Eagles, Vaqueros, Monarchs advance

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 22, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

Division 1

GRANITE HILLS 22, at CARLSBAD 16 (F) – Granite Hills scored first on a pass to Gage Spalding.

Carlsbad got into the red zone on their next drive, but Gavin Taylor had a big third-down sack for the Eagles for an 8-yard loss, setting up a field goal for the Lancers to cut the lead to 7-3 with 1:10 left in the first quarter.

The Lancers took the lead, 9-7, in the second quarter on an 11-yard touchdown run by Kai Brown with 5:39 left in the first half.

Carlsbad appeared headed for a score late in the first half but a fumble on a gain inside the 5 went into the end zone and Parker Vance recovered it. Kuba Polak had the strip.

Maxwell Turner caught a pass down the left sideline just moments later for a 78-yard play from Zac Benitez.

Tristan Diaz caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Benitez to give Granite Hills the lead with 24 seconds to go before halftime. The Eagles went for two and Benitez hit Hunter Hamilton on a tackle eligible play.

Spalding, a sophomore, gave the Eagles the lead with a 39-yard run after breaking a couple of tackles near the line of scrimmage before heading to the end zone, as Granite Hills extended the lead to 22-9.

Carlsbad scored on a touchdown pass from Eli MacNeil to close the gap to 22-16.

Parker Vance recorded an interception as the Lancers were attempting to get into scoring position, as the Eagles took over at their own 8 with 1:22 left in the game. It was his eighth interception of the season.

Division 2

at MATER DEI CATHOLIC 17, HELIX 13 (F) – Mater Dei Catholic scored on a touchdown pass late in the game with 2:22 remaining to take the Division 2 semifinal game at home.

Jeshua Robinson stopped the Crusaders’ first drive with an interception at the Highlander 5.

Mater Dei cashed in for the game’s first score in the second quarter on a short passing touchdown with five minutes left before halftime, as it was 1-yard completion from Kartell Purvis to Matt Carr.

Helix scored in the third quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by Jordan Lindley. The score was set up by a 61-yard reception by Braylen Ross, a sophomore, from quarterback Jett Gottleib.

Angel Mendoza kicked a 30-yard field with 2:26 left in the third quarter.

Helix regained the lead on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Jerome Stevens to Jeremy Robinson down the left side.

Division 4

at EL CAPITAN 35, GROSSMONT 14 (F) – Brandt Barker threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Ayden Banegas in the first quarter to take advantage of a short field after the Foothillers failed to convert a fourth-down try at their own 40 on their first drive of the game.

Evan Ortega had a sack in the second quarter for El Capitan.

Grossmont scored a touchdown in the second quarter and added the two-point conversion for an 8-7 lead, as Noah Walker caught a 4-yard touchdown pass.

Brady Joralemon had a 4-yard rushing touchdown with under a minute to go before halftime to give El Capitan a 14-8 lead.

El Capitan scored first in the second half to take a 21-8 lead on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Barker to Logan Dulyea just two-plus minutes into the second half.

Grossmont scored on a touchdown pass with under seven minutes to play in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 21-14.

Brody Copp scored on a 6-yard run with under two minutes to play in the third quarter to put El Capitan back up by two scores a 28-14.

The Vaqueros extended the advantage to 35-14 in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass by Barker.

Lincoln Walker had a fourth-quarter interception for the Vaqueros.

Division 5

MONTE VISTA 34, at VISTA 14 (F) – Alexander Villanueva scores on a 61-yard touchdown run 1:07 into the game for a 6-0 lead for the Monarchs.

Villanueva added a short touchdown burst for the second score of the game and a 13-0 lead.

Vista got on the board with a touchdown in the second quarter on a 15-yard run by Jacob Covarrubias to cut the lead to 13-7 with less than three minutes to go before halftime.

Monte Vista added a toucdhown in the final minute of the first half on a 4-yard run by Alexander Villanueva for his third score of the half.

Villanuena scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 20-yard run in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 27-7 with 10:55 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Villanuena added his fifth touchdown of the night with 6:22 left to put the Monarchs up 34-7 with 6:22 left.

Ron Hamamoto gets his 244th win to put him all alone in 3rd place on the all-time wins list. The Monarchs Advance to their sixth CIF title game and first since 2017. Alex Villanueva’s five TDs gives him 45 on the season.

Lakai Dean had a fourth-quarter interception for the Monarchs.