Thomas’ Pick 6s move Hillers within crown

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: October 21, 2024

Santana slot receiver Nina Matos (right) / Photo by proud grandfather of the Sultans' Gracie Gardner

2024 EAST COUNTY GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL

By Nick Pellegrino
CES Senior writer

SANTEE – Following an East County record performance of three interceptions the previous week, Grossmont High junior Gabi Thomas might have done oen better.

With Santana driving for the potential game-tying score, Thomas stepped in front of a Sultans ass and raced 46 for a touchdown late in the first half, as the first-place Foothillers took a 25-6 triumph at Santee Commuity Stadium.

Coupled with a 33-13 decision over Steele Canyon in the second game in Monday’s (Oct. 21) Grossmont Hills League tripleheader, Grossmont (5-1) has all-but-mathematically clinched the GHL championship, as teele Canyon stands second at 3-3, followed by Santana and Granite Hills at 2-4.

Thomas, one of the leading candidtaes for GHL Defensive Player of the Year, now owns the ballclub’s lead in pass thefts.

Meanwhile, Thomas helped the offense as a running back, giving quarterback Marissa Farace an opportunity with her own aerial game.

Farace threw for three touchdowns, including a score on the game’s initial drive to keep the Hillers ahad from start-to-finish.

Marissa Farace

Farace needed just five plays to travel 60 yards on the first Grossmont possession, capped by TD pass to sophomore receiver Saraya Roope.

Abigail Johnson caught Farace’s second TD before Santana made its move with perhaps a strongest catch of the contest.

Leaping high in the end zone, Sultans junior ylee Aziz grabbed the football, only to see a Hillers defense try to rip the ball out of her hands.

Kieran Hayden

However, Aziz won the tug-of-war and maintained possession to trim the deficit to 13-6.

Santana then focced a 3-and-out, but Thomas swung the momentum back to Grossmont with her Pick 6.

In Grossmont’s second contest, they waltzed to a 20-point decision over Steele Canyon,

Thomas opened the scoring with a rushing touchdown, then later added a PAT reception for a 13-0 cushion..

Later, Thomas then collected her second Pick 6 interception for a touchdown to put the win away in the scond half. She then added a second pass theft in the closing minutes, giving her six intercepiontions over a two-week period.

Also reaching the end zone were Farace and Shoop for a 20-7 halftie advantage, then Chloe “Fresby” Rodriguez in the second half.

Abigail “A.J.” Johnson and Jaelyn Jensen also registered intercepiotns for Grossmont (9-4 overall).

In the final contest in the tripleheader, Santana came back to down Granite Hills, 13-6, to force a tie foe third place between the ballclubs.