Eagles defeat yet another contender

By Ramon Scott
Updated: August 25, 2024

Granite Hills' Brayden Wills wraps up a Grizzlies ball carrier. / Nicole Noel

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

No. 2 GRANITE HILLS 28, No. 6 MISSION HILLS 17

EastCountySports.com

SAN MARCOS — The Granite Hills Eagles know they have a special talent in senior Maxwell Turner.

Friday night against the sixth-ranked Mission Hills Grizzlies, Turner had 230 yards of offense, leading the second-ranked Eagles to a 27-17 win on the road in a matchup of Open Division contenders.

The defending section champs were in a battle against a perennially strong county contender, but in the end, the Eagles looked much the best of the two clubs.

Turner scored on touchdown runs of 3, 29, and 7 yards.

Granite Hills sophomore quarterback Zach Benitez passed for 234 yards, including a touchdown to senior Lathan Fry, who made an impressive catch with :17 left before halftime and a 14-10 lead.

Benitez was 28-for-37 passing, including 6-for-6 on the Eagles’ opening drive, which was capped by the 3-yard score from Turner.

The Grizzlies would regain the lead 17-10 on a drive extended by a pass interference call against Granite Hills.

Brendan Lewis had eight receptions for 98 yards to lead the Eagles, while junior Tristan Diaz added six receptions.