SD Prep Sports:

2006 Grossmont Conference

Prep Football Week 11 Report

CIF playoffs: 10 East County teams qualify
El Capitan leads all 11-man teams with 10-0-0 mark

Posted on Nov. 14, 2006
A total of 10 East County high school football teams — at least one in each of the five 11-man enrollment divisions — have been entered in this year’s San Diego Section playoffs. While the number of qualified teams may denote pride, complacency will clearly not be rewarded as teams vie for championship titles in their respective divisions.

The opening round kicks off Friday, Nov. 17. All games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. starts.

Nine Grossmont Conference teams — five from the Grossmont South League and four from the Grossmont North League — qualified for post-season competition.

El Capitan (10-0) received the top-seeded position in the Division III playoffs and a first-round bye while both Helix (8-2) and Christian (6-3-1) also received byes as the second seeds in the Division II and Division V playoffs, respectively. Santana (5-4) also earned a first-round bye as the fourth seed in the Division IV playoffs.

Six teams will compete in the opening round of play: Granite Hills (6-4) in Division I; West Hills (6-4) and Grossmont (4-5-1) in Division II; and Steele Canyon (7-3), Mt. Miguel (5-5) and Valhalla (5-5) in Division III.

•Granite Hills earned the 12th and final berth in the Division I field and will play at fifth-seeded (and reigning Avocado League co-champion) El Camino (7-3). The winner plays at fourth-seeded Escondido (7-2-1) on Nov. 24.

•West Hills earned the eighth seed in the Division II field and will host ninth-seeded Scripps Ranch (6-4). The winner plays at top-seeded Oceanside (6-3-1) on Nov. 24.

•Grossmont earned the final berth in the Division II field and will open at fifth-seeded San Pasqual (5-4-1). The winner plays at fourth-seeded Eastlake (7-3) on Nov. 24.

•Steele Canyon is seeded sixth in the Division III field and will host 11th-seeded University City (6-4). The winner plays at third-seeded Central Union (9-1) on Nov. 24.

•Mt. Miguel is seeded ninth in the Division III field and will play at eighth-seeded Cathedral Catholic (5-5). The winner plays at top-seeded El Capitan on Nov. 24.

•Valhalla is seeded 10th in the Division III field and will play at seventh-seeded Ramona (6-4). The winner plays at second-seeded Point Loma (8-2) on Nov. 24.

Among the 11 Grossmont Conference teams, only El Cajon Valley (3-7-0) and Monte Vista (1-8-1) did not qualify for the playoffs.

Grossmont South League champion Helix will host either South Bay League champion Castle Park (6-3-1) or Bonita Vista (5-5) in its quarterfinal-round game on Nov. 24.

Santana will host fifth-seeded Valley Center (4-6) in its quarterfinal-round game on Nov. 24 while Christian, which finished third in the Coastal League standings, will host either seventh-seeded Vincent Memorial (6-4) or 10th-seeded Calipatria (6-4) in the quarterfinals, also on Nov. 24.

Division I Preview
Granite Hills (6-4) at El Camino (7-3)
The Eagles are making their first playoff appearance in several years but do so against the red-hot Wildcats who toppled preseason No. 1 pick Oceanside, 24-13, in last Friday’s Avocado League championship game. Granite Hills, which finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Grossmont South League, enters post-season play coming off a 33-23 loss at Valhalla.

Cody Swanson passed for 220 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the setback to the Norsemen. Brad Carter had four catches for 92 yards and one score (a 36-yarder) while Brendan Carter had five receptions for 70 yards and Chase Ketchum caught two passes for 43 yards.

The Eagles found the going exceedingly tough on the ground in the regular season finale against Valhalla as they were held to just 19 rushing yards on 25 attempts. Tyler Whittingham had the most success with nine rushes for 24 yards and one touchdown.

Granite Hills scored its remaining points on a 91-yard kickoff return by Jared Francis and a 38-yard field goal by Collin Cresap.

The Eagles outscored their 10 regular season opponents this season 257-210. Joey Sutherland leads Granite Hills with 648 rushing yards and nine touchdowns while Swanson has passed for 736 yards and five touchdowns.

El Camino is enjoying a resurgence this season after occupying the lower echelon of the division (along with Granite Hills) the past several years. Dennis Sortino passed 74 yards to Nelson Rosario for one score in the shocking upset against third-ranked Oceanside while fullback Stanley Faasua bounced off the pile for a 68-yard touchdown run on a fourth-down play. Gerardo Cortez then booted a 31-yard field goal to stake the Wildcats to a 17-0 halftime lead in the game. K.J. Aukuso rounded out the scoring on a 43-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Sortino has passed for 1,642 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season while Rosario has 45 catches for 885 yards and six touchdowns.

Division II Preview
Scripps Ranch (6-4) at West Hills (6-4)
The Wolf Pack appears to have regained its winning ways at just the right time. After suffering through a four-game losing streak at midseason, West Hills ended regular season play riding the momentum of a pair of wins, including its climactic 34-20 victory against Santana on Nov. 9 in the teams’ annual battle for the Santee Mayor’s Trophy.

Raleigh Sevier scored three touchdowns in the “Battle of Santee,” including a dramatic 50-yard scamper in the closing minutes of the game to secure the victory against the Sultans. Sevier rushed for 228 yards in the game and has plowed ahead for 1,177 yards and nine touchdowns on the season.

Quarterback Eric Fiege did not play in the regular season finale but has passed for 794 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. Trevor Kolocheski finished as the team’s leading receiver with 24 catches for 422 yards and six touchdowns.

West Hills rallied from a 14-6 deficit against Santana to win the Santee Mayor’s Trophy for the fourth consecutive year. The Wolf Pack roared with 21 points in the third quarter.

Scripps Ranch opened the season 6-1 but has cooled of late with losses against St. Augustine (34-10), Cathedral Catholic (16-14) and Mira Mesa (17-10) to close out regular season play. Tate Forcier keys the Falcons with 1,362 yards and 13 touchdowns while Bryan Russell has 661 receiving yards and six scores to his credit.

Grossmont (4-5-1) at San Pasqual (5-4-1)
The Foothillers put up a valiant fight but could not end El Capitan’s perfect season in last week’s 21-14 loss to the visiting Vaqueros. With the loss to El Capitan, Grossmont ceded this year’s Grossmont North League title to the undefeated Vaqueros. Jvone Taylor scored on a 99-yard kickoff return and Josh Simms caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Charlie Piro to account for the Foothillers’ scoring in the game, tying the contest 14-all until Ben Wilkins scored on a three-yard run to hand El Capitan the win — and the league title.

Augie Williams paces Grossmont with 669 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns while Piro has passed for 709 yards and six scores.

San Pasqual, in generating a late season surge after a slow start to the season, had a chance to win this year’s Valley League title but was foiled in a 31-31 tie against visiting Escondido. The Golden Eagles have shown they are capable of lighting up the scoreboard. Bryan Fiorito rushed for 198 yards and three touchdowns to lead San Pasqual in the regular season ender against Escondido. Nate Ong also threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Herrera while Kyle Albini kicked a 23-yard field goal.

Fiorito has rushed for 1,074 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.

Division III Preview
University City (6-4) at Steele Canyon (7-3)
The Cougars defeated Mt. Miguel, 21-17, to end regular season play with sole possession of second place in the Grossmont South League standings. The game featured playoff intensity, with Steele Canyon being outgained in total yardage but prevailing on the scoreboard for their seventh win of the season — the most in school history. Brandon Hughes scored twice — first on a 35-yard pass from quarterback Nick Stathas and later in the game on a 78-yard kickoff return. Joey Guillory added a one-yard touchdown run.

Jamie Dale leads the Cougars on the season with 1,078 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns while Guillory has rushed for 524 yards and eight touchdowns. Stathas has steadily improved throughout the season, finishing with 616 passing yards and eight touchdowns.

Guillory rushed for 90 yards in the finale against the Matadors.

The Cougars enter the post-season on a roll with victories in six of their last seven games.

University City received a cosmetic boost in its overall record via a forfeit win against Madison, though the Centurions can claim one of their best seasons in recent years. UC, which finished runner-up for this year’s Central League title, is led by quarterback Brooks Dougherty (1,810 passing yards, 13 touchdowns) and receiver Royce Pollard (736 yards, six touchdowns). Dougherty, however, has thrown 10 interceptions on the season.

Mt. Miguel (5-5) at Cathedral Catholic (5-5)
The Matadors received touchdowns from Laron Rush on a 14-yard pass from Aaron Bryant and a five-yard scoring run from Elliott Taylor in their 21-17 loss to visiting Steele Canyon to close out regular season play. At 2-3 in Grossmont South League play, Mt. Miguel finished in a tie alongside Granite Hills and Vallhalla for third place in the league standings.

Taylor, who ran for 178 yards against Steele Canyon, leads the Grossmont Conference in rushing with 1,259 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bryant has also enjoyed a successful season with 830 passing yards and six touchdowns.

A program on the rise, the Matadors are making their second consecutive trip to the playoffs.

The Dons are coming off a 31-23 loss to archrival St. Augustine in this year’s Holy Bowl game played in front of an estimated 6,000 fans Nov. 9 at Southwestern College. Cathedral Catholic rallied from a 24-3 deficit to twice trim the Saints’ lead to eight points on the strength of 20 fourth-quarter points.

Tyler Gaffney rushed for 186 yards in the regionally-televised game, scoring on a 73-yard burst, while quarterback Nick Russell connected with Dylan Porlas on a 54-yard pass play and Matt Moynihan fell on a fumble in the end zone to lead the Dons’ comeback bid. Brian Stahovich gave Cathedral Catholic its first points of the entertaining contest courtesy of a 45-yard field goal.

Valhalla (5-5) at Ramona (6-4)
The Norsemen capitalized on the footwork of Tomas Karagianes, whose four touchdowns accounted for 24 of his team’s 33 points in a regular-season ending victory against visiting Granite Hills. Karagianes, who totaled 200 rushing yards and 107 passing yards, scored on runs of 30, 61, 11 and one yard. Pete Thomas kicked field goals of 38 and 28 yards while adding three extra-point conversions as the Norsemen rolled up 467 yards in total offense.

Karagianes, Valhalla’s quarterback, has thrown for 951 yards and six touchdowns. But his running ability has also been showcased after rushing for 518 yards and 14 additional scores.

The Bulldogs closed out regular season play with a 38-7 non-league victory at Mt. Carmel. Anthony Marin threw a pair of touchdown passes while Stanley Shurson, the section’s No. 1 kicker, booted a 30-yard field goal and five extra points.

Season leaders for Ramona include Kyle Blackwell with 1,276 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns and Ameen El-ashgar with 513 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

Vaqueros conclude perfect season
El Capitan earned notoriety as the lone 11-man team in the section to post a 10-0-0 record this season following La Costa Canyon’s 28-13 upset against previously undefeated (and top-ranked) Torrey Pines.

Ben Wilkins scored two rushing touchdowns (two and three yards) and Michael Holz caught a 13-yard pass from Ryan Lindley to account for the Vaqueros’ points in their 21-14 victory at defending Grossmont North League champion Grossmont.

Wilkins showed El Capitan can also produce on the ground with 180 yards. Lindley finished the contest with 273 passing yards as the Vaqs totaled 485 offensive yards.

The wins appear to be coming harder as the season wears on and El Capitan should receive its toughest test in the upcoming playoffs. The Vaqueros can take pride, however, in finishing as the No. 1 ranked team in the section at the end of the regular season.

Lindley finished an amazing regular season with 2,849 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. A.J. Conti, who had 101 receiving yards in the win against the Foothillers, ranked as El Capitan’s top receiver on the season with 57 catches for 1,048 yards and seven touchdowns. Ben Noy led all pass-grabbers on the team with 12 TDs.

Grossmont Conference notepad
Helix captured this year’s Grossmont South League title with a 55-7 victory against visiting Monte Vista by racking up 336 offensive yards. Eric Forney and Andray Jackson each scored two rushing touchdowns while Dorian Staton tossed scoring passes to Matt Cobb and Derric Miller. Forney has rushed for 765 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season while Staton has thrown for 834 yards and eight scores.

Santana closed out regular season play with its 34-20 loss to West Hills. Quarterback Collin Taylor totaled 249 yards by tossing scoring passes to Jon Tippin and Blake Kahler while also scoring once himself on the ground. Taylor upped its passing mark on the season to 1,996 yards and 26 touchdowns while Tippin has caught 57 passes for 880 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Coastal League notepad
Christian, which advanced to last year’s Division V championship game, ended regular season play with a 24-24 tie against visiting Horizon Christian on Nov. 10. The Patriots bulled to a 17-0 lead, before allowing the Panthers to storm back by scoring 24 of the game’s final 31 points.

Kyler Dwyer continued his standout season as the Patriots’ one-man scoring machine by scoring on runs of 34, 15 and five yards while kicking a 25-yard field goal and tacking on three extra points to account for all his team’s 24 points in the game.

For the season, Dwyer has rushed for 828 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. The team’s rushing leader remains Lawrence Walker with 883 yards and 10 scores. Quarterback Danny Mitchell has thrown for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns.

Measuring up
Grossmont Conference
Final Regular Season
El Capitan 10-0-0
Helix 8-2-0
Steele Canyon 7-3-0
Granite Hills 6-4-0
West Hills 6-4-0
Mt. Miguel 5-5-0
Santana 5-4-0
Valhalla 5-5-0
Grossmont 4-5-1
El Cajon Valley 3-7-0
Monte Vista 1-8-1

Coastal League
Final Regular Season
Christian 6-3-1

Thursday Night Game of the Week
All games 7:05 p.m.
Channel 4 San Diego
Regular Season Schedule
August
31: Oceanside 27, Helix 0
September
7: Bogalusa (Louisiana) 19, Bonita Vista 14
14: El Capitan 46, Poway 28
21: West Hill 31, Monte Vista 3
28: Mission Hills 21, Valley Center 7
October
5: Escondido 38, Ramona 19
12: Steele Canyon 31, Valhalla 7
19: Chula Vista 42, Sweetwater 0
26: Hilltop 29, Mar Vista 22
November
2: Carlsbad 7, Rancho Buena Vista 7
9: St. Augustine 31, Cathedral Catholic 23

San Diego Section Rankings
SD Sportscasters/Broadcasters Poll
(Nov. 6)
(Records throiugh Nov. 4)
1. Torry Pines (9-0-0)
2. El Capitan (9-0-0)
3. Oceanside (6-2-1)
4. La Costa Canyon (5-2-0)
5. Carlsbad (6-0-2)
6. Escondido (7-2-0)
7. Helix (7-2-0)
8. Mission Bay (7-1-0)
9. Point Loma (8-1-0)
10. Mission Hills (7-2-0)

Others (in order of votes): Santa Fe Chrisitan (7-2), St. Augustine (6-3), Hoover (7-2), Mira Mesa (5-4), El Camino (6-3), Poway (5-4), Steele Canyon (6-3), Brawley (7-1), Central Union (8-1)

San Diego Section: The Undefeated
(Through Nov. 10)

Division I
Carlsbad (7-0-2)

Division III
El Capitan (10-0-0)

Eight-Man
San Pasqual Academy (9-0-0)