When the Chula Vista Spartans (6-4, 4-1) host the El Camino Wildcats (3-7) tonight  in the first round of the CIF San Diego Section Division I playoffs they will be riding the arm of senior quarterback, Victor Perez.  The 6’6” 215 pound Perez led the Mesa League this season with 1635 passing yards, 19 TDs and a 57% completion average. In his 182 passing attempts this season he threw just two interceptions. Perez will want to avoid any turnovers tonight.

 At first glance, El Camino High would seem a beatable opponent. They finished just  3-7 this season. First looks can be deceiving however. The Wildcats play in the brutal Palomar League regularly facing perennial powerhouses such as Oceanside, Rancho Bernardo and Vista. North County schools historically have found a lot of success against their South Bay opponents so this in all likelihood will be no walk in the park for the Spartans. The winner of tonight’s contest will play for the right of facing Mesa League Champion Eastalke next week. Playing in big games is nothing new for Perez.

 “In games where we have asked him to do a lot he has stepped up and done it, so hopefully, that will continue to pay off,” said Spartan head coach, Judd Rachow. “When he started off playing football (four years ago) he really didn’t know what was going to happen. When he arrived here we were still running a Wing-T offense. We didn’t have a lot of experience throwing the football. Here we are four years later and he has a chance to go to college (on a scholarship). He works hard in the weight room and in the classroom and he has really done a good job of getting himself prepared. He has taken on the difficult job of being a quarterback for us and he has been awesome.”

 Perez has opened up the Spartans passing game with the help of leading receivers Aaron Taylor (24 receptions for 446 yards) and Robert Hatchett (31 receptions for 382 yards). That aerial attack combined with the solid running of Thomas Tutogi and Anthony Stanislaus make the Spartans one of the best balanced offenses in the county.

 Perez is on the radar of several Division I colleges. North Carolina State, Arizona, Texas El Paso and SDSU have all been looking at him.

 “Where I will play next year is very much up in the air right now, but I have talked to a few coaches,” Perez said. The fact that he is also a solid student will increase his chances of gaining one of those coveted scholarships.

 Perez is flattered by all the attention he has been getting, but he was quick to credit his teammates and his receiving corps in particular for their contributions.

 “Our running backs and receivers have been doing an exceptional job for me.” We have become friends both on and off the field.

 “I have met a lot of people and made a lot of good friends. I like hanging out with these guys and having fun.”

 If Perez can somehow engineer an upset of highly touted Eastlake tonight he and his friends will have something to remember for many years to come.