EAGLES PREVAIL ON ROAD OVER TITANS

By David Dickens
Updated: August 25, 2019

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

GRANITE HILLS 28, POWAY 24

By Dave Dickens

EastCountySports.com

POWAY-(8-23-2019) – There is no doubt, close score, home or away, the Granite Hills Eagles are here to stay.

Last season, it was a scary contest towards the end against the Poway Titans, with former quarterback Chris Ostreng hitting current receiver DYLAN RUTTER for a 5-yard score, and with the extra point successful, it was 16-7 Eagles with 7 minutes left to go in the fourth.

Four minutes later in that same contest, the Titans struck through the air, elected to try for the two-point conversion, and failed, 17-13, Granite, would be the final last year in what ended up being a defensive battle, which the Eagles won, as well.

Fast forward to 2019, a much younger Granite Hills team, in particular on offense, starting with quarterback JUSTUS McCOMB.

The Titans caught fire quick and Titan running back JOSH BUTLER scored swiftly on a 12-yard scamper, as the point after was successful, and Poway was on the board on their first possession, 7-0, with just under three minutes elapsed in the opening quarter.

The Eagle running game was stagnant in the first half, however never count out the speedster himself, RICHARD “JUNI” HARRIS.

With just under five minutes to play before intermission, Harris turned on the afterburners and bulldozed in for 6, and the point after was successful and the Eagles tied it at 7-all.

“I was really proud of my guys on offense the way they stepped up being so young,” said Granite head coach Kellan Cobbs. “We had the lead with four minutes to go, we got the ball back, drove down and scored. Really a great confidence booster for this young offense.”

With one minute remaining in the first half, Poway was stifled by the always different look Eagle defense, forcing the Titans to settle for a 25-yard field goal, making it 10-7 Poway.

The Titans thought with under a minute to play in the first half that they would ride the 10-7 lead into the locker room.

Sorry Titan fans, the visitors had different plans as they remained resilient for the entire game.

With just 38 seconds left, McComb, a junior, rifled a 14-yard strike into the sure-handed wide receiver JAMES JOHNSON’s mitts, and with the point after good, it left the score 13-10 as the visiting Eagles headed into the locker room feeling proud of the quick drive to lead on the road.

The second half proved to be a back and forth affair.

Typical Granite defense is hard to decipher, causing confusion and keeping the opposing offense under duress.

With less than 28 ticks left in the third quarter, none other than guess who?

Harris would find yet another hole to squeeze through for his second TD on the evening from 4 yards out, and GAVIN ARMSTRONG was perfect with his foot on the evening, as the point after was successful.

Granite was now in command, 21-10, getting ready for a strong finish in the 4th.

Poway was handled well especially by the stellar Eagle defense.

However, Poway’s ANDREW WIESLEY decoded the stifling Granite defense and cruised into the
end zone for a 17-yard score, as the two-point conversion failed, 21-16, Granite with 9 minutes remaining.

The Titans would add to their total points 4 minutes later with a 2-yard rushing TD and a successful two-point conversion, for their first successful two points on the evening.

Down 24-21, this young, energetic group of Eagles never gave up.

The Eagles offense put together a beautiful drive and only fitting that McComb made it into the end zone on a 5-yard sneak with under a minute to go.

Granite knocked off the Poway Titans yet again, 27-24.

Next up for the Eagles, a tough test versus Mount Carmel, who also won on Friday.

EastCountySports.com