Not every football weekend belongs to the varsity scoreboard.

This one certainly didn’t.

Vista High, Rancho Buena Vista and Tri-City Christian all came home from Friday-night road games without the result they wanted. Madison defeated Vista 50-0, San Pasqual topped RBV 31-21, and Hamilton edged Tri-City Christian 28-20.

But there was still a Vista football team celebrating.

Rancho Buena Vista’s freshmen shut out San Pasqual 13-0, giving the Longhorns program a bright spot on an otherwise difficult week.

Freshman Longhorns Put One in the Win Column

While varsity gets most of the Friday-night attention, RBV’s younger players earned a moment of their own.

The freshman Longhorns defeated San Pasqual 13-0, keeping the Golden Eagles off the scoreboard entirely.

Coach Ariel Savage celebrated the result afterward, calling it a big win and describing the group as “special.”

Freshman football may not get the biggest headlines, but these are the players beginning to build the next chapters of the program. A road shutout deserves some recognition.

So this week, the younger Longhorns get top billing.

Update — Sept. 7: The younger Longhorns weren’t finished. RBV’s JV squad also came away with a convincing win over San Pasqual, defeating the Golden Eagles 32-16. That gives Rancho Buena Vista two victories at the younger levels this week — a 13-0 freshman shutout and a 32-16 JV win.

RBV Varsity Battles San Pasqual

Rancho Buena Vista entered Friday looking to build on its 35-14 victory over Sweetwater.

San Pasqual came away with the win instead, defeating RBV 31-21 and moving the Longhorns to 1-2 overall. 

RBV still found the end zone three times on the road, and the Longhorns now turn their attention to another away matchup.

Rancho Buena Vista visits Monte Vista on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. 

A Difficult Night for the Panthers

Vista High ran into a strong Madison team Friday night and fell 50-0. 

The Panthers are now 0-3, but their first three games haven’t all looked the same. Vista opened the season by putting up 46 points in a one-point loss to Sweetwater, then scored 20 against Olympian before Friday’s difficult trip to Madison.

Now comes another week and another chance to reset.

Vista visits Army-Navy Academy on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. 

JV Panthers Keep Building

Vista’s JV squad also faced Madison this week, falling 27-0 according to information supplied directly to North Valley Flare by local contributor Eduardo Javier Aguilar.

This group already knows what a win feels like, though.

The JV Panthers opened the season with an 8-0 shutout of Sweetwater before their losses to Olympian and Madison.

Wins matter. Losses matter. So does another week of practice, game experience and development for the players working their way through the program.

Tri-City Comes Up Eight Points Short

Tri-City Christian was also on the road Friday.

Hamilton defeated the Eagles 28-20, handing Tri-City its first loss after opening the season with two straight victories. The Eagles are now 2-1. 

Tri-City returns home next Friday to host Nuview Bridge at 7 p.m. 

Another Friday Is Coming

Week 3 wasn’t kind to Vista’s varsity teams.

But one weekend doesn’t decide a season.

RBV gets another chance to regroup. Tri-City gets to come home with a winning record still intact. Vista heads to Army-Navy looking for its breakthrough.

And the freshman Longhorns gave everyone a reminder this week that sometimes the best story is sitting just below the varsity scoreboard.

Questions You May Have About Vista Football Week 3

What was the Rancho Buena Vista varsity score?

San Pasqual defeated RBV 31-21. The Longhorns are 1-2. 

How did the RBV freshman team do?

The freshman Longhorns shut out San Pasqual 13-0.

What was the Vista High varsity score?

Madison defeated Vista 50-0. 

How did Tri-City Christian do?

Hamilton defeated Tri-City Christian 28-20, moving the Eagles to 2-1. 

Sports scores, records and statistics are compiled from school and team sources, MaxPreps, NFHS Network, CIF San Diego and other available sports reporting sources. North Valley Flare works to verify information before publication.