Roundup : Chula Vista Dream Is Southwest’s Loss

Chula Vista free safety Jose Perez had a prophetic dream Thursday night. He envisioned intercepting a pass in Friday night’s game against Southwest at Montgomery High to win it for the Spartans.

And so he did. And Chula Vista defeated Southwest, 10-0, to raise its record to 4-0 in the Metro Conference and take over sole position of first place.

With 3:22 left in the second period, Southwest had a first and 10 on the Chula Vista 19 when Southwest quarterback Richard Delano put the ball up. Amid a sea of Spartan jerseys, Perez intercepted the pass, cut right, broke 2 tackles and scored on a 96-yard return. Art Castro’s kick made it 7-0.

“It was so weird,” Perez said. “I can’t believe it. I had this dream last night. I thought what if I intercept and pass and run it back to win the game for us.”

Perez and his teammates in the secondary won the game for the Spartans, putting constant pressure on Southwest’s primary receivers, Will Tate and Dion Walker.

Chula Vista’s other score came on Castro’s 25-yard field goal with 2:22 to play.

Southwest threatened late in the first period when running back Hubert Phillips ran up the middle for 46 yards to the Chula Vista 4. But a clipping penalty after the whistle gave Southwest a first and goal at the 19 and the scoring opportunity ended with a missed field goal attempt.