Hillers wrap up historic regular season

By ECS Staff
Updated: November 5, 2016

Grossmont's CURTIS JONES hauls in a pass against West Hills on Friday. / photo by Chris Parks

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

GROSSMONT 48, WEST HILLS 14

By Chris Davis
© East County Sports.com

EL CAJON (11-5-16) – The Grossmont Hills League game between the Grossmont Foothillers and West Hills Wolf Pack was surprisingly a back-and-forth contest for most of the first half, but the second half became party time for Grossmont, who was celebrating both Homecoming and Senior Night.

They also were setting some school records in a 48-14 victory over West Hills on Friday (Nov. 4).

Grossmont RB JAMES MACKEY takes on a West Hills defender Friday night in La Mesa. / photo by Chris Parks

“I had a feeling that we would have a little let down after last week’s game,” Grossmont head coach TOM KARLO said after the victory. “We had homecoming and Senior night tonight, anytime there is a lot of stuff going on it is hard to maintain focus. Overall, I think we played well for the most part. We just started a little slow.”

At the end of the first quarter the Foothillers (9-1,4-1) led 14-7 over the Wolf Pack (5-5, 1-4).

On the first drive of the second quarter, the Pack handed it off to GRIFFIN GUINN three times inside the Grossmont five to bring the Wolf Pack to within one. The extra point was good to tie it up at 14 with 7:17 remaining in the first half.

Grossmont came back to take the lead as HUNTER GAINES threw a 22-yard strike to JOSH MOALA.

DOMONIQUE GUEVARA then caught a pass for 12 yards, but it was the moves that the senior put on to avoid a pair of would be tacklers that brought the crowd to its feet.

JAMES MACKEY had a 3-yard run after a penalty to bring up second and 13. Two plays later ZACH JONES had a 20-yard catch.

JAILEN BAILEY then pulled in a 21-yard scoring reception with 4:18 remaining. The extra point was good to put Grossmont up 21-14.

Gaines brought the Foothillers down the field from the 15 with a spectacular drive. First was a 30 yard pick-up to Guevara. Then after a couple of quick outs to Guevera that got the ball to the West Hills eight, Gaines took care of things himself with an 8-yard rush as the clock expired for the half, putting the ‘Hillers up 28-14 at intermission.

Grossmont’s DOMONIQUE GUEVARA slides in for a touchdown catch Friday night. / photo by Chris Parks

Guevara set the Grossmont High record for TD receptions in a single-season with a 15-yard catch with 2:53 left in the third quarter. The previous record of 13 was held by Grossmont’s Wide Receiver coach CHRISTIAN BROOKS.

“I expected that,” Karlo commented. “He’s a helluva receiver, a phenomenal player.”

“Coach’s (Brooks) face when I came off the field and he realized that I took his record it was a great feeling,” Guevara stated after celebrating with his family. “There is a huge amount of mutual respect on both of our behalves.”

Also in the victory the Foothillers recovered their 28th fumble recovery of the season.

“The fumble recoveries are a product of our guys being really good at taking the ball away,” Karlo acknowledged.

Grossmont quarterback HUNTER GAINES fires a pass Friday night. / photo by Chris Parks

The CIF-San Diego Section will be releasing the playoff brackets on Saturday (Nov. 5). Grossmont looks like they could get either a four or five seed in the Open Division. If the four seed is the seed that they receive they will host a playoff game.

The Foothillers will face Mission Hills here in La Mesa in two weeks in the San Diego CIF Open Division playoff opener.

Meanwhile, the Wolf Pack was expected to get a rematch with Mount Miguel. The Wolf Pack beat the Matadors, 29-28, in a thrilling non-league finish in Santee back on Sept. 16. The matchups were pending any corrections by the CIF.