Five East County tackle football teams boast 2-0 starts through the opening two weeks of non-league play: the Granite Hills Eagles and Steele Canyon Cougars from the Grossmont Hills League, the Santana Sultans and Grossmont Foothillers from the Grossmont Valley League and the Mountain Empire Red Hawks from the Sunset League.
Granite Hills soared to its latest win, 52-17, over visiting Mater Dei Catholic last Friday while Steele Canyon pounded visiting Madison, 35-7. Grossmont ran past visiting Westview, 36-14, while visiting Santana doubled up Crawford, 14-7. Mountain Empire claimed a 28-22 overtime thriller over visiting Calipatria.
Granite Hills junior Zachary Benitez passed for 241 yards with four touchdowns an no interceptions to log a 138.4 quarterback rating while senior Noah Walker had two receiving scores.
The Eagles enter this Saturday’s non-league game in Gilbert, Ariz., against the Perry Pumas ranked fifth overall in the San Diego Section, once again knocking on the door for inclusion in the elite Open Division (top four ranked teams). The No. 5 team receives the top seed in the Division I playoffs, which Granite Hills won last year.
Grossmont junior QB Tyler Holmes had two passing touchdowns and one rushing score while seniors Randy Ballard and Kenny Krauss each had one receiving TD. Sophomore Corbin Dow had one rushing score while senior Colton Burke blocked a punt and returned it for a TD.
“The team is playing hard and tough,” Grossmont coach Anthony Lawrence said.
Seniors Drew Sasena and Maximus Tufugafale and sophomores Jackson Baird and Vinny Michelson all had one sack.
