta was on display as the receiver had seven receptions for 152 yards and the game’s only receiving touchdown.
El Camino Real opened up the scoring with a short pass to Gupta. The senior didn’t have a ton of room, but that didn’t stop the speedy wideout from blowing by everyone for a 40-yard touchdown.
Varga led the second drive of the night from the pass attack as well, but punched in a 1-yard quarterback sneak to go up 14-0.
Varga wasn’t planning on being the starter in 2025, but an injury to senior quarterback Arturo Acevedo put the sophomore into the lineup.
“As a sophomore, (Varga) wasn’t really in the picture of playing probably this year, because our returning varsity starter from last year was returning, but he never flinched, stepped up, and so far, he has done a really nice job,” Hayashida said.
The Highlanders found life at the end of the second quarter behind more running. Granada Hills had been itching to be home after being on the road since week one back in August, but could only muster up one score, a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Michael Osuna. Senior running back Dean Rosales, who is already over 1,000 yards this season, was blanketed by the El Camino defense all night but still managed 63 rushing yards.
The Highlanders threw the ball only five times and called 39 rushes during the game, but the Royals defense was ready every time and allowed just 1 passing yard. El Camino Real junior Brody Lauritzen also added a pick in the win.
The Royals have now won three straight matchups over Granada Hills and pick up a little momentum heading into the thick of West Valley League play.
Hayashida just wants to see fewer penalties and his team play four strong quarters as they strive for a league title and postseason run.
“We played Palisades fairly well for a while. We played Birmingham really well for the first half, so if we can just stay healthy and play four quarters. I think we’re pretty good,” Hayashida said.
The Royals will look to keep it going back at home next Friday against Cleveland while Granada Hills remains home to host Chatsworth.