Experienced Griffins ready for Jags’ big game

By Bill Dickens
Updated: September 3, 2015

2015 GROSSMONT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

By Bill Dickens

© East County Sports.com

EL CAJON (09-04-15) — Grossmont College will kick off the 2015 season by hosting archrival Southwestern College on Saturday (Sept. 5) at Mashin-Roth Field at 3 p.m.

Quarterback position is a battle between returning QBs MICHAEL CARRILLO (Christian, pictured above) and TOMMY PISTONE for the Griffins.

Carrillo, who completed 170-324 for 2387 yards and 10 touchdowns will draw the starting nod. However, Pistone, who completed half of his 68 passing attempts a year ago will also challenge for playing time after completing 34 of 68 passing for 361 yards and a touchdown.

“They will both get playing time,” said Griffins head coach MIKE JORDAN.

Wide receiver SERGIO BAILY, a transfer from Southwestern, has shown great hands speed and leadership ability. “He’s a definite D1 guy,” said Jordan.

Sophomore CHRISTIAN BROOKS, a wide receiver from Grossmont High, will start where he left off last season now that he understands the system better. Brooks caught 39 passes for 592 yards and 2 touchdowns as a freshman.

“Freshman ANGEL JUAREZ (6-foot-5, 290-pounds) out of Castle Park has looked great at tackle, and freshman ADRIAN TOLBERT (6-5, 201) Castle Park, has worked his way into the starting lineup at wide receiver and has big play potential,” Jordan said.

Sophomore offensive lineman standout ANTHONY GOMEZ (6-2, 290), Mar Vista, is a leader on the O-line and plays as hard as any lineman we have had here,” Jordan noted.

Freshman NEHEMIAH BROWN, Valhalla, is as fast as they come. “He is real slippery in the open field,” the coach said.

On defense the Griffins look to sophomore defensive back MAURICE CARNELL, a Southwestern College transfer is looking great and has accepted an offer from Utah State. Another sophomore transfer, linebacker NICK GALATIS (6-0, 225) is ranked one of the top JC prospects in the nation. These two help bolster an already powerful Grossmont defensive line.

Linebacker JORDAN ARNOLD (6-3, 235, West Hills), “is a beast off the edge and has recorded multiple sacks daily,” Jordan said.

Freshman CLAY CROMWELL, El Capitan, has made an immediate impact on the D-Line. Also ANTHONY DAVIS (6-2, 270), from University City, has been a great addition to the D-line.

Southwestern transfer PHILIP DIAZ DE LEON (6-4, 250) “has got himself in great condition and be a force at D-line.”

Grossmont is coming off a 4-6 season in the toughest conference in the state, the National Southern Conference.

“We will have quite a bit more experience on both side of the ball than going into the season last year,” Jordan said. “We also have good depth at most positions and the staff is working hard. I think we should be OK.”

Southwestern swamped the Griffins 35-6 in last season’s opener, so I guess you could say this is a “grudge match.”

Griffin Graffiti – Early scholarship offers: running back TOMMY McDONALD – Utah and offensive lineman JAVON LETULLI – SDSU . . . the Griffins lead the all time series over the Jaguars 25-15-1 . . . Several Grossmont Conference athletes have faded to the south including Valhalla linebacker CHRIS FARRELL (6-4, 225), Steele Canyon offensive lineman VALIN KATTOULA (6-5, 250), and Monte Vista OL DAVID ROGERS (6-5, 240), Valhalla DL ANDREW TODD (6-0, 230), Monte Vista OL ERIC LAGASSE (6-3, 255), and Helix wide receiver AUSTIN GONZALES (6-1, 170) . . . the Southwestern roster includes these players, among others. St. Augustine’s JOEJOE HUDSON and Corona Del Mar’s LUKE NAPOLITANO are dueling for the Jaguars’ quarterback spots.

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