Fearless Forecaster Week 2

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 4, 2015

Christian QB David Todd Jeremiah

2015 FEARLESS FORECASTER

Week 2

By Bill Dickens
© EastCountySports.com
SANTEE (9-3-15) — One thing when Christian High and West Hills tangle on the gridiron, the stadium scoreboard should be flashing – that is, points galore.

When these two teams collide Friday night (Sept. 4) on the West Hills “blue” at 7 p.m. it should be more of the same. Last year Christian rolled to a 43-29 victory over the Wolf Pack.

Playing on the Boise State blue surface probably won’t be a detriment for the Patriots.

“Heck, my first college catch for Liberty University was at Boise State,” said Patriots offensive coordinator DAVID BEEZER, a former wide receiver. “I had a lot of success on the blue. We don’t even discuss it in our meetings at Christian.”

The 9^thranked Patriots, who have won 26 of their last 28 games, opened the season in 107 degree heat at Brawley by taming the Wildcats 37-21.

Christian quarterback DAVID TODD JEREMIAH completed 18 of 26 passes for 307 yards and 3 touchdowns in the knockout of Brawley.

But this is no one-man show. ADRIAN PETTY is a bullet out of the backfield for the Patriots, which boast a hefty 250 pound line across the front.

“This is definitely the fastest team I’ve coached in my 20-plus years at Christian,” Beezer noted.

West Hills coach CASEY ASH agreed.

“I can’t believe how big those guys are up front, especially for a school that size,” Ash said. “Petty is going to be the best player on the field in games he plays in.”

Both coaches acknowledged that Christian junior linebacker-tight end JOEY MORONES is a game breaker.

“He’s a key for them on both sides of the ball,” Ash said. “He can catch the ball and he’s an aggressive, hard hitting linebacker.”

The Wolf Pack (0-1) will depend on a pressure pass-rushing defense, and an offense directed by 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior field general, SPENCER MOYER.

“Moyer is a big-time quarterback, strong arm, good size and able to run with it,” said Beezer. “We have to keep him under control.”

Give the nod to . . . Christian 35-21.

OTAY RANCH (1-0) at GROSSMONT (1-0), 7 – The Foothillers rallied from a 15-0 deficit to conquer Morse 35-15 in last week’s season opener. JAKE HARR stormed his way for 142 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in the Hillers’ comeback.

That game displayed a variety of offensive participants. On the defensive edge linebacker JOSH McFAUL provided several key defensive stands including 12 tackles (2 for loss) to help switch the momentum into the Grossmont huddle. ALEX LILLIARD also made 12 stops (2 for loss) in the backfield.

When these two teams locked up last year Grossmont lost to Otay Ranch 41-32 in the second game of the season.

Defense appears to be the strong suit for Otay Ranch, which won a fist-to-fist scrimmage 7-0 and then knocked off Valhalla 14-7 in last week’s opener.

As good as Otay Ranch’s defense appears to be, Grossmont’s offense appears to have too many ways to put points on the board . . . Grossmont 28-16.

VALHALLA (0-1) at GRANITE HILLS (1-0), 7 – A year ago, Granite Hills smothered Valhalla, 45-7, but don’t expect to see anything like that in Friday’s (Sept. 4) nonleague rematch at Valley Stadium.

The Eagles, who trail the all-time series 25-15, have high hopes for this season as they’re coming off a 36-20 season opening victory at Patrick Henry.

Much like Grossmont, Granite Hills has a handful of offensive contributors, including running back LYNDON FRANKLIN, who rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in a win over Patrick Henry.

Granite Hills’ defense also provided a spark as ELYJAH PALOMERA and TYLER GONZALEZ returned interceptions for touchdowns in the opener.

In Valhalla’s opener the Norsemen were locked up in a defensive struggle at Otay Ranch. Valhalla is a team that will develop more offensive might down the stretch but could not do so against the Mustangs.

Against Otay Ranch, Valhalla linebacker CADE BAKER notched 9 tackles and sacked the Mustang’s quarterback for a 21-yard loss. Teammates LOGAN BAKER accounted for 13 tackles and JOSH McNISH-HEIDER logged 10.

This game is little more than a toss-up but the coin favors . . . Valhalla 27-21.

SANTANA (1-0) at KEARNY (1-0), 6:30 – Each of these teams enjoyed an opening night cakewalk as the Sultans slaughtered SD-Southwest 54-0 and Kearny clobbered San Ysidro 55-10.

So the question is, which team is capable of repeating the same.

The Sultans quarterback FRANK GUTIERREZ was 6-for-6 with 126 yards and 3 touchdowns as Santana took a 44-0 lead in the 1^st quarter then cleared the bench in the blowout. Junior running back BOBBY WALLACE touched the ball five times for 134 yards, producing 3 touchdowns in the rout.

But treading won’t be so smooth for Santana this time around . . . Kearny . . . 28-25.

MONTE VISTA (0-1) at STEELE CANYON (0-1), 7 – The paper thin Monarchs of Monte Vista made a stout showing against Hoover and showed respectable offense but could not stop the Cardinals, resulting in a season-opening loss.

On the flip side, Steele Canyon couldn’t match strides with Top 10 rival Torrey Pines, so this one is kind of a stepping stone to the rest of the season.

Both teams rely on the running game. Quarterback TRE OWENS guides Monte Vista’s running oriented offense with 18 carries for 63 yards and 2 touchdowns in the loss to Hoover. Running backs KYLE AGAPE (21-69) and JACCOB JARDIM (739, 1 TD) anchor Owen’s efforts.

Steele Canyon is run oriented, led by MALCOLM ANDERS who rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in the loss to the Falcons.

Two-way junior tackle CURTIS STEVENS continues to sparkle in the middle of the Monte Vista defense.

The Cougars lead the all-time series 6-2-1 and should add another notch this season . . . Steele Canyon 18-13.

EL CAPITAN (0-1) at MATER DEI CATHOLIC (1-0), 7 – Following its hefty rankings and success in the past, the Vaqueros had to be stunned when they got mauled by Madison in last week’s season opener at Madison.

A 35-point second quarter by the Warhawks turned the game into a 44-7 rout.

The highlights were few for the usually bright light Vaqueros. But junior quarterback PHOENIX CATES, who completed 9 of 18 passes for 123 yards connected on a 181 touchdown pass to sophomore slot AUSTIN FINCH.

This was a game that the Vaqueros would just as soon erase from their memory.

The key to the Crusaders’ success so far is quarterback Chris Jones who passes for 231 yards and rushed for 24, generating 3 touchdowns in Mater Dei’s opening win over ValleyCenter 29-23.

Looking for a rebound, the Vaqueros may be hard pressed to do so . . . Mater Dei 23-20.

MOUNT MIGUEL (1-0) at POWAY (1-0), 7 – The Matadors came charging out of the gate behind running backs ANTOINE HAMILTON (19-102, 3 TDs) and ANTHONY GILMORE (7-36, 2 TDs) in a 44-24 victory over Chula Vista in last week’s opener in Spring Valley.

Mount Miguel proved it could throw the ball as well as quarterback BENNY VALADEZ completed 9 of 15 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown in their spanking of the Spartans.

Senior wide out KIKO BORJA returned the second half kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Borja plays both sides of the ball, making four tackles on the defensive side. He also had a 42-yard punt return.

Defense will definitely become a pivotal point at Poway, which won its opener against Rancho Buena Vista 21-6. Defensive back MIKE JONES had four tackles, recovered a fumble and forced a second to spearhead the MountMiguel defense against the Spartans.

This will come down to helmet-to-helmet . . . Poway 21-14.

EL CAJON VALLEY (0-0) at MONTGOMERY (0-1), 7 – El Cajon Valley will field a new coach, PARRIS PISIONA, and a new look in their season opener Friday (Sept. 4). The Braves took a bye last week and will face a Montgomery unit that was beat by Cardenas Federal Prep 22-0 out of Tijuana last week.

Junior quarterback TYSON SMITH will direct the Braves’ offense and CHARLES SMITH will present the number one target. Senior NATHAN McCULLOUGH will head the ground game. JERIMIAH VALDES (6-foot-255) will be the main cog in the Braves’ defense.

El Cajon Valley won last year’s matchup with the Aztecs and figures to do the same this year . . . El Cajon Valley 35-6.

MOUNTAIN EMPIRE (0-1) at ARMY-NAVY (0-0) , 6 – Army-Navy will open their season in a meeting with Mountain Empire on Friday (Sept. 4) at 6 p.m.

The Red Hawks junior quarterback VICTOR PARRA was 15-for-18 passing for 111 yards and a touchdown against Flintridge Prep Academy in the opener. ALEX TORRES was the recipient of 5 of those passes, scoring one touchdown.

Mountain Empire senior running back JAMES WILL carried the ball 13 times for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns.

In a game that should be a shootout, give the edge to . . . Mountain Empire 31-28.

8-man

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN (0-1) at OCEAN VIEW CHRISTIAN (0-0), 3:30 – In what will likely be a high scoring game, FCHS will play its second road game in a row against Ocean View Christian on Friday (Sept. 4).

One thing in the Knights’ favor is they have played one game, while this will be the debut game for Ocean View Christian. Just how much this will matter will be open to question.

Junior quarterback DANIEL HOFFMAN will stand under center for the Knights and his presence should make an impact.

Most of these 8-man game turn into offense shootouts, and on this one give the high note to . . . Foothills Christian 35-31.

Fearless Forcaster Record
Weekly: 8-5 (.625)
Season: 8-5 (.625)