CHULA VISTA – There's no place like home for the Chula Vista Spartans, especially when there is a shot at the Mesa League Championship.

On the road against Otay Ranch last night, the unranked Spartans won 40-0 to set up next week's league showdown at home against Eastlake.

The battle for the title will be the first home game for the Spartans (7-2, 4-0 Mesa League), who were forced to play on the road after their stands were condemned before the season.

“We didn't focus on where we played all year,” Spartans coach Judd Rachow said. “We talked about how it didn't really matter. It was something we couldn't control, like the weather, but it will be real nice for the seniors to be able to play on their home field next week.”

Eastlake, ranked No. 6 in the county, downed Bonita Vista 42-12 last night to earn its shot for the Mesa crown.

Chula Vista capitalized on Mustang turnovers to set up three of its first four scores.

The first came after Otay Ranch's impressive opening drive. The Mustangs drove from their own 21 to the Spartans' 2, but a fumble recovery by Chula Vista's Hector Mendoza ended the threat.

Five plays later, quarterback Victor Perez (12-of-17, 242 yards, 2 TDs) threw a middle screen pass to Aaron Taylor (5 receptions, 123 yards) on a 51-yard score on the last play of the opening quarter.

Taimi Tutogi's fumble five plays later set up his own 1-yard TD run with 8:39 left in the first half.

Taylor made it 19-0 two minutes later when he returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown.

“I muffed the punt, but after I picked it up I didn't see anybody around me so I took off,” said the junior wide receiver.

Mendoza came up with his second turnover of the half, intercepting a Mustang pass at the Otay Ranch 32. Tutogi bulled in from 4 yards out with 4:46 left in the half.

Anthony Stanislaus added a 4-yard touchdown to end first half scoring, and Josh Leon pulled down a 2-yard pass from Perez for the only second half score. The loss not only eliminated any hope the injury-plagued No. 10 Mustangs (5-3-1, 2-2) had for a share of the league title, but it spoiled their homecoming as well.