ROUNDUP: Norsemen stun in Valley opener

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 4, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

WEEK SEVEN
Fri., Oct. 4

VALHALLA (1-0, 2-3) 31, SANTANA (0-1, 4-1) 14

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – A fumble recovery and subsequent return of 38 yards by the Sultans put them in the lead, 7-0 in the first quarter as Jordyn Gillissie sacked the quarterback and the ball bounced up for freshman Tatum Morehouse.

Valhalla had an answer early, however, as a 37-yard keeper sweep by Jackson Newman resulted in a sprint down the sideline for a touchdown tied the game, 7-all.

The Sultans scored on the ensuing drive, capped by a 39-yard score down the right side on a handoff to make it 14-7, from Kaedyn Hallman, the senior rushing star.

Newman had a 40-yard completion, then a keeper down to the 2, where Joshua Armstrong, a senior, crashed in to equalize at 14-all.

Newman had a 40-yard run down to the 6, then he ran in an option keeper for a 21-14 lead for the Norsemen at halftime.

Valhalla’s reliable Anderson Turner booted a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter for a 24-14 lead.

Valhalla junior Lorenzo Matos had the play of the night on a 21-yard pick-six interception return in the third quarter and a 31-14 lead.

The Sultans got a nice pass completion to get into the red zone on their next possession, but Valhalla pushed them back and turned them away on a fourth-down pass attempt.

Evan Hanulak had an interceptions for Valhalla.

EL CAPITAN (1-0, 3-3) 38, MONTE VISTA (0-1, 2-4) 21

SPRING VALLEY – – The Vaqueros took a 14-7 lead in the second quarter with under four minutes to play when Brandt Barker threw a touchdown pass from five yards to Braiden Linder.

Alex Villanueva had a 1-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the first half as the score was tied at 14-all. Villanueva also scored the Monarchs first touchdown of the game.

El Capitan took a 21-14 lead on a run from Brady Joralemon from 13 yards out just three minutes into the third quarter.

El Capitan extended the lead to 28-14 when Brady Copp scored on a 5-yard run in the final minute of the third quarter.

Joralemon added a 5-yard rushing touchdown for the 34-14 edge.

Villanueva had a 99-yard touchdown return on a kickoff for the Monarchs.

at GRANITE HILLS (1-0, 4-1) 39, STEELE CANYON (0-1, 4-2) 0

Max Turner had a 49-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to open the scoring.

Lathan Fry scored a touchdown on a 7-yard reception from Zachary Benitez with 2:33 left in the first quarter. The Eagles got a big play on a 75-yard completion from Benitez to senior Trenton Ingram to set them up at the 7.

Turner had a touchdown reception from Benitez in the second quarter on a 2-yarder with 8:19 left in the first half. It was Turner’s 15th touchdown of the season.

Brenden Lewis caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Benitez to make it 26-0 at halftime.

Granite Hills got a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown by senior Luis Huertas to make it 32-0 with 11:14 left in the thitrd quarter.

Turner had a long touchdown run for a touchdown of 56 in the third quarter following a pitch to make it 39-0 with 4:59 left in the third quarter.

The Homecoming King was Linkin Glaze.

MOUNT MIGUEL (1-0, 5-1) 63, GROSSMONT (0-1, 3-3) 26

SPRING VLLEY – Mount Miguel scored on its first possession on a 38-yard keeper by quarterback A.J. Stowers.

Grossmont went down into the red zone quickly on a completion from Tommy Donovan to Noah Walker, where the ball was run in on the next play after the 33-yard completion down to the 3 as Smith took it in off the right side.

Brandon Arringon had a 78-yard touchdown return of the ensuing kickoff for Mount Miguel with just a little over three minutes gone from the first-quarter clock.

Arrington had a 22-yard reception for a touchdown on a short pass that he skipped by the defenders on the way to the end zone, giving the Matadors a 21-6 lead.

Noah Walker had a 10-yard touchdown reception from Donovan to pull the Hillers to within 21-12 still in the first quarter.

Stowers threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Parris Vernon to give Mount Miguel the 28-12 lead.

Stowers connected with Vernon for a long pass down the left side for 40 yards to set the Matadors up for a score on the next play.

The Matadors scored on a 14-yard touchdown reception of an acrobatic proportion by A.J. Logan in the back of the end zone.

Arrington had an interception in the first half.

Vernon took a direct snap for a touchdown run in the second quarter as the Matadors led 42-12

Grossmont closed the Mount Miguel lead to 42-18 on a touchdown pass of 32 yards from Donovan to Amari Riley on a beautiful deep connection.

Mount Miguel scored on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Stowers to Ezelle Buchanon to make it 49-18.

CHRISTIAN 42, CRAWFORD 7

EL CERRITO – The Patriots led 20-0 in the first quarter, as Kaleb Runkle had a 16-yard keeper for a touchdown as part of the early scoring barrage to make it 6-0.

The Patriots scored on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kai Rosier from Runkle for the second score.

The third touchdown of the first quarter came on a rushing touchdown by junior Jacob Kirchhoefer.

Crawford scored with a pass after penalty against the Pats for targeting resulted in a player ejection and put the colts in the red zone. The Colts scored on short pass and the PAT was good, as the Pats led 20- 7 with 7 minutes left ’til halftime.

A 10-yard touchdown pass from Runkle to Brady Eads made it 27-7 Pats with 4:33 ’til halftime.

Christian scored with a rushing touchdown from Jake Marsh from five yards out as the Patriots led 34-7 at halftime.

CHS scored with Jacob Morones on a rushing TD then the Pats went for two on a pass from Runkle to Marsh to make the score 42-7 with eight minutes left in game.

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WEST HILLS (1-0, 2-3) 28, EL CAJON VALLEY (0-1, 0-6) 6

SANTEE – The Wolf Pack scored a touchdown on a pass completion with under six minutes to play in the first quarter from Joey Hamilton to Brayden Reed.

Christian Slojkowski kicked a field goal in the final minute of the first quarter for a 12-0 lead. The Wolf Pack scored on a safety just before the midway point of the first quarter.

West Hills added a kick return for a touchdown by emerging star Edgard Leon.

West HIlls went ahead 25-0 later in the third quarter on a rushing touchdown by Hamilton on a short run. The score was set up by a 41-yard punt return by Leon.

El Cajon Valley’s Rocky Carmona scored on a rushing touchdown just past the midway point of the fourth quarter to make the score 25-6.

Leon was named the Homecoming King following the game.

Junior Jacob Romeo rushed for 58 yards to lead the Wolf Pack. He carried 11 times.

Kevin White recorded an interception and also had a sack for the Wolf Pack.

Zachary Waters and Christian Parker both recorded sacks for West Hills.