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- DIII: Vaqueros end Scotties’ upset run
- CIF OPEN DIVISION: SCRIPPS RANCH ROLLS EAGLES
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Farace’s 5 TD passes hand title to Hillers
- Updated: October 29, 2024
2024 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL
By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer
EL CAJON – Grossmont High quarterback Marissa Farace equalled her own Grossmont Hills League record by throwing for five touchdowns, including three to wide receiver Gabi Thomas. giving the Foothillers the first-ever flag football corwn offered by the Grossmont Conference in Monday’s (Oct. 28) 33-20 verdict over second-place Granite Hills at Valley Stadium.
The 9th-ranked Hillers (12-4 overall, 6-1 GHL) hold a three-game lead with two contests remaining.
The school was the preseason favorites after handing reigning CIF-San Diego Section champion their only loss in 20 outing in 2023.
The first-year Eagles, which look nothing like their showing in the first month of the season, displayed great improvement by hanging with the Hillers throughout the first half.
However, Grossmont assumed a 19-12 halftime lead when Farace found Thomas on a 4-year pass over the middle with 15 seconds remaining to lead 19-12.
Grossmont’s defense then made its move.
With the Eagles driving with a chance to pull even,Grossmont safety Jaelyn Jensen thwarted the attempt when she intercepted a pass in the end zone for a touchback to preserve the lead.
On the very next play, Farace found Thomas down the middle of the field. The junior then jukeed a defender, raced to the left sideline, racing 60 ards for the framatic touchdown of the contest.
The Eagles fought back on a TD 4-yard catch by Sophia Argeres o. It was her second TD catch and one n one of her six receprions. She also collected the 2-point conversion to trim the deficit to 27-20.
Grossmont countered with the longest play of the contest, a 63-yard strike to Jensen.
Along with the three TD catches by “Spifrt” (Thomas) — the first was a little lucjy after Granite Hills deflected the pass in the end zoned, but it landed right into Thomas’ arms — C.J. Wenck also gathered a score.
Another Hillers defender Ashley Beard, also came up with an interception to clinch the triumph.
For the Eagles, Argeres’ first TD was setup on a 27-yard pass to Katie Petrich to ignite a 60-yard scoring march.
Emily Fong also registered a scoring catch, but the leading receiver for Granite Hills was Illiana Cruse with seven receptions.
History
When the CIF-San Diego Section was formed for the 1960-61 season, there was no Grossmont Conference. Thus, East County schools played in the South Bay-based Metro Conference.
But which school was the league champion?
Well, that answered can be confusing because the Metro elected to split into a pair of sepaate division.
The North titlist was El Capitan, but they shared the crown with (of all schools) North County based Escondido after the schools played to a draw.
Meanwhile, the South Division crown was also a deadlock betwwen Mount Miguel and Helix.
However, there was no confusion inthe debut of the Grossmont Conference in 1961-62, as Helix overwhelmed the competition as the clear title-winner.
The same can be true in regards to flag football.
The first season of CIFSDS sanctioned play came in Fall 2023, as Bonita Vistga went 19-1 overall to become the section champions.
The Barons also won the Metro League, but they did suffer one loss which prevented a perfect record: Grossmont beat them, 19-13, at Lt. Mitchell Memorial Field.
Just like boys tackle football, Year 2 for flag football included Grossmont Conference play, with the initial champion of the Grossmont Hills League belonging to Grossmont.
It is well assumed that a memento will be on display when the updated Grossmont High Museum opens next year. The school’s first tackle football outing came in 1920.
Western League
Patrick Henry 18, Mira Mesa 6
SAN CARLOS – After second-ranked Mira Mesa went undefeated through the first round of Western League play, there was only one way for Patrick Henry and Scripps Ranch to gain a share of the championship: both needed to defeat the Marayders in the second round.
On Monday (Oct. 28), the Patriots held their side of the equation.
Mira Mesa was limited to a mere 103 yards on 11-for-26 passing, as Patrick Henry handed the Marauders their first league setback in an 18-6 decision.
Mira Mesa (15-3 overall, 8-1 league) — which is ranked 17th in California — still lolds the lead over the Patriots by one full game, but Scripps Ranch fell out of title contention after losing to Mira Mesa, 35-6, last week.
Thus, the only way the Patriots (10-7, 7-2) can share the crown is by winning their final regular season contest at hgome to San Diego, while Hoover needs topost a major upset of Mira Mesa. Both are slated for next Monday (Nov. 4).
Elsewhere
Granite Hills 25, Santana 24EL CAJON –
Santana quarterback Maddy Quiroga connected on a late, 69-yard touchdown pass to Nina Matos, but the Sultans missed on the PAT pass attempt to give the Eagles a narrow, 1-point decision in Monday’s (Oct. 28) first game of a GHL triple header.
Tied at 18-all, the Sultans were driving for the go-ahead score but the agles; Victoria Brady recorded an interception in the red zone. The Eagles tghen scored to take a 7-point lead and held on.
Steele Canyon 40, Santana 6
EL CAJON – The Cougars (7-7 overall) returned to the .500 mark after posting its third shutout of the season.