CHULA VISTA – It's not something Mission Hills' opponents want to hear, but the Grizzlies have found another weapon – the long ball.

Riding the arm of senior quarterback D.J. Zapata, the third-ranked Grizzlies (4-0) rushed out to a quick 10-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back, downing host Chula Vista 23-0 Friday night at Otay Ranch High School.

“People are used to us playing power football up front, but we've worked hard on our passing game,” said Mission Hills coach Chris Hauser. “We liked the way we were passing from spring ball and wanted to find a way to employ using it more with D.J.”

It didn't take long in this game to find a way.

On the first play from scrimmage, Zapata (13-of-21, 260 yards, TD) found Kevin Chung open over the middle for a 15-yard completion to the Chula Vista 15-yard line. Five plays later Chad Dobbins went in from the 2 for a 7-0 lead with 9:36 left in the first quarter.

After the Grizzlies defense held the Spartans (2-2) without a first down, Zapata again went to the air. Again, the target was Chung (4 receptions, 124 yards) over the middle for a 61-yard pickup, taking the ball to the Chula Vista 10.

“We like what we saw looking at their defense,” said Hauser. “They were pretty aggressive with their safety play, and we thought the middle would be open.”

The drive stalled, but Armando De La Cruz came in and booted a 25-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead with 5:04 left in the opening quarter.

Chung wasn't Zapata's only target. Late in the half he drove his team 58 yards in five plays for another score. It took three completions. First a 12-yarder to Nigel Westbrooks, followed by a 29-yard completion to tight end Dallas Butler.

The score came on a 30-yard strike to Westbrooks (7 receptions, 107 yards) with 1:14 left in the half.

The only second-half points came when Eddy Sihavong (17 carries, 80 yards) took a pitch and ran in from 8 yards out with 2:17 left to play.

The Spartans' best scoring opportunity came in the game's final minutes. Taimi Tutogi caught a pass inside the Mission Hills 5, but was hit and fumbled to end the threat.

“Overall, I'm really pleased with the way we played,” said Chula Vista coach Judd Rachow. “Physically, I think we stayed right with them. We just made some mistakes you can't make with a team like that.”