WEEK 9 -- Oct. 27-28

The great un-equalizer benefits Christian

(c) East County Sports.com
LA JOLLA (10-29-06) -- Each team scored four touchdowns. Both sides were right around the 300-yard mark in total offense. And neither ballclub turned over the football.

However, the old cliché' about losing games after missing conversions proved precise yet again.

The Bishop's School hit the left upright on the kick following its second touchdown, then Christian High defensive back TRAVIS HUNTER batted the ball away on a 2-point conversion pass attempt following the Knights' third touchdown, spelling the difference in the Patriots' 28-26 Coastal League triumph Saturday (Oct. 28) at La Jolla High's Gene Edwards Stadium.

LAWRENCE WALKER rushed for exactly 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns, then Christian's offense registered three key first downs -- the clincher on a Knights offsides penalty -- in the closing minutes to prevent any opportunity for The Bishop's to take the lead after scoring with 6:17 remaining.

"The offensive line worked hard, even when they put nine players or even 10 players in the box," noted Walker, who scored on runs of 16 and 4 yards, the first giving Christian the lead for keeps at 14-7 in the second quarter. "The line kept making blocks, which tells you something -- we never gave up on the run."

The run was featured on 50 of Christian's 59 plays, including 23 romps by Walker. KYLER DWYER added 79 yards on 14 tries, while converted lineman PAT KELLY began a regular stint in the Patriots backfield with 11 carries for 47 yards and the team's final touchdown to mount a 28-19 lead.

Linebacker Pat Kelly (55) is now a threat in the backfield for the Patriots, gaining 11 yards thanks to a solid block by teammate Zach Allen (77) to defeat The Bishop's. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

"We practiced hard and were able to move the ball because Lawrence, Kyler and Pat ran hard," noted Simmerman.

Knights quarterback Tommy Wornham (12-23-0, 157 yards) answered with his second TD pass, finding Saron Hood on a 6-yard strike with 6:17 remaining. However, Kelly rumbled for first downs to move the chains on the final Patriots possession, once on third down, then a key fourth down with 2:21 left near midfield.

The Bishop's then utilized its final timeouts to force a final fourth-down play at the 1:03 mark, but when a Knights defender crossed into the neutral zone at the line of scrimmage, the 5-yard penalty was enough for a final first down to clinch the triumph.

Lawrence Walker rushed for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Christian. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

Chris Camp's only rush went for an 11-yard touchdown to tie the game early, as Christian went on to edge The Bishop's School, 28-26. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

Christian High's Sam Hernandez (left) takes a stiffarm from Saron Hood of The Bishop's, yet still makes the tackle in Saturday's 28-26 win. (Photo by Tyler Rowe)

Trailing 7-0, CHRIS CAMP rushed in from 11 yards on his only carry of the contest to tie the game late in the first period, then Walker scored his first TD for a 14-7 lead.

Wornham answered with an 18-yard TD pass to Jacob Kelly (who later rushed for a score), but the extra point kick clanked solid off the left upright to still trail, 14-13. And Christian kept the lead the rest of the night.

Christian's DANNY MITCHELL completed 5-of-9 passes for 62 yards, including three balls to JORDAN GRAVES for 55 yards.

For The Bishop's, Hood made six receptions for 56 yards, while Chase Jensen caught four balls for 41 yards.

Both teams are now 6-2 overall, 2-1 in league.

(c) East County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (10-28-06) -- While the spotlight has been on El Capitan quarterback RYAN LINDLEY all season -- he tossed three more touchdown passes Friday (Oct. 27) -- the Vaqueros would like to remind everyone they play a little bit of defense, too.

Make that quite a bit of hard-hitting defense.

Including a massive hit which took out one of their own assistant coaches on the sidelines with a knee injury, the Vaqueros remained unbeaten through eight contests after pasting Santana, 38-0, on homecoming night at Wendell Cutting Field. The Vaqueros (8-0 overall, 2-0 GNL) moved into position to equal the school record for consecutive victories (9 in 1996) with a triumph next week at home against El Cajon Valley.

"We are definitely trying to break the record and make this a legacy season for El Capitan," said defensive end DEAN BECKWITH, who registered one of four sacks by the Vaqueros. "We hope the streak lasts a while and look forward to playing at (Qualcomm) Stadium."

The Vaqueros defense stymied Santana (4-3, 1-1 GNL), limiting them to minus-9 yards yards and a single first down in the second half en route to their second shutout of the season. For the contest, El Cap outgained the Sultans, 401-75.

The lone scoring opportunity for Santana came late in the first half, when they went for the kill shot after marching to the El Cap-12. However, help-side defense by GARRETT JARVIS resulted in a touchback when the free safety out-leaped the receiver in front of the goal posts for the first of his two interceptions.

Meanwhile, both of Santana's quarterbacks were left scrambling with Vaqueros defenders in the backfield all contest. Along with Beckwith, MICHAEL HOLZ, TOMMIE DRAHEIM and CORY POPKE recorded sacks, with Popke's blast causing one of five forced fumbles by El Capitan (two recoveries for four total turnovers).

"We didn't have to worry about containment on screens or draws, and we got them," noted Draheim. "Right now, we're really comfortable with our skills and abilities."

While the Vaqueros have been among the East County leaders in scoring offense all season, the El Capitan defense is moving among the leaders, too, having allowed just six total points in a pair of Grossmont North League contests. The only GNL team better than that is Grossmont, the team the Vaqueros must defeat in two weeks to capture the league championship.

BEN WILKINS rushed 12 times for 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns, opening the scoring with a 2-yard TD run. He then romped 49 yards to close the half with El Capitan coasting 28-0 lead.

Lindley played less than three quarters, yet still posted strong numbers (20-32-0, 231 yards). He connected with A.J. CONTI on a 3-yard TD pass for a 14-0 lead in the first period, then hit BEN NOY from 4 yards for a 21-0 advantage in the opening 14 minutes, and added another by finding MICHAEL HOLZ on a 19-yard hookup for a 35-0 third-quarter lead.

Conti later kicked a 42-yard field goal -- a career best -- to cap the scoring, while matching teammate Noy with seven receptions. Conti collected 93 yards, while Noy hauled in 88.

At one point, things went so badly for Santana (4-3, 1-1), that when they made a good play it still backfired. After Sultans defensive end NIK HODGE leaped high to knockdown a Lindley pass in the third period, the ball landed near the feet of El Cap offensive lineman DERYCK BEVERIDGE, who extended forward to make a nice diving catch (although for no gain).

East County punting leader TANNER RUST of El Cap matched his season average with a punt for 39 yards on his lone attempt.

Meanwhile, Santana's COLLIN TAYLOR, who ranks third, punted five times for 186 yards (37.2 average) to increase his season mark. At quarterback, Taylor was 7-of-16 for 83 yards in three quarters of action, including three receptions by JONATHON TIPPIN for 46 yards.

Santana sacked Lindley twice, coming on consecutive plays. BLAKE KAHLER recorded the first stop for a loss of 11 yards, then Hodge and KRIS KIMMEL combined on a hit in the backfield for an 8-yard loss in the third quarter.

MOUNT MIGUEL 36, VALHALLA 7 -- The Matadors outdid their halftime homecoming fireworks show with an explosion offense in the second half, scoring touchdowns on three consecutive snaps of the football to stun visiting Valhalla in Friday's (Oct. 27) Grossmont South League contest.

Despite a pair of great defensive stands, the Norsemen finally withered when the Matadors offense ignited.

"We made a lot of big plays tonight, but way too many penalties," said Mount Miguel coach TOM KARLO. "We talked to our kids this week about being more aggressive, and that's what happens. Penalties we can work on, but we want to emphasize big plays on this team."

Few made bigger plans than Matadors running back ELLIOT TAYLOR, the East County rushing leader who collected 137 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

Mount Miguel recovered a fumble at the Norsemen-32, starting its share of fireworks on the scoreboard.

After another in a series holding penalties, Taylor galloped 39 yards for a touchdown to build a 21-0 lead with 1:22 left in the third period. On the first play of the Matadors' next possession, Taylor was again unstoppable, racing 48 yards for his second score in a 50-second span to make it 28-0.

Mount Miguel then made it an astounding three touchdowns over three consecutive offensive plays when junior quarterback AARON BRYANT found DAVID WYNN open for a 42-yard TD pass play. RICO SMITH ran in the 2-point conversion for a commanding 36-0 lead.

Valhalla managed to score late on a fourth-down play when TOMAS KARAGIANES ran around the right side from 8 yards.. It appeared that Karagianes was forced out of bounds by the swarming Matador defense at about the 2-yard line, but the side judge ruled that the ball crossed the plane of the goal line to avoid the shutout.

Mount Miguel rushed for 258 yards in 32 carries, and Bryant added 92 passing yards, going 4-6-0 in the air. The Matadors defense limited the Norsemen to only 147 yards on the ground and 48 yards passing.

The game started out with a short-lived bang for the visitors. From the Valhalla 37-yard line, ZACK CORDLE-ROBBINS burst through the middle of the Matadors defense for a 50-yard romp deep into Mount Miguel territory on the fifth play of the game, but it went for naught because of a false-start penalty. Three plays later, Valhalla had to punt.

KENNY VAUGHN hauled in the punt at the Matadors-37 and ran it back for a touchdown, which was nullified by a penalty -- one of two Mount Miguel scores erased by flags. However, the Matadors quickly recovered their composure when, two plays later, Vaughn sprinted 79 yards for the first official TD of the game. Following ANTHONY AMODEO's conversion, the hosts led 7-0, with 7:13 left in the initial quarter.

The Norsemen followed with a 14-play drive, but settled for a field goal attempt. But when the boot sailed wide, it marked the beginnings of trouble for the rest of the night for Valhalla.

Mount Miguel then took a series of body blows, yet still came out smiling.

After being pushed back to their own 11 on a holding penalty, Taylor raced 89 yards to the endzone, only to have the TD taken away on another hold infraction.

Undeterred, the Matadors marched to their 47-yard line, but were forced to punt after a quarterback sack by Valhalla defensive tackle CHRIS WRIGHT. The punt was muffed and recovered by the Matadors at the Valhalla-34. Five plays later, Vaughn was headed for the endzone, but coughed up the ball at the 3.

However, Mount Miguel still wound up smiling when senior wide receiver Wynn pounced on the ball in the endzone for a Matadors touchdown and a 14-0 second-quarter lead.

The second half opened with a dramatic goalline stand by Valhalla.

With a first down at the 2, Norsemen defensive end BRANDON McCLINTIC stuffed the ball carrier for a 1-yard loss, then McClintic flew across the line of scrimmage and again halted the runner short of the goal line.

On third-and-goal from the 1, defenders CHRIS BROWN and ADAN ORFIRIO pounced on the ball carrier for a 4-yard loss, and when the Matadors elected to go for the touchdown on fourth down, McClintic and Brown ganged up on the runner at the 4-yard line.

The next time on the field, Valhalla's defense again stopped Mount Miguel on a fourth-down play in the red zone, where defensive back ANDREW ROSENBERG batted a potential touchdown pass away.

Vaughn added 99 yards on four carries and also caught two passes for Mount Miguel. (c) East County Sports.com

HELIX 28, STEELE CANYON 14 -- What figured to be a defensive battle won in the trenches turned out to be a free-wheeling, scoring affair in the first half of Helix's homecoming game Friday (Oct. 27) night in La Mesa.

The Highlanders led 21-14 a halftime.

Steele Canyon, which had allowed only 10 points in its previous three games, seemed baffled by a Helix offense that had scored 20 points or less in four of its previous seven games.

Senior running back ERIC FORNEY rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries to pace the Highlanders to their seventh straight win (not counting a forfeit to Utah's Logan High in week 2).

"They're a good team, and they've been winning a lot," Forney said of Steele Canyon, which came in riding its own 4-game winning streak. "They tried to challenge us, saying they're the best team in the East, and said they had the best defense."

Tied at14-14, Forney scored on a 6-yard sweep in the final minute of the first half to give Helix a 7-point halftime lead over the defending Grossmont South Champions. The score proved to be the game-winning points after both defenses dug in during the second half.

Although Helix was playing a better game of ball control, the outcome remained in doubt before the Highlanders eventually put the game away with a fourth-quarter touchdown.

On the victory-clinching touchdown sojourn, the Highlanders picked up key first downs on third down and fourth down of an 11-play, 68-yard drive. Forney scored the clincher on an 8-yard run that started with a sweep to the right and ended with a cutback left. KENNY EWERT went 4-for-4 on extra-point kicks.

"Other than the first two drives (both resulting in scores for Steele Canyon), I thought this was our best game," Forney said. "We came out and played hard for four quarters against a good team."

Helix quarterback DORIAN STATON continues to become more of a factor in the Helix offense. He completed 4-of-8 passes for 76 yards, which included a 22-yard TD strike to CHRIS SMITH that tied the game 14-14 in the second quarter.

"Dorian's my best friend. We've been best friends since our freshman year," said Forney. "Every week he just gets better and better. I told him he could run but he's been hesitant to. But now he finally believes me."

Staton displayed his elusiveness and speed as he turned a broken play into a 24-yard touchdown run that tied the game at 7-7 in the first quarter.

Steele Canyon was sterling silver on its first two drives of the night. Cougars quarterback NICK STATHAS fired a 32-yard TD pass to BRANDON HUGHES to spot the Cougars a 7-0 lead.

In their second series, the Cougars maintained possession for 10 plays covering 48 yards in a drive capped by JOEY GUILLORY's 1-yard plunge.

After that, though, the Cougars fell out of synch.

JAMIE DALE rushed for 123 yards on 19 carries and collected 169 all-purpose yards. It was Dale's fifth consecutive 100-plus yard effort running the football. (c) East County Sports.com

GRANITE HILLS 50, MONTE VISTA 0 -- For the second time this season and the fifth time in Granite Hills history, the Eagles (5-3, 1-2 GSL) reached the 50-point scoring plateau Friday night (Oct. 27) to spoil Monte Vista's homecoming festivities.

Tight end JUSTIN MONTGOMERY led the Eagles scoring parade with a pair of touchdown catches -- a 14-yarder from CHRIS MISENSOL and a 21-yarder from CODY SWANSON as Granite Hills kept its Division I playoff hopes alive.

The Eagles totaled 456 yards. Misensol completed 12-of-14 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns.

"Our kids were really fired up. They knew what was at stake coming in," said Granite Hills coach RANDY DeWITT. "We're on the upscale now."

JOEY SUTHERLAND (16-65), TYLER WHITTINGHAM (6-33), and BRADLEY CARTER (4-38) each scored a rushing touchdown for the Eagles.

Montgomery and RICHIE BESWICK each caught three passes totaling 114 yards. CHASE KETCHUM pulled down two passes for 44 yards for Granite Hills.

"We couldn't be stopped tonight," said DeWitt, noting that the Eagles led 26-0 at halftime. "But even then I was sitting there at halftime thinking about how we were still killing ourselves with penalties and turnover."

Whatever kinks Granite Hills had in its offensive armor didn't matter as the Eagles' defense had the Monarchs (1-6-1, 0-3 GSL) in a bear hug. Monte Vista lost five fumbles.

Eagles senior linebacker TORRE BAILEY recovered three fumbles, tying a Grossmont Conference record shared by six others. Bailey's total was only one off the San Diego CIF record set by Imperial's Josh Lopez against Mountain Empire in 1997.

JAKE CASTILLO and JUSTIN LADNIER also recovered fumbles for the Eagles, which also tallied 52 points against Sweetwater earlier in the season. (c) East County Sports.com

WEST HILLS 39, EL CAJON VALLEY 14 -- West Hills jumped out to a 19-0 first-quarter lead and continued on to smack host El Cajon Valley in Friday (Oct. 27) night's Grossmont North League action.

The Wolf Pack (5-4, 1-2 GNL) snapped a four-game losing streak at the expense of the Braves (3-6, 0-3 GNL).

"We're the best 5-4 team in town," West Hills coach STEVE SUTTON said. "We probably locked up a playoff spot (Division II), but we've still got to get past Santana (in two weeks)."

RALEIGH SEVIER scored on runs of 20 and 65 yards and also took a 18-yard screen pass from quarterback ERIC FIEGE into the endzone as part of an 18-point night.

Fiege began the West Hills scoring with an 8-yard TD pass to JOSH ARMSTRONG.

JONATHAN WICK kicked fourth quarter field goals of 34 and 28 yards, completing his outing with 9 points, which included 3-of-4 PAT kicks.

CHRIS BLUMKA scored West Hills' other touchdown on a 5-yard run as the Wolf Pack put up their second highest total of the season.

It wasn't so much the West Hills offense that earned the respect of El Cajon Valley coach JASON TEXLER, as it was the Wolf Pack defense anchored by NICK ARMSTRONG.

Armstrong, a 6-foot-4, 257-pound nose guard, disrupted just about everything the Braves tried.

"It was pretty much the Nick Armstrong show," said Texler.

It seemed everywhere the Braves looked, they found the aggressive Armstrong.

"Yeah, they had a hard time blocking him," Sutton said. "They tried a screen pass and Nick sniffed it out and just stuffed the kid. It was one of a lot of plays he made."

El Cajon Valley did all of its scoring in the second half. Quarterback KIANIE BROOKS fired a 40-yard TD pass to KEVIN KELLY in the third quarter, and added a second touchdown on a 17-yard run by Brooks in the fourth. Freshman DAMIEN WILLIAMS scored the final two points on a pass from Brooks.

Sevier topped his night off with 169 rushing yards on just 15 carries as West Hills finished with 300 yards on 33 rushes. ANDREW DELGADILLO averaged 12 yards on 4 carries for the Pack.

Brooks was El Cajon Valley's offensive ace, completing nine of 16 passes for 102 yards and rushing for 28 yards on a dozen carries. BRANDON GETTRIDGE had seven receptions for 47 yards. (c) East County Sports.com

Who is home at Helix homecoming?
Scotties, Steele Canyon go for GSL crown

(c) East County Sports.com
LA MESA (10-26-06) -- It's homecoming in more ways than one for the Helix Highlanders.

Along with being a welcome home date for the school's alums at Jim Arnaiz Field-Benton Hart Stadium, the Helix football team, ranked sixth in the CIF San Diego Section, will be making its first home-field appearance in seven weeks after sweeping every contest in a 5-game roadtrip.

It's the opposite situation for the Steele Canyon Cougars.

The vagabonds of the East County through their formative years, the Cougars now have a field to call their own after traveling to all points throughout the Grossmont Conference to play so-called "home games."

Thus, a team which hasn't been home in nearly two months will tangle with a team used to playing on the road in Friday's (Oct. 27) showcase ballgame to determine the Grossmont South League championship.

Both teams are 5-2 overall (2-0 GSL) with the Scotties on a 6-game, on-field winning streak (the first of the string was forfeited), while the Cougars have posted four straight victories since re-vamping their offense.

Plus, the Scotties defense is allowing fewer and fewer points each week, never once slipping all season. Sure, the games may be close, yet Helix, East County 's traditional power, knows how to win; there's something to be said for tradition.

So, even though Steele Canyon is the defending league titlist, one championship banner doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things, thus, a victory here could change a lot of minds on who truly is the South League kingpin for the rest of the decade.

Common opponents don't help much. Both teams defeated Granite Hills by four touchdowns, while Helix defeated a Grossmont team which later downed Steele Canyon. But that was before any Cougars adjustments were initiated to change the total complexion of the ballclub.

The Wizard likes those changes -- and the team speed -- of Steele Canyon. So in our East County Sports.com Upset Special -- many would argue if this choice would be an upset -- we are going with the visiting Cougars. . . Steele Canyon 17-14.

Valhalla at Mount Miguel -- Although the preseason pundits did not hail the abilities of Mount Miguel running back ELLIOT TAYLOR, the Matadors' junior has rushed to the top of the East County rushing lead.

Taylor is one of three Grossmont Conference backs averaging more than 100 yards per outing at 112.9. Included was a 160-yard effort against Helix, but Taylor is looking to make up for failing to make the reception that probably would have give the Matadors an upset of the Scotties.

The Matadors now know they can compete with anyone in East County, while catching the Norsemen with a few chinks in their armor, including the absence of Myers on offense, while the defense has been rung-up for 142 points (28.4 average) in their last five outings.

Take the current hot team in this pairing, the one with the better offensive line. . . Mount Miguel, 28-24.

Santana at El Capitan -- It's official. There will be at least two well-respected statisticians assigned -- calculators in hand -- to accumulate all of the passing numbers to be collected in this aerial festival at Wendall Cutting Field in Lakeside.

The Vaqueros' RYAN LINDLEY and the Sultans' COLLIN TAYLOR rank 1-2 in passing yardage, which will leave both secondaries huffing and puffing, especially with Santa Ana conditions predicted to continue through the week.

However, El Capitan's bigger and stronger offensive line will allow Lindley to hand off the ball more often -- and more successfully. That will be the difference. . . El Capitan 49-31.

West Hills at El Cajon Valley -- It's been more than a decade since the Wolf Pack lost four consecutive ballgames, never mind falling late in a series of nail-biters.

And with the Braves floundering, banged and bruised of late, ECV is the perfect opponent for West Hills to get healthy against, physically and -- more important -- mentally. . . West Hills 42-10.

Granite Hills at Monte Vista -- The Monarchs secured their only victory of 2005 at the Eagles' expense. But the Eagles are much improved and still believe they can make the Division I playoffs.

Granite Hills has struggled against teams with speed. The Monarchs possess speed but haven't been able to put many points on the board this season. Give this one to. . . Granite Hills 17-7.

Christian vs. The Bishop's, at La Jolla HS -- The lone contest on Saturday (Oct. 28) is a Coastal League contest at Gene Edwards Field, as the Patriots meet the co-leading Knights. But just like last week, Christian won't be fooled by its opponents' record.

The Bishop's two league wins were against second-division teams in the league, so a Patriots victory will vault them into second place. Christian is clearly the more physical team. . . Christian 28-14.

(c) East County Sports.com
ESCONDIDO (10-24-06) -- Among the Top 10 teams in the CIF San Diego Section football poll, conducted by the San Diego County Sports-writers-Sportscasters Association, eight teams played last week (the others had byes) and all of them won. Thus, there were few changes in this week's poll, which was released late Monday (Oct. 23) night.

Among the two changes, El Capitan, one of the idle teams, fell into a second-place tie with Carlsbad (5-0-1). Both trail unanimous No. 1 Torrey Pines, which owns the same record as the Vaqueros at 7-0.

The only other change came near the bottom of the poll standings, as Poway leap-frogged over Escondido to garner the No. 8 perch. Both teams are 5-2.

Helix (5-2) remains a solid selection at No.6, while Steele Canyon (5-2) gained a voting point among the honorable mention. The teams meet this Friday in East County's featured contest, to be played at Helix, starting at 7 p.m.