Prep Football: Granite Hills stuns Helix in 4 Overtime Thriller, clinches league title

The Granite Hills Eagles (8-2, 3-0) will enter the Division II playoffs with heavy momentum and full of confidence following a stunning 46-44 victory over the Helix Highlanders (7-3, 2-1) in four overtimes. The newly crowned Grossmont-Hills League champions will likely secure the top seed, while the Highlanders hope to land a favorable spot in the Division I bracket.
How the Top 10 Fared
Team; Record; Points; Week 11 Result
1. Madison (20); 9-1; 285; Lost to #2 Lincoln 12-242. Lincoln (5); 9-1; 266; Def. #1 Madison 24-123. Carlsbad (5); 9-1; 265; Def. Vista 57-284. Poway; 10-0; 202; Def. Rancho Bernardo 34-75. Helix; 7-3; 172; Lost to #7 Granite Hills 44-46 4OT6. Cathedral Catholic; 5-5; 154; Def. Scripps Ranch 45-77. Granite Hills; 8-2; 106; Def. #5 Helix 46-44 4OT8. Mater Dei Catholic; 6-4; 89; Def. Eastlake 49-09. Mission Hills; 7-3; 57; Def. San Marcos 45-010. El Camino; 7-3; 27; Def. Oceanside 41-6
Others Receiving Votes
11. Mira Mesa (7-3, 7 points) Def. La Jolla 24-1712. La Costa Canyon (6-4, 7 points) Def. Torrey Pines 32-713. University City (8-2, 4 points) Def. Patrick Henry 62-714. El Capitan (8-2, 1 point) Def. West Hills 42-13

Prep Football: 2022 League Champions

Congratulations to every team in the San Diego Section that secured their league championship.

Avocado - Carlsbad (6-0)

Central - Crawford (4-0)

City - University City (4-0)

Coastal - Bishop’s (3-0)

Desert - Palo Verde Valley (3-0)

Eastern - Christian (4-0)

Grossmont Hills - Granite Hills (3-0)

Grossmont Valley - El Capitan (6-0)

Imperial Valley - Central (4-0)

Manzanita (8-Man) - San Pasqual Academy (3-0)

Metro Mesa - Mater Dei Catholic (3-0)

Metro Pacific - Chula Vista (4-0)

Metro South Bay - Montgomery (3-0)

Ocean (8-Man) - Victory Christian (4-0)

Pacific - Escondido Charter (3-0)

Palomar - Poway (5-0)

Sunset - Army-Navy Academy (3-0)

Surf (8-Man) - Rock Academy (3-0)

Valley - San Pasqual (4-1)

Western - Lincoln (4-0)

Prep Football: Players of the Week (Oct. 20-22)

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

LB Brett Barry - Torrey Pines

13 Tackles

vs. San Marcos

QB Matthew Barton - Mount Miguel

10/14 for 186 yards & 5 Touchdowns

vs. Valhalla

RB Linden Benson - Santana

41 carries for 195 yards & 1 Touchdown

vs. West Hills

WR Jeremiah Castillo - Mount Miguel

6 catches for 124 yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Valhalla

DB Payton Curry - Christian

2 Interceptions

vs. La Jolla

ATH Eli Edwards - Rancho Bernardo

10 carries for 70 yards & 2 Touchdowns (1 Run, 1 INT), 1 Sack

vs. Vista

WR Erik Garcia - Mar Vista

7 catches for 120 yards & 2 Touchdowns

vs. Castle Park

QB Ryland Jessee - Helix

16/21 for 304 yards & 6 Touchdowns

vs. Grossmont

QB Reggie Johnson - Madison

8 of 11 for 239 yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Scripps Ranch

WR Chance Lachappa - El Capitan

7 catches for 149 yards & 2 Touchdowns

vs. Monte Vista

RB Ladainian Lawrence - University City

16 carries for 129 yards & 1 Touchdown

vs. Morse

QB Skylar MacMahon - Escondido Charter

12/25 for 355 yards & 3 Touchdowns

vs. Francis Parker

DL Cassius Murphy - Carlsbad

3 Sacks 

vs. La Costa Canyon

QB Dominic Nankil - Mater Dei Catholic

12 of 13 for 266 yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Bonita Vista

ATH Ty Olsen - Del Norte

7 catches for 140 yards, 1 Interception

vs. Westview

RB Nick Patterson - Escondido Charter

13 carries for 133 yards & 2 Touchdowns

vs. Francis Parker

RB Life Pollard - Classical Academy

13 carries for 162 yards & 3 Touchdowns (2 Runs, 1 Pass)

vs. Mountain Empire

QB Parlan Sanders - Granite Hills

3 Touchdowns (1 REC, 2 Runs)

vs. Steele Canyon

ATH John Scates - Escondido Charter

5 catches for 139 yards & 2 Touchdowns, 2 Forced Fumbles

vs. Francis Parker

RB Makei Thompson - Mira Mesa

14 carries for 168 yards & 3 Touchdowns

vs. Patrick Henry

QB Owen Tsay - Maranatha Christian

23/29 for 484 yards & 6 Touchdowns

vs. Calipatria

LB Elias Valdivia - Coronado

10 Tackles & 2 Sacks

vs. Kearny

Prep Football: Madison and Lincoln tops poll heading into Western League Championship

So much will be on the line when #2 Lincoln hosts #1 Madison in the regular season finale.

League Championship Games to Watch

#2 Lincoln vs. #1 Madison - Western

#5 Helix vs. #7 Granite Hills - Grossmont Hills

Eastlake vs. #8 Mater Dei Catholic - Metro Mesa (Thurs.)

Rancho Bernardo vs. #4 Poway - Palomar

Brawley vs. Central - Imperial Valley

Hilltop vs. Montgomery - Metro South Bay

Bishop's vs. Santa Fe Christian - Coastal

San Diego Union-Tribune Sportswriters/Sportscasters Poll

(First-place votes in parenthesis)

Points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis

Team; Record; Points; Last Week

1. Madison (20); 9-0; 285; 1

2. Lincoln (5); 8-1; 266; 2

3. Carlsbad (5); 8-1; 265; 3

4. Poway; 9-0; 202; 4

5. Helix; 7-2; 172; 5

6. Cathedral Catholic; 4-5; 154; 6

7. Granite Hills; 7-2; 106; 7

8. Mater Dei Catholic; 5-4; 89; 8

9. Mission Hills; 6-3; 57; NR

10. El Camino; 6-3; 27; 9

Others Receiving Votes

11. Mira Mesa (6-3, 7 points)

12. La Costa Canyon (5-4, 7 points)

13. University City (7-2, 4 points)

14. El Capitan (7-2, 1 point)

Voters: 30 sportswriters, sportscasters, and administrators from throughout the county

John Maffei (San Diego Union-Tribune), Terry Monahan, Don Norcross, Steve Brand, Rick Hoff, Eric Williams and Thomas Gutierrez (freelance writers), Brandon Stone, Allison Edmonds, and John Carroll (KUSI-TV), Rick Smith (PartletonSports.com), Ramon Scott and Adam Paul (EastCountySports.com), Bodie DeSilva (scorebooklive.com), John Kentera and Braden Surprenant (97.3-FM The Fan), Steve Dolan (Mountain Country 107.9-FM), Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association), Troy Hirsch and Nic Pollino (Fox 5 San Diego), Joe Heinz, Todd Cassen and Ron Marquez (CIF Office), Mike Dolan and Rex Johnson (CIF Advisory Committee), Joe Evangelist (San Diego Coaching Legends Committee), Will Torrez (Valley Sports Network), Raymond Brown (sdfootball.net), Tom Helmantoler (Advisor Southern Conference), MaxPreps.

Prep Football: Players of the Week (Oct. 13-15)

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

DB Manny Adeiza - San Pasqual

2 Interceptions

vs. Ramona

ATH Sirdarius Autry - Hoover

19 carries for 229 yards & 2 Touchdowns

vs. Clairemont

RB Chris Bausch - Fallbrook

14 carries for 162 yards & 3 Touchdowns

vs. Escondido

RB Jaylon Brown - Madison

13 carries for 214 yards & 1 Touchdown

vs. St. Augustine

DL Orlando Castillo - Mission Bay

3 sacks

vs. Canyon Hills

WR Elijah Clark - Mar Vista

5 catches for 243 yards & 3 Touchdowns

vs. Southwest San Diego

WR Jackson Daniels - Helix

4 catches for 154 yards & 2 Touchdowns

vs. Steele Canyon

ATH TonTon Drobny - Army-Navy Academy

2 Interceptions, 1 Fumble Recovery

vs. Kearny

RB Kal-El Gordon - El Cajon Valley

34 carries for 228 yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Mount Miguel

QB Ryland Jessee - Helix

16/23 for 283 yards & 5 Touchdowns

vs. Steele Canyon

DB Carson Keller - Santa Fe Christian

2 Interceptions

vs. Orange Glen

ATH Markus Macon - Palo Verde Valley

10 carries 148 yards & 1 Touchdown

vs. Holtville

TE Zack Marshall - Carlsbad

7 catches for 108 yards & 3 Touchdowns

vs. Oceanside

QB Dominic Nankil - Mater Dei Catholic

236 Passing Yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Otay Ranch

DB Easton Peterson - Granite Hills

2 Interception Return Touchdowns (3 in the last 2 games)

vs. Grossmont

TE Hunter Provience - Christian

5 catches for 146 yards & 1 Touchdown

vs. Mira Mesa

QB Julian Sayin - Carlsbad

16/18 for 232 yards & 5 Touchdowns

vs. Oceanside

QB Ethan Silber - Mission Bay

17/30 for 269 yards & 6 Touchdowns (5 Pass, 1 Run)

vs. Canyon Hills

DB Ryan Speltz - El Camino

2 Interceptions

vs. San Marcos

DB Damien Whitfield - San Diego

2 Interceptions

vs. Patrick Henry

ATH Chris Williams - Francis Parker

22 carries for 202 yards & 1 Touchdown, 1 Interception

vs. Classical Academy

QB Aleks Wojcik - Mar Vista

13/22 for 374 yards & 5 Touchdowns

vs. Southwest San Diego

Prep Football: Players of the Week (Oct. 6-8)

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

RB Paul Alvarez - Chula Vista

24 carries for 200 yards

vs. Mar Vista

RB Giovanni Barrios - Chula Vista

10 carries for 150 yards & 3 Touchdowns

vs. Mar Vista

RB Chris Bausch - Fallbrook

19 carries for 193 yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Valley Center

RB Linden Benson - Santana

15 carries for 114 yards & 3 Touchdowns

vs. Monte Vista

PK Mateen Bhaghani - Del Norte

School Record 53-yard Field Goal

vs. Mt. Carmel

DL Nyjerion Casey - Mira Mesa

3 Sacks, 2 Hurries, 1 Forced Fumble

vs. San Diego

DL Cayden Dawson - University City

3 Sacks & 3 TFL

vs. Canyon Hills

QB Jackson Diehl - La Jolla

15/21 for 327 yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Patrick Henry

QB Will Fiero - Bishop’s

21/28 for 344 yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. La Jolla Country Day

QB Ethan Gutierrez - Brawley

10/15 for 203 yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Southwest EC

OL Terry Hou - Del Norte

8 Pancake Blocks

vs. Mt. Carmel

OL Nikolas Kattoula - Francis Parker

9+ Pancake Blocks, Helped offense record 376 Total Yards & 7 Touchdowns

vs. Mountain Empire

RB Chase Lowary - Point Loma

13 carries for 113 yards & 1 Touchdown

vs. Morse

WR Jaden Moore - Bishop’s

9 catches for 142 yards & 2 Touchdowns

vs. La Jolla Country Day

QB Dominic Nankil - Mater Dei Catholic

12/16 for 229 yards & 6 Touchdowns

vs. Hilltop

RB Tolani Osinfolarin - Otay Ranch

5 Touchdowns (4 Runs, 1 REC)

vs. Sweetwater

DB Trenton Pack - Fallbrook

2 Interceptions, 2 Pass Break Ups

vs. Valley Center

LB David Peevy - Lincoln

2 Sacks, 1 INT, & 1 Safety

vs. St. Augustine

RB Roderick Robinson II - Lincoln

6 carries for 154 yards & 3 Touchdowns

vs. St. Augustine

RB Makei Thompson - Mira Mesa

11 carries for 114 yards & 4 Touchdowns (2 Run, REC, PR)

vs. San Diego

RB Mason Walsh - Carlsbad

16 carries for 166 yards & 4 Touchdowns (3 Run, 1 REC)

vs. San Marcos

ATH Chris Williams - Francis Parker

5 Touchdown (4 Rush, 1 Pass), 1 Interception

vs. Mountain Empire

Prep Football: Madison earns more #1 votes following win at Cathedral

San Diego Union-Tribune Sportswriters/Sportscasters Poll

(First-place votes in parenthesis)

Points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis

Team; Record; Points; Last Week

1️⃣ Madison (21); 7-0; 287; 1

2️⃣ Lincoln (6); 7-1; 268; 2

3️⃣ Carlsbad (3); 6-1; 252; 3

4️⃣ Poway; 7-0; 196; 6

5️⃣ Helix; 5-2; 173; 4

6️⃣ Cathedral Catholic; 3-5; 150; 5

7️⃣ Granite Hills; 5-2; 113; 7

8️⃣ Mater Dei Catholic; 3-4; 77; 8

9️⃣ El Camino; 5-2; 65; 9

🔟 Mira Mesa; 5-2; 24; 10

Others Receiving Votes:

11. La Costa Canyon (4-3, 15 points)

12. Point Loma (6-1, 10 points)

13. Mission Hills (4-3, 7 points)

Voters: 30 sportswriters, sportscasters, and administrators from throughout the county

John Maffei (San Diego Union-Tribune), Terry Monahan, Don Norcross, Steve Brand, Rick Hoff, Eric Williams and Thomas Gutierrez (freelance writers), Brandon Stone, Allison Edmonds, and John Carroll (KUSI-TV), Rick Smith (Partletonsports.com), Ramon Scott and Adam Paul (EastCountySports.com), Bodie DeSilva (scorebooklive.com), John Kentera and Braden Surprenant (97.3-FM The Fan), Steve Dolan (Mountain Country 107.9-FM), Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association), Troy Hirsch and Nic Pollino (Fox 5 San Diego), Joe Heinz, Todd Cassen and Ron Marquez (CIF Office), Mike Dolan and Rex Johnson (CIF Advisory Committee), Joe Evangelist (San Digo Coaching Legends Committee), Will Torrez (Valley Sports Network), Raymond Brown (sdfootball.net), Tom Helmantoler (Advisor Southern Conference), MaxPreps.

2022 San Diego JuCo Mid-Season Rankings

These rankings are based on how the four San Diego County teams fare against each other. 

State polls and results against programs outside of the county do not determine this list.

Dominance has been restored 💫 pic.twitter.com/kPlotCvDdE

— Palomar Athletics (@PmarAthletics) October 2, 2022

#1 Palomar Comets (4-1)

Dethrones San Diego Mesa after stunning them in overtime last Saturday.

#2 San Diego Mesa Olympians (3-2)

Mesa's winning streak against San Diego opponents ends at 7.

#3 Grossmont Griffins (2-3)

1-3 since defeating Southwestern in Week 1.

#4 Southwestern Jaguars (0-5)

Still seeking first win under new head coach.

2022 San Diego County Games

September 3rd

Grossmont 41, Southwestern 31

September 17th

Palomar 17, Southwestern 0

October 1st

Palomar 18, San Diego Mesa 17 OT

November 12th

Southwestern at San Diego Mesa, 6pm

Previous Meeting: San Diego Mesa 35, Southwestern 29 (Nov. 13, 2021)

Prep Football: Madison still #1 despite Lincoln's signature win

Prep Football: Players of the Week (Sept. 29 - Oct. 1)

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

Prep Football: #3 Lincoln makes statement against #4 Cathedral

The #3 Lincoln Hornets (6-1) and #4 Cathedral Catholic Dons (3-4) met at Mira Mesa High School Friday night to begin the Western League title chase. Roderick Robinson II scored two touchdowns (32 and 2 yards) to put Lincoln up 14-0 in the first quarter. Cathedral responded with a five-yard touchdown pass from Jack Stevens to Will Bond with nine minutes left in the first half, cutting the margin to 14-7. Ty Cortes returned an interception 40 yards to the end zone to tie the score 14-14 at halftime. With five minutes left in the third quarter, a 27-yard field goal by Lucas Berning gave the Dons a 17-14 lead, but the Hornets pulled away with 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, capped off by a 95-yard pick-six by safety Josiah Cox to seal the 31-17 victory. Robinson II rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns, while Cox recorded two sacks.

How the Top 10 Fared

#1 Madison (6-0) - def. #10 Mira Mesa 40-14

#2 Carlsbad (5-1) - def. Torrey Pines

#3 Lincoln (6-1) - def. #4 Cathedral Catholic 31-17

#4 Cathedral Catholic (3-4) - lost to #3 Lincoln 17-31

#5 Helix (5-1) - Bye

#6 Poway (6-0) - def. Del Norte 51-20

#7 Granite Hills (4-2) - Bye

#8 Mater Dei Catholic (2-4) - def. Central 35-0

#9 La Costa Canyon (3-3) - lost to El Camino 20-23

#10 Mira Mesa (4-2) - lost to #1 Madison 14-40

Others Receiving Votes

Mission Hills (3-3) - def. Oceanside 34-0

El Camino (4-2) - def. #9 La Costa Canyon 23-20

Mt. Carmel (5-1) - def. Vista 44-6

Point Loma (5-1) - Bye