Eagles win “Biggest Game of All-Time”

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: October 20, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

ECS staff report

No. 4 GRANITE HILLS 44, No. 3 HELIX 43 ( 2-OT)

EL CAJON – The start of the game was delayed following a late, dramatic finish in the junior varsity game, won by Helix, 39-38, on a host, last-second field goal that was a line drive to win it.

It is also Senior Night at Granite Hills, so the introductions are lengthy, but these senior band members, cheerleaders, and players are welcomed to be recognized. There is no hurry to begin the biggest game in East County football history.

Helix won the toss and deferred as Granite Hills ended up with a 75-yard drive that resulted in a 22-yard field goal with 9:16 left in the first quarter.

Robert Petrich added a 45-yard field goal to make it 6-0 with 11:08 left in the first half.

Ryland Jessee threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Daniels to tie the game in the second quarter. The point-after gave the Highlanders a 7-6 lead with 4:01 left int he first half.

Penalties for both teams were as much of the story as the offenses and defenses in the first half.

The downfield hitting was enormous all night, as well.

Turner scored on a 1-yard run with just seconds left in the first half to put the Eagles back in the lead, 13-7, with 12.1 seconds remaining.

The Highlanders were having major problems stopping the Eagles on the ground.

Granite Hills has outgained Helix, 179-105, in the first half.

Turner has rushed for 89 yards and Pablo Jackson has rushed for 68 yards.

Allen III had 66 yards and the ground and three receptions for eight yards.

Helix QB Ryland Jessee was 7-for-9 but for just 26 yards. He finished 17-for-26 for 173 yards.

Granite Hills took the lead on a 1-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter.

Robert Petrich, the East County’s top placekicker, boomed a 37-yarder through the uprights with 4:37 left in the third quarter.

The Highlanders all of a sudden were moving the ball much easier against the Eagles.

Helix got a scoring drive together, capped by a 9-yard direct snap run by Kevin Allen III. Helix failed a pass attempt on a conversion try, leaving the score at 23-13 with 2:27 left in the third quarter.

Max Turner capped an Eagles’ scoring drive early in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run, as Granite Hills led 30-13, with 10:12 left in the game.

Allen III ran up the middle for a 41-yard touchdown just a few moments later to draw the Highlanders within 30-20 with 8:20 left in the game.

Allen III scored on a 6-yard keeper with just over four minutes left in the game, as Helix draws to within 30-27.

Despite dominating with its ground game, the Eagles tried a series of passes up three points with four and change to play following the Helix score.

A pass interference call nearly bailed the Eagles out, but Helix recorded a sack of Benitez to force a punt and bring the Highlanders’ crowd well into the game.

Joshua Hossman-Lees, probably the conference’s second-best placekicker, came on for a 38-yard field goal in an attempt to tie the game. He booted it through beautifully with just seconds left in regulation.

Allen III, who rushed for 218 yards in regulation, racked up 25 rushing yards in the Highlanders’ first overtime drive, including a 3-yard score.

The Eagles quickly countered with a 25-yard run by Pablo Jackson.

The Eagles looked to keep the game tied with their automatic placekicker and tied the game at 37-all.

Benitez threw a short pass to Brenden Lewis, who turned the play into a 25-yard score on the second play of Granite Hills’ second overtime possession.

Benitez finished 11-of-20 passing for 203 yards.

Lewis, a top-level baseball commit to Arizona State, has turned into one of the top touchdown playmaking receivers in the county.

Lewis finished with five receptions in the second half for 106 yards.

Allen III scored on a 1-yard run in the second overtime to draw Helix to within a point. Helix decided to end it right then, but the Eagles’ stopped Allen III on a run to the right side well short of the goal on a solo tackle by senior strong safety Trevor Smith.

Allen III rushed for 269 yards on 37 carries.

Helix receiver Jackson Daniels had six receptions for 62 yards.

Parker Vance had an interception for Granite Hills.

Note: How even are these programs? Helix captured the junior varsity contest, 39-38.

Granite Hills 44,
Helix 43 (2-OT)

MORE TO COME

Fri., Oct. 20
Grossmont Hills League
(At Valley Stadium)
EAGLES 44, HIGHLANDERS 43 (2-OT)
Helix (8-1, 3-1 GHL).......... 0  7  6 17 7 6 - 43
Granite Hills (9-0, 4-0 GHL).. 3 10 10  7 7 7 - 44

First Quarter
GH – FG Robert Petrich 19, 2:44

Second Quarter
GH – FG Petrich 45, 0:52
Hel – Jackson Daniels 8 pass from Ryland Jessee (Joshua Hossman kick), 7:59 (setup on GH penalty; roughing passer)
GH – Turner 2 run Petrich kick), 11:48 (setup on Turner 38 run)

Third Quarter
GH – Pablo Jackson 1 run (Petrich kick), 1:49 (setup on 45 Zach Benitez pass to Brenden Lewis)
GH – FG Petrich 37, 7:23
Hel – Kevin Allen III 9 run (pass failed; complete but short, tackle by Braydon Wells), 9:33

Fourth Quarter
GH – Max Turner 1 run (Petrich kick), 1:48
Hel – Allen III 41 run (Hossman kick), 3:32
Hel – Allen III 7 run (Hossman kick), 7:18
Hel – FG Joshua Hossmann 38, 14:50.9 (9.1 left)

First Overtime
Hel – Allen III 3 run (Hossman kick) (4p, 25y; setup on Allen III 20 run)
GH – 25 run (Petrich kick) (1p, 25y)

Second Overtime
GH – B. Lewis 25 pass from Benitez (Petrich kick) (2p, 25y)
Hel – Allen III 1 run (run failed; solo tackle by senior Trevor Smith) (4p, 25y)

JV Score: Helix 39, Granite Hills 38.