Hillers, Norse now serving 50-burgers

ECS staff report

Following disappointing starts to their respective seasons, both the Grossmont Foothillers and the Valhalla Norsemen bounced back by registering “50 burgers” — the latest, hot term for scoring more than 50 points — in Friday’s (Aug. 30) early-season, non-league contests in the South Bay.

Grossmont roared to a 30-8 halftime cushion to take down host Olympian, 56-16.

Meanwhile, Valhalla limited host Mar Vista to under 100 yards in passing to skate past the Mariners, mounting a similar 28-7 halftime advantage to claim a 51-21 decision.

For the Orange, the 51 points is their highest total in nearly a decade. They previously collected an amazing 57 points against Patrick Henry in 2016.

It was also the third-highest total in school history for a road game.

Grossmont’s 56 points equals the most scored on the road since 2013, when they topped Escondido — also in the season’s second week.

Both the Hillers and Norsemen stand with records of 1-1.

Valhalla 51, Mar Vista 21

CHULA VISTA — Preston Marcos returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown for Valhalla (1-1) to start the big scoring night.

Valhalla running back Marcus Mikhail had 102 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns.

Mikhail had a 1-yard score to give Valhalla a 13-7 lead in the first quarter. He also had a touchdown from 1-yard out in the final minute of the first half, as the Norsemen took a 28-7 lead into halftime. His third score, just past the midway point of the third quarter, extended the lead to 35-7.?

Valhalla quarterback Jackson Newman threw for 85 yards and two touchdowns and had 87 yards on on the ground.

The Norsemen extended the lead to 21-7 when Newman threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Marcos in the second quarter.

Freshman Paul Sako had a 32-yard touchdown reception from Newman early in the fourth quarter for a 41-14 lead.

Vinny Coyle had a 19-yard scoop-and-score touchdown for the Norsemen defense, while Zachary Haggar had three sacks and eight tackles.

Brody Shartel had a tackle-for-loss in the first quarter for Valhalla, while teammate Ahmed Husaini, a junior, had three solo tackles.

Anderson Turner had a 38-yard field goal for Valhalla to put the team over 50 points.

Ironically, the Mariners were quarterbacked by Peter Thomas, who threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to tie the game on the series following the opening kickoff return.

A player by the same name, Pete Thomas, was a Valhalla star quarterback between 2008-2010, starting for three seasons before competing successfully at Colorado State, North Carolina State, and Louisiana-Monroe. He currently is a quarterbacks coach at the University of Cincinnati.

Grossmont 56, Olympian 15

CHULA VISTA – Grossmont quarterback Thomas Donovan passed for six touchdowns for the second consecutive week – this time, however, without an interception.

Donovan, who had six touchdown throws last week but five interceptions in a shootout loss to Henry in the opener, completed 23 of 34 passes for 454 yards to lead the Foothillers over the host Eagles.

The Grossmont senior is currently one of the top passers in the nation after two weeks, throwing for nearly 900 yards.

Parker Vanderburgh had eight receptions for 227 yards and three touchdowns. He currently has 357 yards receiving and five touchdowns on the season.

Noah Walker added eight catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns. He has totaled just one yard shy of 400 yards this season to go along with five touchdowns.

Both of the Grossmont star receivers are among the nation’s leaders in receiving yards after two games.

Amari Riley had a 17-yard touchdown reception for Grossmont.

Casey Cambell rushed for 63 yards and two touchdowns, while teammate Damar Smith rushed 15 times for 61 yards for the Hillers.

Grossmont was led defensively by Gage Weichelt, Drew Sasena, Julian Garcia, and Max Tufugafale, and Ryder Robinson.