SD Prep Sports: Football

San Diego Section

2007 Football Log

#2 Helix to face off against #1 Carlsbad

LA MESA, Sept. 13, 2007 -- The schedule makers for Channel 4 San Diego’s high school game of the week couldn’t have dreamed of a more perfect matchup for week 3: No. 1 Carlsbad versus No. 2 Helix. Friday’s non-league game will be broadcast following the station’s regularly-scheduled Padres telecast.

It is certain to be a ratings bonanza.

For those who wish to attend the high profile contest in person, kick-off is 7 p.m. at Helix High School.

Defending San Diego Section Division I champion Carlsbad enters the contest riding a 21-game unbeaten streak but had a bye last week after opening the season with a 20-3 non-league victory against No. 10 St. Augustine. The Highlanders, meanwhile, carry a 2-0 record into the matchup after defeating Utah’s Lone Peak, 14-7, last Friday (Sept. 7).

Larry Gist, who scored two touchdowns in the Scotties’ 28-20 season-opening victory against defending Division II champion Oceanside, racked up two more touchdowns in his team’s latest victory.

Gist hauled in receptions of 32 and 47 yards from quarterback Ty Culver as Helix broke a 7-7 standoff with a fourth quarter TD.

Gist finished the game with four catches for 86 yards while rushing eight times for 46 yards. Culver completed 10 of 21 attempts for 141 yards with two interceptions offsetting his two scoring passes.

In its season-opening win against the defending Division III champion Saints, Carlsbad received rushing touchdowns from Ashton Barbour, David Cisneros (seven carries, 115 yards) and Nick Pascarella (18 carries, 80 yards).

In two games, Gist tops the Highlanders with 128 receiving yards and three touchdowns while Culver has thrown for 358 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Christian 42, Santana 21
EL CAJON, Sept. 7, 2007 -- The defending Division V champion Patriots improved to 2-0 by defeating larger school foe Santana (a semifinalist in last year’s Division IV playoffs). Lawrence Walker scored three rushing touchdowns, gaining 147 yards on 24 carries, while quarterback Erick Allen passed for two scores by completing eight of 12 attempts for 127 yards with no interceptions.

Christian jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead and led the Sultans (0-2) by a 28-7 score at halftime. James Needy keyed the Sultans with 207 passing yards but tossed two interceptions. Tyler Aubrey caught 10 of Needy’s aerials for 118 yards while Kyle Romero had five receptions for 75 yards.

Walker leads the Patriots with 326 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in two games while Allen has thrown for 227 yards and four scores.

Walker scored four touchdowns in Christian’s 55-0 season-opening victory against La Puente Bassett while piling up 179 rushing yards.

Granite Hills 10, Westview 3
Collin Cresap booted a 28-yard field goal and Bradley Carter caught an eight-yard pass from Justin Montgomery to help lift Granite Hills to its first football win of the season, 10-3, against visiting Westview.

Carter rushed five times for 66 yards, including a 42-yard scamper from scrimmage, and caught three passes for 32 yards while Montgomery completed seven of 15 passes for 70 yards with one interception.

The Granite Hills defense, however, played a major role in the outcome of the non-league contest by holding the Wolverines to a third-period field goal of 35 yards by Bobby Wenzig. Linebacker Jake Castillo recorded a quarterback sack, fumble recovery and interception in the game's waning minutes to help preserve the victory while defensive end Landon Turley recorded one sack to hike his career total to 26 - two short of the school record.

Granite Hills will continue to be tested by hosting unbeaten Chula Vista (2-0) on Friday, Sept. 14.

Extra points
•Jamie Dale scored on a 68-yard run and caught a 16-yard pass from Nick Stathas (who also scored on a 1-yard run) to highlight Steele Canyon’s 20-10 non-league win at West Hills.

•Josh Simms scored twice to help Grossmont improve to 2-0 with its 21-13 non-league win at Montgomery.

San Diego Section
Top 10 Rankings
SD Sportswriters/Sportscasters Poll
1. Carlsbad Lancers (1-0)
2. Helix Highlanders (2-0)
3. Poway Titans (2-0)
4. Oceanside Pirates (1-1)
5. Mission Bay Buccaneers (2-0)
6. Mission Hills Grizzlies (1-1)
7. Mira Mesa Marauders (2-0)
8. Scripps Ranch (1-0)
9. Eastlake Titans (1-1)
10. La Costa Canyon (1-1)
Others: Cathedral Catholic (2-0); Rancho Buena Vista (1-0); St. Augustine (1-1); Torrey Pines (1-1); Vista (1-1); Mt. Miguel (2-0); Christian (2-0); Grossmont (2-0); Lincoln (1-0)

Week 2 Top 10 Matchups
•Helix 14, Lone Peak (Utah) 7
•Poway 7, Mission Hills 6
•Oceanside 27, La Costa Canyon 20
•Mission Bay 48, Clairemont 16
•Mira Mesa 37, Escondido 14
•Eastlake 31, Torrey Pines 14

Week 1 Top 10 Matchups
•Carlsbad 20, St. Augustine 3
•Helix 28, Oceanside 20
•Poway 27, Eastlake 14
•Mira Mesa 31, Vista 7
•Escondido 22, Fallbrook 14
•Mission Hills 20, El Camino 14
•Mission Bay 21, Granite Hills 14

Week 2 Game Reports

Spartans play from behind three times, win 40-18
By Scott Hopkins
CHULA VISTA, Sept. 7, 2007 -- When the Chula Vista Spartans trotted off the Rindone Stadium turf at halftime in Friday’s non-league football game against Valhalla, they found themselves in a strange position.

After blowing out cross-town rival Castle Park 47-0 in their season opener, the Spartans were on the short end of an 11-10 score to the orange-clad visitors from El Cajon.

“Our coaches told us to stay strong to the end,” said running back Matthew Stacy of the intermission message from the Chula Vista staff.

And stay strong they did.

Outscoring the Norsemen 30-7 after the break, the defending Mesa League tri-champs raced to a 40-18 victory in a hard-hitting, see-saw battle to post their second strong showing of the young season.
With the victory, Chula Vista moves to 2-0. The only other Mesa League team without a loss is Otay Ranch at 1-0.

The Spartans travel to Granite Hills for Friday’s non-league contest against the Eagles and their all-league defensive lineman Landon Turley. Turley had 18 quarterback sacks last season as a junior and is regarded as the top pass rusher in the East County. The Eagles finished 6-5 last season and should present a strong test of the Chula Vista squad.

Turley is closing in on the school record of 28 sacks. He now has 26.

“During practice last week we told our guys that Valhalla is a very good team,” said Chula Vista head coach Judd Rachow. “The tempo of their offense is very hard to replicate and prepare for.”

The Norsemen compete in the Grossmont South League (along with Granite Hills). Under first-year head coach Steve Sutton, they run a West Coast-style offense that relies on a strong passing game. And Sutton has a potential Division I college prospect at the helm. Sophomore quarterback Pete Thomas stands 6-5 and doubles as the team’s place-kicker.

Thomas booted a game-opening 27-yard field goal, threw an 18-yard pass to Spencer Sutherline and ran for the successful two-point conversion to give Valhalla its 11-10 lead at halftime. Thomas later tacked on the extra point to allow the Norsemen to regain the lead at 18-17 following a one-yard run by Travon Brown in the third quarter. The sophomore signal-caller completed 10 of 18 passes for 172 yards with one interception to offset his one touchdown pass.

But the Norsemen (0-2) could not hold onto their lead as the Spartans finished the game with three unanswered touchdowns, punctuated by a 55-yard run from scrimmage by quarterback Taylor Julio (eight rushes, 126 yards). Julio also threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Joseph Johnson while fullback Taimi Tutogi scored on an eight-yard run.

Julio was involved in a pair of two-point conversions on the night — completing a pass and taking the ball in himself after Tutogi’s second TD of the night to help highlight the hosts’ 23-point fourth quarter scoring outburst.

Stacy was the team’s dynamo in the first half, putting his team up on a one-yard run with 27 seconds to play in the first quarter. The Spartans took a 10-3 lead on a 28-yard field goal by Andres Canizales with 2:00 to play in the first half.

But Valhalla pulled off the evening’s quickest drive, going 65 yards in four plays for the go-ahead touchdown (aided by a 42-yard Thomas to Sutherline completion).

“It took us one half to get up to speed,” said Rachow, who also cited penalties as hurting his team.

In the third quarter, Valhalla punter Wesley Parker had the ball snapped over his head, getting off a short 13-yard kick while under pursuit. Chula Vista took over on the visitors’ 49.

From there, the Spartans quickly went ahead again. Two runs by Stacy gained 18 yards, and another Valhalla personal foul tacked on another 15 yards. Tutogi scored from the two for a 17-11 Chula Vista lead.

But Valhalla wasn’t done. An unusual 13 play, 75-yard drive allowed the Norsemen to regain the lead at 18-17. Twice they converted on fourth down, once by an inch and again on an 11-yard pass to Sutherline. Thomas’ 28-yard keeper helped position the Norsemen to take an 18-17 lead.

The Spartans answered with the game’s longest drive: 85 yards in 11 plays. Most of the yards came from Stacy (45) and Tutogi (26) with the score going through the air to Johnson. Julio’s pass to Alberto Vargas for a two-point conversion returned the hosts to the lead, 25-18.

But luckless Valhalla punter Parker watched another high snap go over his head, this time booting a 28-yard kick while running for his life. The Spartans took over on their own 49.

Six plays later, Tutogi scored from the six. His 15 yards and Stacy’s 35 accounted for the drive, capped by Julio’s two-point conversion run from a fake kick.

Valhalla’s hopes were ended when, on their next play, Spartan Maurice Strickland picked off a Thomas pass. Two plays later, Julio broke off left tackle and sprinted 55 yards to paydirt. The Spartans scored 15 points in a 1:04 span to ice the outcome.

On the evening, Stacy carried 22 times for 155 yards (7.0 average) and one touchdown. Tutogi carried 16 times for 80 yards (5.0 average) with two touchdowns while Julio notched a 15.8 average and one score on his eight carries. Through the air, Julio was 3-4 for 25 yards and one touchdown.

Olympian scores 48-0 win in varsity home debut
CHULA VISTA, Sept., 7, 2007 -- Ryan Van Nostrand passed for two touchdowns and ran for another as the Eagles made their first home varsity game one to remember by defeating McNally Secondary from Edmonton, 48-0, last Friday. The non-league victory improved Olympian’s record to 2-0.

Jordan Jenkins (11 rushes, 71 yards) and Julius Miller (six rushes, 41 yards) each scored two touchdowns for the Eagles, who also received a rushing touchdown from Robert Chavira.

Olympian led 28-0 at halftime and 35-0 entering the final quarter by scoring 14 points in each of the first three quarters.
Jenkins and Van Nostrand each scored on one-yard runs to highlight the scoring in the opening quarter. Van Nostrand (7-of-10, 99 yards) doubled the Eagles’ lead by throwing two second-quarter touchdowns passes — seven yards to Jenkins and 24 yards to Miller.

Chavira (four yards) and Marquez Garrette (26 yards) each scored rushing touchdowns in the third quarter while Miller capped scoring in the game on a 15-yard run in the final quarter. Chavira tacked on extra-point conversions on six of Olympian’s record seven touchdowns.

The Eagles are idle until Sept. 21 when they host San Ysidro.

Inspired Titans clip No. 6 Falcons’ wings
CHULA VISTA, Sept. 7, 2007 -- Eastlake head coach John McFadden would like to think his team can function as a fourth-quarter unit. In the meantime, being a two-quarter team isn’t that bad — a fact driven home by Friday’s stunning 31-14 non-league victory against visiting Torrey Pines.

Yes, that Torrey Pines of lore.

The win has to rank as one of the most significant in school history, at least in regular season play.

“It was a big win for the team,” McFadden said. “We played so poorly against Poway (in a 27-14 loss the week before). The way we played against Torrey gave the kids a big confidence boost.”

The Titans trailed 14-9 at halftime but scored 22 unanswered points in the second half, keyed by the exploits of Jeremiah Andujo, Jordan Koopman and Will Duka.

Eastlake (1-1) battled last year’s Division I quarterfinalists (who entered the game ranked sixth in the section) to a standoff through most of the opening first half, taking a 9-7 lead on a 33-yard field goal by Chris Almario and a five-yard touchdown reception by Koopman from quarterback Derek Witte.

The Falcons (1-1) were able to move the ball effectively in the first half, with senior play- caller Casey Allred leading Torrey Pines on two scoring drives — a two-yard run by Julius Evans and a 19-yard pass to Brian Brungger. Torrey Pines’ second score came with just 52 seconds left to play in the first half.

The Titans, however, played inspired football in the second half, with the defense — led by sophomore Tony Jefferson’s 22 tackles — setting the tone, according to McFadden. After Eastlake forced the visitors to punt from their own end zone in the third quarter, Andujo returned the kick 41 yards for a touchdown. When Witte added a two-point conversion run, the Titans led 17-14.

Koopman scored his team’s final two touchdowns on runs of four and 34 yards in the fourth quarter. Duka, meanwhile, pounded the ball between the tackles for more than 150 rushing yards.

Defensively, Eastlake held Allred to just 89 passing yards on 11 completions — an average of just 4.9 yards per catch.
McFadden credited the victory to an overall team effort.

The Titans, who entered this week ranked ninth in the section after the huge victory, host perennial Imperial Valley powerhouse Brawley (1-1) Friday, Sept. 14, in a bid to record their first four-quarter victory of the season.

Southwest 23, Orange Glen 21
Ruben Nunez kicked a 17-yard field goal to erase a 21-20 Orange Glen lead to push the host Raiders to their first win of the season. Southwest recovered from a 14-0 first quarter deficit by out-scoring the Patriots 23-7 over the balance of the non-league contest.

The Raiders led 20-14 after John Edwards’ second touchdown of the game in the third quarter. However, Orange Glen went back in front on the strength of 34-yard pass completion from Mack Harvery to Justin Leffler in the fourth quarter. Southwest scored three unanswered touchdowns. Edwards’ first score — a five-yard run — came in the second quarter to pull the hosts to within 14-7 at halftime.

Carlos Ruiz (three catches, 115 yards) caught a 76-yard scoring pass from Nunez (4-of-8 for 140 yards) in the third quarter and Edwards tacked on a 12-yard TD run.

San Ysidro 28, El Cajon Valley 10
Diego Guevara scored on runs of nine and 47 yards and tossed an 80-yard scoring pass to Frankie Alvarez to lead the host Cougars to their first win. Josh Morrison got San Ysidro on the scoreboard via a 42-yard interception return.

Monarchs prove too hot to handle in 28-0 victory
By J. Carlos Rico
sports intern
CHULA VISTA, Sept. 7, 2007 -- Monte Vista kicked off its season fast and furious with senior Josh Grossmeyer taking the opening kick-off in last Friday’s non-league football game at Hilltop 70 yards for a touchdown and the Monarchs never looked back in a 28-0 victory.

With the win, the Monarchs equaled their win total from a year ago (1-8-1) by beating this same Lancer team. But head coach Page Culver knows the Monarchs have to take it one game at a time this season.

“We got off to the same start last year,” the fifth year coach said. “We just have to bring the same preparedness every week like we did this week.”

And prepared they were. The Monte Vista defense got off to a quick start by forcing the Lancer offense to punt on its first three possessions and did not allow Hilltop’s offense to cross the 50-yard line – only allowing 39 yards of total offense in the first half.

Meanwhile, the Monte Vista offense had no trouble moving the ball and finding the end zone in the first half. On their second possession of the game, the Monarchs drove down the field 78 yards in eight plays, capping the drive on a three-yard run up the middle by senior running back Levi Miller. A key play on the drive for the visitors was a fourth-and-inches situation from their 31-yard line. Miller took the hand-off and gained seven yards for the first down.

After a muffed punt by the Monarchs, which gave Hilltop great field possession on the 30-yard line, the defense made a royal-like stance by holding the Lancer offense out of the red zone with a quarterback sack by junior Tracy Shields on fourth down.

With the turnover, Monte Vista proceed to march down the field yet again for another eight-play drive, which ended with a three-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Maurice Payne to Grossmeyer, putting the visitors up 21-0 with 1:01 left before halftime.

In the second half, it was much of the same for the Monarchs as they held the Lancer offense to only 37-yards. Defensively, Monte Vista had four sacks of Hilltop quarterback Michael Alcala, with two of them coming from blitzing linebacker Shields.

Monte Vista added yet another touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that took six minutes off the game clock. Miller had his second score of the game from one yard out to seal the victory.

“Every win is difficult,” Culver said. “Shutouts are hard to come by.”
The Monarchs’ next game is their home opener this Friday, Sept. 14, against El Camino at 7 p.m. The Wildcats are coming off a 68-14 non-league victory against Sweetwater in which they scored 10 touchdowns, including two on kick-off returns.

East County Prep Scoreboard
Friday, Sept. 7
Non-League
•Granite Hills 10, Westview 3
•Helix 14, Lone Peak (Utah) 7
•Monte Vista 28, Hilltop 0
•Grossmont 21, Montgomery 13
•Mt. Miguel 48, Castle Park 7
•Steele Canyon 20, West Hills 10
•Christian 42, Santana 21
•Foothills Christian 23, Borrego Springs 8
•Ramona 49, El Capitan 21
•Chula Vista 40, Valhalla 18
•San Ysidro 28, El Cajon Valley 10