ROUNDUP: Norsemen stun in Valley opener

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 4, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

WEEK SEVEN
Fri., Oct. 4

VALHALLA (1-0, 2-3) 31, SANTANA (0-1, 4-1) 14

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – A fumble recovery and subsequent return of 38 yards by the Sultans put them in the lead, 7-0 in the first quarter as Jordyn Gillissie sacked the quarterback and the ball bounced up for freshman Tatum Morehouse.

Valhalla had an answer early, however, as a 37-yard keeper sweep by Jackson Newman resulted in a sprint down the sideline for a touchdown tied the game, 7-all.

The Sultans scored on the ensuing drive, capped by a 39-yard score down the right side on a handoff to make it 14-7, from Kaedyn Hallman, the senior rushing star.

Newman had a 40-yard completion, then a keeper down to the 2, where Joshua Armstrong, a senior, crashed in to equalize at 14-all.

Newman had a 40-yard run down to the 6, then he ran in an option keeper for a 21-14 lead for the Norsemen at halftime.

Valhalla’s reliable Anderson Turner booted a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter for a 24-14 lead.

Valhalla junior Lorenzo Matos had the play of the night on a 21-yard pick-six interception return in the third quarter and a 31-14 lead.

The Sultans got a nice pass completion to get into the red zone on their next possession, but Valhalla pushed them back and turned them away on a fourth-down pass attempt.

EL CAPITAN (1-0, 3-3) 38, MONTE VISTA (0-1, 2-4) 21

SPRING VALLEY – – The Vaqueros took a 14-7 lead in the second quarter with under four minutes to play when Brandt Barker threw a touchdown pass from five yards to Braiden Linder.

Alex Villanueva had a 1-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the first half as the score was tied at 14-all. Villanueva also scored the Monarchs first touchdown of the game.

El Capitan took a 21-14 lead on a run from Brady Joralemon from 13 yards out just three minutes into the third quarter.

El Capitan extended the lead to 28-14 when Brady Copp scored on a 5-yard run in the final minute of the third quarter.

Joralemon added a 5-yard rushing touchdown for the 34-14 edge.

Villanueva had a 99-yard touchdown return on a kickoff for the Monarchs.

at GRANITE HILLS (1-0, 4-1) 39, STEELE CANYON (0-1, 4-2) 0

Max Turner had a 49-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to open the scoring.

Lathan Fry scored a touchdown on a 7-yard reception from Zachary Benitez with 2:33 left in the first quarter. The Eagles got a big play on a 75-yard completion from Benitez to senior Trenton Ingram to set them up at the 7.

Turner had a touchdown reception from Benitez in the second quarter on a 2-yarder with 8:19 left in the first half. It was Turner’s 15th touchdown of the season.

Brenden Lewis caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Benitez to make it 26-0 at halftime.

Granite Hills got a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown by senior Luis Huertas to make it 32-0 with 11:14 left in the thitrd quarter.

Turner had a long touchdown run for a touchdown of 56 in the third quarter following a pitch to make it 39-0 with 4:59 left in the third quarter.

The Homecoming King was Linkin Glaze.

MOUNT MIGUEL (1-0, 5-1) 63, GROSSMONT (0-1, 3-3) 26

SPRING VLLEY – Mount Miguel scored on its first possession on a 38-yard keeper by quarterback A.J. Stowers.

Grossmont went down into the red zone quickly on a completion from Tommy Donovan to Noah Walker, where the ball was run in on the next play after the 33-yard completion down to the 3 as Smith took it in off the right side.

Brandon Arringon had a 78-yard touchdown return of the ensuing kickoff for Mount Miguel with just a little over three minutes gone from the first-quarter clock.

Arrington had a 22-yard reception for a touchdown on a short pass that he skipped by the defenders on the way to the end zone, giving the Matadors a 21-6 lead.

Noah Walker had a 10-yard touchdown reception from Donovan to pull the Hillers to within 21-12 still in the first quarter.

Stowers threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Parris Vernon to give Mount Miguel the 28-12 lead.

Stowers connected with Vernon for a long pass down the left side for 40 yards to set the Matadors up for a score on the next play.

The Matadors scored on a 14-yard touchdown reception of an acrobatic proportion by A.J. Logan in the back of the end zone.

Arrington had an interception in the first half.

Vernon took a direct snap for a touchdown run in the second quarter as the Matadors led 42-12

Grossmont closed the Mount Miguel lead to 42-18 on a touchdown pass of 32 yards from Donovan to Amari Riley on a beautiful deep connection.

Mount Miguel scored on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Stowers to Ezelle Buchanon to make it 49-18.

CHRISTIAN 42, CRAWFORD 7

EL CERRITO – The Patriots led 20-0 in the first quarter, as Kaleb Runkle had a 16-yard keeper for a touchdown as part of the early scoring barrage to make it 6-0.

The Patriots scored on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kai Rosier from Runkle for the second score.

The third touchdown of the first quarter came on a rushing touchdown by junior Jacob Kirchhoefer.

Crawford scored with a pass after penalty against the Pats for targeting resulted in a player ejection and put the colts in the red zone. The Colts scored on short pass and the PAT was good, as the Pats led 20- 7 with 7 minutes left ’til halftime.

A 10-yard touchdown pass from Runkle to Brady Eads made it 27-7 Pats with 4:33 ’til halftime.

Christian scored with a rushing touchdown from Jake Marsh from five yards out as the Patriots led 34-7 at halftime.

CHS scored with Jacob Morones on a rushing TD then the Pats went for two on a pass from Runkle to Marsh to make the score 42-7 with eight minutes left in game.

WEST HILLS (1-0, 2-3) 28, EL CAJON VALLEY (0-1, 0-6) 6

SANTEE – The Wolf Pack scored a touchdown on a pass completion with under six minutes to play in the first quarter from Joey Hamilton to Brayden Reed.

Christian Slojkowski kicked a field goal in the final minute of the first quarter for a 12-0 lead. The Wolf Pack scored on a safety just before the midway point of the first quarter.

West Hills added a kick return for a touchdown by Edgard Leon.

West HIlls went ahead 25-0 later in the third quarter on a rushing touchdown by Hamilton on a short run. The score was set up by a 41-yard punt return by Leon.

El Cajon Valley scored on a rushing touchdown just past the midway point of the fourth quarter to make the score 25-6.

Leon was named the Homecoming King following the game.