Prep Football: Benitez, Granite Hills Eagles Soar to Season-Opening Victory

Junior quarterback Zachary Benitez turned in an outstanding performance, throwing for a school-record 456 yards and four touchdowns to lead the No. 4 Granite Hills Eagles to a decisive 45-29 season-opening win over the visiting Oceanside Pirates on Friday night.

Despite the historic personal performance, which included 38 completions (another team record), Benitez was already looking ahead moments after the final whistle.

“It's only week one,” Benitez said. “We got the dub. We're going to move on.”

Benitez spread the wealth, connecting with multiple receivers. Senior Tristan Diaz was his primary target, hauling in a game-high 14 catches (ties school record) for 113 yards. Junior Zhedan Smith added six receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown, while DJ Wilkins (55 yards), Emilio Vera, and Elijah Arzu also caught scoring passes. Junior Eurijah Schutza complemented the aerial attack by punching in two rushing touchdowns.

The Pirates refused to go quietly, mounting a strong second-half push led by two-way standout Kymani Nua. The senior was a force on both sides of the ball, catching five passes for 112 yards and a touchdown and also contributing on defense. The comeback effort was sparked by sophomore SJ Pournele, who electrified the Pirates with a 53-yard kickoff return as part of his 236 all-purpose yards. His efforts, along with rushing touchdowns from Mykah Faletoi and Neke Letuli, helped Oceanside cut a large Granite Hills lead to 16 points.

Women's Football: Rebellion Dominate Utah in Season Opener

ESCONDIDO, CA - The San Diego Rebellion kicked off their 2025 season with a commanding 40-6 victory over the Utah Falconz Saturday night at Wilson Stadium. Quarterback Danny Trainor led the offensive charge with three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing), while the Rebellion defense held Utah's newly implemented spread offense to just six points.

San Diego established their dominance early when running back Kesz Wesley punched in a four-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. The Rebellion extended their lead to 14-0 in the second quarter on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Trainor to rookie tight end Alyssa Speckhals.

Utah showed signs of life late in the first half when linebacker Brittney Bjork intercepted Trainor and returned it to the San Diego 19-yard line. The Falconz capitalized with a four-yard touchdown pass from Sara Galica to Renate Meckl, but missed the two-point conversion attempt, leaving the score at 14-6 heading into halftime.

After regrouping, the Rebellion offense found its rhythm, scoring 26 unanswered points in the second half. Regina Escoto contributed two touchdown runs, while Trainor added a rushing touchdown and connected with Alicia Zappia-Neeley for another score.

"I feel like our offense has a great unit behind us," Trainor said after the game. "We had some adversity in the beginning, a couple players went down, but we pulled together and came through in the end."

The 2024 MVP candidate acknowledged her early struggles, which included two interceptions, but credited her teammates for helping her bounce back. 

"I rallied around my team, they lifted me up. I struggle with getting in my head, and they lifted my chin, and helped me flush it."

College Football: Syracuse completes 10-win season with Holiday Bowl victory over Washington State

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

SAN DIEGO - In a record-setting offensive showcase, the No. 21 ranked Syracuse Orange capped its first season under head coach Fran Brown with a 52-35 victory over the Washington State Cougars in the DirecTV Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday night.

Senior quarterback Kyle McCord threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns, breaking Deshaun Watson's ACC single-season record for most passing yards. The Orange (10-3) reached 10 wins for just the eighth time in program history.

"The 10 wins show that we are becoming a successful program and we have to continue to work," said Brown. "This is just a standard that was set, and we want to go above and beyond."

LeQuint Allen starred for Syracuse with 165 total yards and three touchdowns, while Darrell Gill Jr. added 145 receiving yards. The Orange offense amassed 606 total yards and set a new team record for most points scored in a bowl game.

For Washington State (8-5), the game represented more than just the final score. Playing with a depleted roster following recent program changes, the Cougars showed resilience behind senior receiver Kyle Williams, who put up a Holiday Bowl record 172 yards on 10 catches, including a 66-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Zevi Eckhaus in the first quarter.

Williams learned after the game that he had broken Oklahoma State star Dez Bryant's Holiday Bowl receiving yards record.

"Honestly it's amazing," Williams said. "Every game I come and try to put on a show and try to do the most that I can. But to beat a receiver that's an all-time great like that, it's just an honor and it shows that all of the work I put in, it wasn't for nothing."

"I'm grateful I could do that, but I wouldn't have got it without this gunslinger," he added, referring to Eckhaus, who threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns.

"When you're out there between the white lines, you're not thinking about anything else," Williams added. "Out there, that's our sanctuary."

Washington State interim head coach Pete Kaligis was emotional while praising his team's effort. 

"They fought and I'm so proud of them," he said. "The one thing I do know is that love never fails."

Prep Football: Monte Vista & St. Augustine make history, Granite Hills earns third straight title

Cinderella Story: Monte Vista Claims Division 5 Title as Historic 12-Seed

In a stunning conclusion to an improbable playoff run, the Monte Vista Monarchs defeated the No. 2 seed Bonita Vista Barons 38-21 to claim the CIF San Diego Division 5 championship. The victory marks the first time in CIF San Diego playoff history that a 12-seed has captured a championship title.

Senior running back Alexander Villanueva didn't just break records; he shattered expectations with a legendary performance, carrying the ball 46 times for 297 yards and all five Monarch touchdowns. His final touchdown sealed both the championship and his place in San Diego Section history, pushing his season total to 3,006 yards - surpassing the previous record of 2,974 set by former Mission Bay standout Dillon Baxter in 2009.

These historic moments almost never happened. After finishing the regular season with a 5-5 record that included several heartbreaking losses, Monte Vista was initially left out of the playoff picture. However, when Rancho Buena Vista opted out of their playoff spot, the Monarchs received new life as the final team in the bracket.

Prep Football: Poway & El Capitan earn championship wins

Poway Dominates Second Half to Claim Division II Title with 62-24 Victory

Fourth-seeded Poway completed their remarkable playoff run with a dominant 62-24 victory over No. 2 Mater Dei Catholic in the CIF San Diego Section Division II championship game at Southwestern College's Devore Stadium, turning a competitive first half into a second-half rout with six touchdowns.

"The terminology helps us be able to adapt, and to be adaptable is something that's effective for offenses," Poway's first-year Head Coach Brandon Harris explained after the game. "It takes about a year to get it, and they've learned it now. They're running it really, really well right now."

The Titans' offense showcased their explosiveness early when quarterback Ty Hurst connected with Colin McCann for a 37-yard touchdown strike. McCann had a phenomenal night, recording 168 yards receiving with three scores and adding a 14-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep.

"It was just the game plan. Credit to the coaches - they come up with a great game plan and they just have me go out there and execute and make the plays that I know I can make," McCann said after the game, particularly praising Coach Harris and the special teams coordinators.

After Angel Mendoza's 33-yard field goal got Mater Dei Catholic on the board, Poway's offense continued to dominate. The Crusaders showed life when quarterback Kartell Purvis connected with Julian Cromartie for a spectacular 73-yard touchdown pass, but Poway's momentum proved unstoppable.

Luke Jorgensen also had a great night on the ground for the Titans, recording 18 carries for 133 and two trips to the end zone.

"The game's always been and always will be about playmakers," Coach Harris noted when discussing his team's offensive performance. "Those that make plays will play, and those guys have made plays for us all season long."

Looking ahead to the Southern California Regionals, Harris remained focused: "Just keep on working. We're going to go do our work, do what we do, go out and compete, and do what we got to do to get ready for whoever we got to face."

For McCann, who celebrated with the championship trophy, the victory was especially sweet. "I'm feeling great, ready to celebrate with my team and just reflect on all the work and how it paid off," he said.

The victory advances Poway (6-7) to the Southern California Regionals, completing a remarkable turnaround for a team that peaked at the perfect time. The Titans, who set a school record for scoring in their semifinal victory, showcased their complete transformation with another dominant offensive performance in the championship game.

El Capitan Claims Division IV Championship with 17-14 Victory Over Westview

The El Capitan Vaqueros' defense proved to be the cornerstone of their second section championship victory in program history, grinding out a hard-fought 17-14 win over the No. 5 seed Westview Wolverines. 

The victory marks No. 2 El Capitan's ninth consecutive win and secured them a spot in the CIF Southern California Regionals.

Prep Football: No. 1 Lincoln Overcomes Difficult Season, Claims Open Division Crown Over Cathedral Catholic

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

Coming off a last-second loss in last year's Open Division final that ended an outstanding season at 11-1, the Lincoln Hornets went into the 2024 campaign without a home field to play or practice on. That didn't stop the Hornets from regaining their status as the top team in the county, securing a convincing 31-13 victory over the Western League rival Cathedral Catholic Dons in Saturday night's Open Division Championship at Snapdragon Stadium.

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Prep Football Recap (Oct. 23-24)

EAGLES SOAR PAST HIGHLANDERS IN REUNION GAME

LA MESA, CA — The Granite Hills Eagles (7-2) squared off against the Helix Highlanders (3-6) in a Thursday night showdown that featured an intriguing subplot between former teammates. Before the matchup, Eagles' star Maxwell Turner revealed he and former teammate Pablo Jackson, now playing for Helix, had placed a friendly wager on who would rack up more rushing yards, adding extra spice to an already heated rivalry.

Turner emerged victorious in both the personal duel and team battle, leading the Eagles to a 35-21 win while adding three more touchdowns to his school record. His dominant performance included 200 rushing yards with two ground scores and a receiving touchdown. Despite being on the losing side, Jackson made his presence felt with two touchdowns for the Highlanders. The Eagles' ground attack was unstoppable, amassing a season-high 380 rushing yards.

The Eagles' defense proved equally impressive, with Trevor Smith, Logan Vance, and Parker Vance each recording interceptions in a stellar team effort. The victory highlighted the diverging paths of these programs this season - Granite Hills has won five of their last six games, while Helix's struggles continued having lost four of their previous five contests. This was the Eagles' third straight win over Helix. The last East County team to beat the Highlanders three straight years was Monte Vista from 1997 to 1999.

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Prep Football: Turner's Historic Night Leads No. 5 Granite Hills Past No. 8 Mount Miguel in League Showdown

SPRING VALLEY - Back in April, Maxwell Turner was informed that he needed 1,020 yards to break the all-time record for career rushing yards at Granite Hills. Six months later, Turner etched his name into school history, powering the fifth-ranked Eagles to a 45-30 victory over No. 8 Mount Miguel in a crucial Grossmont Hills League matchup.

"Every game we been tallying up the yards, and it feels good to finally break it," Turner stated after the game.

The senior running back delivered a masterful performance with 27 carries for 271 yards and four touchdowns, breaking the school's all-time record in rushing yards, all-purpose yards, and touchdowns. Turner found the end zone three times on the ground (31, 50, and 9 yards) and added a six-yard touchdown reception.

"He's a special player," said Granite Hills head coach Cobbs, whose Eagles (6-2, 2-0 GHL) took control of their destiny in pursuit of a third straight league title. "I think he's the best running back in the county and he was able to showcase that tonight."

After falling behind 3-0 on an early Mount Miguel field goal, the Eagles erupted for 21 second-quarter points. Quarterback Zac Benitez connected with Lewis for a 14-yard score before Turner took over with two touchdowns before halftime.

The Matadors (6-2, 1-1 GHL) stayed within striking distance behind junior quarterback AJ Stowers' impressive four-touchdown passing performance. Stowers completed 25 of 33 passes for 293 yards while spreading the wealth, finding Arrington (32 yards), Williams (22 yards), and Buchanan (5 and 30 yards) for scores.

The game's decisive sequence came in the fourth quarter after Mount Miguel had cut the deficit to 31-24. Brenden Lewis returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown, immediately restoring Granite Hills' two-score advantage. Turner would add his final touchdown late to seal the victory.

"It was a good night, the boys really stepped up. The defense picked us up in the third quarter when the offense was sputtering," Cobbs said. He also praised his special teams for pinning the Matadors' offense at the one and scoring. "I'm proud of our guys, but there's a lot of football left and we have to take care of business next week."

The Eagles' kicking game was also perfect, with Trent Whillock connecting on all six extra points and adding a 44-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Granite Hills continues its league schedule next Thursday at Helix, while Mount Miguel will look to rebound on Friday at Steele Canyon.

Prep Football: University City Hold Off Brawley in Undefeated Clash

In a highly anticipated showdown of unbeaten teams, the University City Centurions (7-0) extended their perfect season with a hard-fought 21-13 win over the Brawley Wildcats (6-1). Despite a valiant second-half comeback attempt by Brawley, University City held on for its best start since 1992.

The Centurions struck early, with quarterback Quentyn DeMara setting the tone by scrambling for 36 yards in the first quarter, setting up Dreyden Garner’s 10-yard touchdown off an end-around. DeMara continued to shine, finding Garner in the second quarter for a three-yard touchdown pass and later extending University City’s lead with a 19-yard touchdown run of his own. The Centurions went into halftime with a commanding 21-0 lead.

Brawley, led by quarterback Matthew Gutierrez, made it interesting in the second half. Gutierrez scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown to put Brawley on the board and followed that up with a clutch 10-yard touchdown pass to Sergio Garcia on fourth down. However, a missed extra point left the score at 21-13, and University City's defense held firm to secure the win.

DeMara finished the game with three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing), while Garner recorded two receiving scores. For Brawley, Gutierrez accounted for both of their touchdowns.

"Our guys persevered," Centurions' head coach Paul Lawrence stated while praising his team’s resilience. "We always talk about staying the course, and that’s what they did. It wasn’t our best second half, but we got the win."

Prep Football: Preseason Top 10 Results

Leo Bell recorded four rushing touchdowns to help the El Camino Wildcats (1-0) leave La Mesa with a 49-20 season-opening victory over the No. 8 Helix Highlanders (0-1). 
Preseason Top 10 Game Results
1. Lincoln: L 45-44 vs. Las Vegas Arbor View (No. 3 in Nevada)2. Cathedral Catholic: W 56-28 vs. Mater Dei Catholic3. Granite Hills: W 28-17 vs. Mission Hills4. Mission Hills: L 28-17 vs. Granite Hills5. Carlsbad: L 20-17 vs. Lakewood (No. 216 in California)6. Mount Miguel: W 47-16 vs. Long Beach St. Anthony (No. 294 in California)7. San Marcos: W 53-8 vs. RBV8. Helix: L 49-20 vs. El Camino9. La Costa Canyon: W 37-10 vs. St. Augustine10. La Jolla: W 38-21 vs. Bishop's
Other Notable Results
Army-Navy: W 53-0 vs. The RockBishop's: L 38-21 vs. #10 La JollaBrawley: W 36-20 vs. Palm DesertCentral Union: W 38-6 vs. Fontana Jurupa HillsDel Norte: W 20-7 vs. Point LomaEl Camino: W 49-20 vs. #8 HelixHoover: W 50-35 vs. Southwest-San DiegoImperial: W 28-7 vs. West HillsLa Jolla Country Day: W 35-6 vs. Chula VistaMadison: L 28-20 vs. Santa Ana FoothillMater Dei Catholic: L 56-28 vs. #2 Cathedral CatholicMt. Carmel: W 34-13 vs. OlympianOceanside: L 43-14 vs. San Juan Hills (No. 36 in California)Point Loma: L 20-7 vs. Del NorteRamona: L 51-41 vs. Steele CanyonRancho Bernardo: W 13-10 vs. PowaySt. Augustine: L 37-10 vs. #9 La Costa CanyonTorrey Pines: L 17-14 vs. Bethlehem, PATri-City Christian: W 12-9 vs. Santa Ana SaddlebackUniversity City: W 63-12 vs. Clairemont

2023 CIF Section Champions Crowned

Here's a recap of all the action as we congratulate the newly crowned champions and wish the best of luck to the teams representing the San Diego Section in the State Playoffs.

Prep Football: Last Second Fumble Secures Granite Hills' Upset Over No. 1 Lincoln in Open Division Final

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

The 2023 CIF San Diego Open Division Championship pitted the No. 3 seed Granite Hills Eagles against the top-seeded Lincoln Hornets Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium. In another instant classic, Granite Hills (12-0) emerged victorious by a score of 27-26 thanks to a dramatic goal-line stand in the final seconds.

Lincoln (11-1) struck first on a 36-yard pass from Akili Smith Jr. to Mahki Gray, taking an early 6-0 lead in the opening quarter. A blocked punt by Jamerion Herbert was recovered in the end zone by Jerome Roberts, giving the Hornets a 13-0 advantage heading into the second.

The Eagles clawed back when Maxwell Turner dove into the end zone out of the Wildcat formation. After a punt pinned Granite Hills at their own 14, freshman quarterback Zachary Benitez found a wide-open Josh Zander, who sprinted for an 86-yard touchdown, making it 13-13 right before halftime.

Prep Football: Playoff Update

The El Capitan Vaqueros (7-4) advance to the CIF San Diego Division III Quarterfinals following a 30-14 victory over the Patrick Henry Patriots (5-6). El Capitan will travel to Mission Bay next week to take on the No. 1 seeded Buccaneers.

Prep Football: Granite Hills hangs on for double overtime win over Helix

Granite Hill & Helix put on another overtime thriller, Eagles come up big again

In a highly anticipated matchup, the top two teams from East County clashed for the Grossmont Hills League crown. No. 3 Granite Hills' (9-0, 4-0 GHL) dynamic duo, Maxwell Turner (24 carries for 167 yards) and Pablo Jackson (15 carries for 116 yards), combined for 247 yards and five touchdowns in a 44-43 double-overtime victory. Meanwhile, Granite Hills' freshman quarterback, Zachary Benitez, completed 11 of 20 passes for 161 yards and connected for a touchdown with junior receiver Brenden Lewis, who made six receptions for 111 yards.

Facing a 23-7 deficit late in the third quarter, No. 4 Helix (8-1, 3-1 GHL) rallied behind senior running back Kevin Allen III, who gained 269 yards on 37 carries and scored five touchdowns. After reaching the endzone to make the score 44-43 in the second overtime, Allen's attempt at a game-winning two-point conversion was stopped shy of the goal line. The Eagles extend their winning streak to 18 games, while the Highlanders maintain an 8-1 record as they prepare to conclude the regular season at home against Steele Canyon next Friday. Granite Hills will visit Grossmont with a chance to secure an Open Division berth and its first 10-win season in team history.

Monte Vista goes from a winless season to playing for a League Title share

After a 42-29 triumph over visiting Valhalla Thursday night, the Monte Vista Monarchs (3-6, 2-1 GVL) earned an opportunity to compete for a share of the Grossmont Valley League title next Friday. Unfortunately, they will be heavy underdogs against archrival Mount Miguel (8-1, 3-0 GVL), who have outscored their league opponents 138-26 heading into this opportunity to win the league outright. A Monarch win would force a three-way tie that includes El Capitan.

Top 10 Results

1. Lincoln (10-0) - Def. University City 49-0

2. Carlsbad (9-0) - Def. #9 LCC 41-36

3. Granite Hills (9-0) - Def. #4 Helix 44-43 2OT

4. Helix (8-1) - Loss to #3 Granite Hills 43-44 2OT

5. El Camino (6-3) - Loss to #7 Mission Hills 21-7

6. Torrey Pines (6-3) - Def. Poway 38-14

7. Mission Hills (6-3) - Def. #5 El Camino 21-7

8. Del Norte (8-1) - Def. Ramona 42-28

9. La Costa Canyon (5-4) - Loss to #2 Carlsbad 41-36

10. Cathedral Catholic (3-6) - Bye

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES

Mater Dei Catholic (5-3) - Def. Eastlake 36-14

Mount Miguel (8-1) - Def. El Cajon Valley 40-6

San Marcos (7-2) - Def. Rancho Bernardo 27-10

Mission Bay (7-2) - Loss to Crawford 26-14

Brawley (8-1) - Def. Calexico 40-0

Prep Football: Barton, Mount Miguel dethrones El Capitan on Senior Night

Matthew Barton had a remarkable senior night, delivering a six-touchdown performance that propelled the Mount Miguel Matadors (7-1, 2-0 GVL) to a 46-20 victory over the reigning Grossmont Valley League champion El Capitan Vaqueros (5-4, 2-1 GVL) on Thursday night. This win now places the Matadors in first place with two games left in the season and positions them to potentially secure their first league title since 2013.

Prep Football: #3 Granite Hills extends win streak, shuts out #7 Madison

The No. 3 Granite Hills Eagles (5-0) extend their winning streak to 15 games following a 31-0 victory over the No. 7 Madison Warhawks (2-3). Freshman quarterback Zachary Benitez threw two touchdown passes, including one to Brenden Lewis, who also returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a score.
Week 6 Media Poll Results
#1 Lincoln (6-0) - Def. Inglewood (CA) 56-6#2 Carlsbad (5-0) - BYE#3 Granite Hills (5-0) - Def. #7 Madison 31-0#4 Helix (5-0) - BYE#5 Mission Hills (3-1) - BYE#6 La Costa Canyon (4-1) - BYE#7 Madison (2-3) - Loss to #3 Granite Hills 0-31#8 El Camino (4-1) - Def. Oceanside 49-8#9 Cathedral Catholic (1-5) - Loss to Liberty (NV) 7-41#10 St. Augustine (3-3) - Loss to Mater Dei Catholic 14-23

Weekend Recap: Lincoln and Mount Miguel continues to roll, while Aztecs and Toreros suffer losses

Lincoln overcomes slow start, cruises past Mater Dei
Akili Smith Jr. tossed three touchdown passes to three different receivers and ran one in himself as the No. 1 ranked Lincoln Hornets (4-0) rolled to a 54-19 win over the Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders (0-3). Donald Reed III led the Hornets' rushing attack with 125 yards and two scores, while Jerome Roberts made a game-changing impact with a 50-yard fumble return touchdown and a sack to help Lincoln secure its 16th straight win. For the Crusaders, Isaiah Buxton caught a 69-yard touchdown bomb from Kartell Purvis that gave Mater Dei a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter. The Arizona-bound athlete also recorded an interception on defense.

Mount Miguel puts up a team-record 66 points at Grossmont
In a matchup between teams with first-year head coaches, the No. 15 Mount Miguel Matadors (4-0) added another dominant performance to their season with a 66-20 victory over the Grossmont Foothillers (2-2). Senior quarterback Matthew Barton was named the MVP of the game after recording four touchdown passes. Senior Davian Mcgowan rushed for over 150 yards and three end zone trips, while Jeremiah Castillo put up 228 all-purpose yards and scored three times (2 RECs & 1 Punt Return). Freshman Delontay Williams made plays on both sides of the ball, putting up a touchdown catch and a pick-six.
Week 4 Media Poll Results
#1 Lincoln (4-0) - Def. Mater Dei Catholic 54-19#2 Carlsbad (4-0) - Def. Casteel (AZ) 49-9#3 Granite Hills (3-0) - Def. Eastlake 35-7#4 Helix (4-0) - Def. #5 Madison 53-19#5 Madison (2-2) - Loss to #4 Helix 19-53#6 Cathedral Catholic (1-3) - Loss to St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 28-35#7 Mission Hills (3-1) - Def. Orange Vista (Perris) 41-12#8 St. Augustine (2-2) - Loss to Notre Dame Prep (AZ) 14-35#9 La Costa Canyon (3-1) - Def. Mira Mesa 38-7#10 El Camino (2-1) - Bye#11 San Marcos (3-1) - Loss to Torrey Pines 7-27#12 El Capitan (3-1) - Loss to Steele Canyon 6-42#13 Ramona (2-1) - Loss to Poway 34-35#14 Mater Dei Catholic (0-3) - Loss to #1 Lincoln 19-54#15 Mount Miguel (4-0) - Def. Grossmont 66-20

Prep Football: Granite Hills halts Saints' comeback attempt in the final minutes

In just his second start as a high school football player, Granite Hills freshman quarterback Zachary Benitez was tasked with leading his offense down to the field trailing 17-21 with less than three minutes left to play. He would go on to complete a six-yard pass to running back Maxwell Turner for the game-winning touchdown. No. 8 St. Augustine (2-1) was able to drive down the field and attempt a game-tying field goal, but the kick went wide right and the No. 3 Eagles (2-0) celebrated their 11th straight win. Isaiah Jackson had two touchdown runs from the wildcat formation. Saints freshman halfback William Flores rushed for 123 yards and a score on 22 carries. 
Week 3 Media Poll Results
#1 Lincoln (3-0) - Defeated St. Bonaventure (Ventura, CA) 49-12#2 Carlsbad (3-0) - Defeated San Pasqual 56-0#3 Granite Hills (2-0) - Defeated #8 St. Augustine 24-21#4 Madison (2-1) - Loss to Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills, CA) 20-22#5 Helix (3-0) - Def. Red Mountain (Mesa, AZ) 30-22#6 Cathedral Catholic (1-2) - Loss to Brophy College Prep (Phoenix, AZ) 21-31#7 La Costa Canyon (2-1) - Loss to San Clemente (CA) 0-28#8 St. Augustine (2-1) - Loss to #3 Granite Hills 21-24#9 Mission Hills (1-1) - Def. Oceanside 28-14#10 El Camino (1-1) - Def. Rancho Buena Vista 43-0
Valhalla overcomes miscues to earn a decisive Thursday night win at San Ysidro

Prep Football: Brown, No. 4 Madison Dominates Steele Canyon

The No. 4 Madison Warhawks earned their second win of the season with a convincing 33-7 victory over the Steele Canyon Cougars (1-1). Senior running back Jaylon Brown led the way with three touchdown runs for the Warhawks.
Steele Canyon kicked off the game with possession of the ball, but their hopes were dashed when they were picked off by Madison's Malcolm Norton, who returned the ball near the goal line. This set up the first touchdown run by Jaylon Brown, who gave the Warhawks an early 6-0 lead with 9:32 left in the opening quarter.
Brown continued to shine as he added another touchdown run to extend Madison's lead to 12-0 going into the half.
In the third quarter, Brown secured his third touchdown of the game with a 41-yard run to extend the Warhawk's advantage to 19-0.
Not to be outdone, Madison quarterback junior Ryley Parenteau contributed to the team's dominance with a 2-yard quarterback-keeper touchdown to further extend Madison's lead to 26-0.
The Warhawks weren't finished yet, as they managed to add yet another touchdown to their total.
In the fourth quarter, the Cougars managed to get on the scoreboard with a touchdown run by Jacob Vazquez.

Prep Football: Week 1 Recap

Defending state champions Granite Hills earns a statement win against Mission Hills

Continuing from their momentous 2022 season, the No. 7 Granite Hills Eagles (1-0) wasted no time resuming their dominance as they raced ahead to secure a 27-17 victory against the visiting No. 6 Mission Hills Grizzlies (0-1). The Eagles' offense promptly made an impact, orchestrating a touchdown on their initial possession. Max Turner powered through the goal line, marking the game's opening score. Following a quick three-and-out by the Grizzlies, a lengthy run by Pablo Jackson paved the way for freshman Zachary Benitez to secure the first touchdown pass of his high school career. This accomplishment took the form of a 21-yard pass to Tristan Diaz, boosting Granite Hills to a commanding 14-0 advantage with 6:22 remaining in the opening quarter. Later kicker Robert Petrich contributed a 41-yard field goal to bolster the Eagles' lead to 17-0. However, Mission Hills answered back with a 1-yard quarterback dive by Troy Huhn, narrowing the score to 17-7 at halftime. Turner's exceptional performance saw him put up 126 yards and two touchdowns, including a 15-yard sprint that solidified their victory.

Grossmont ends its losing streak, gives Lawrence first win as head coach

The Grossmont Foothillers (1-0) won its season opener 34-14 against the visiting San Diego Cavers (0-1) under new head coach Anthony Lawrence. Lawrence, an all-time leading passer with the Foothillers and the University of San Diego took over a team that had won only one game over the last two seasons. Senior quarterback Hudson Herber threw four touchdown passes while safety Joshua Ferrara grabbed two interceptions. Grossmont returns home next week to take on Olympian (0-1). San Diego (0-1) will host Westview (1-0) at Balboa Stadium.