ROUNDUP: Eagles avenge recent loss

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 28, 2023

Brenden Lewis heads to the end zone for Granite Hills. / RK2 Photography

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

No. 4 GRANITE HILLS 31, No. 8 MADISON 0 – The Eagles won their 14th-straight game by defeating the last team to hand them a defeat, but Granite Hills did it by shutout.

Last season, Granite Hills lost a wild finish, 15-12, at Madison. That was the last time the Eagles walked off the field following a defeat.

The Eagles won their final nine games of the season to win the Grossmont Hills League title, a San Diego Section Division II championship, and the state 2-A Division championship, as well.

The season, Granite Hills has opened with five straight wins.

Granite Hills (5-0) got a 95-yard kickoff return from Brenden Lewis to open the second half to send the Eagles on their way with their fourth touchdown of the game.

Zach Benitez connected with Brenden Lewis for a 13-yard touchdown just two minutes into the game.

Benitez also had a 44-yard touchdown pass to Tristan Diaz.

Isaiah Jackson had a 2-yard rushing touchdown to give the Eagles a three-touchdown lead with just over three minutes left in the first half.

The Eagles registered a pair of sacks on the Warhawks starting quarterback and also forced a fumble for a turnover.

WEST HILLS 35, EL CAPITAN 21 – West Hills (4-1) regained possession of the Tony Burner Memorial Trophy by confidently wrangling the Vaqueros in Santee.

Collin Dill, who has missed various parts of games over the last six Wolf Pack contests, rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns. He also had an interception, which was returned 22 yards.

West Hills senior Diego Calderon rushed for 134 yards, including a touchdown from 59 yards with five minutes left in the first quarter to make it 7-0.

Joseph Hamilton passed for 123 yards for the Wolf Pack.

Junior Kaiden Chambers, of West Hills, had a breakout performance with 79 yards receiving on four catches.

Kyler Oberg had an 89-yard kickoff return for the Wolf Pack, then scored the game-tying touchdown late in the first half.

West Hills debuted tied at No. 14 in this week’s media poll.

El Capitan (3-3) got a score from Chance LaChappa on a 3-yard touchdown.

The Vaqueros tied the game at 7-all on a 2-yard rushing touchdown.

CHRISTIAN 53, VALHALLA 14 – Dylan Eads returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown and had two touchdown receptions, all in the first quarter, as CHS led 20-0.

Eads scored on a 31-yard completion from Spencer Johnson late in the first quarter. Johnson also had a touchdown pass to Eads from 4 yards for a 13-0 lead.

Jacob Morones rushed for a pair of scores and threw for another.

Johnson passed for two touchdowns, while teammate Gage Humora scored on a 49-yard run for Christian (4-2).

The Patriots led 33-8 at halftime.

Brandon Doctor had a sack, while teammates Marvel Bana and Angelo Rafo had interceptions for Valhalla (2-4).

MOUNT MIGUEL 48, RANCHO BUENA VISTA 7: Mount Miguel (5-1) went on the road and defeated the winless Longhorns as the Matadors showcased some of their new talent depth.

Mount Miguel freshman Parris Vernon scored three touchdowns. He had four receptions, one for a score. He also rushed for a pair of touchdowns as he had over 100 yards of total offense.

Matador Braylon Cardwell, the younger brother of Cal’s Byron Cardwell, had four catches for 150 yards and a touchdown.

Matthew Barton passed for 293 yards for Mount Miguel.

Jeremiah Castillo scored on an interception return for the Matadors.

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 43, CALVIN CHRISTIAN 30 – The Knights’ Junior Kameron Brown had 363 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns.

Ben Hernandez passed for two touchdowns and ran for another as the Knights defeated rival Calvin Christian.

Josh Hawkins scored a rushing touchdown for FCHS.

Logan Hamilton and Hunter Hamilton both had receiving touchdowns for the Knights.