The Grossmont High School football team is back in the win column and a timely win it was last Friday at Otay Ranch High School as the visiting Foothillers snatched a 28-20 non-league win over the Mustangs.
“It was close one for sure,” said Grossmont head coach Anthony Lawrence, whose team improved to 3-1 on the season. “I think we shot ourselves in the feet with a couple big penalties and missed plays. Against a good team like Otay, they will be able to capitalize.
“Our defense played phenomenal all night even with some short fields and a lot of possessions.”
Senior Randy Ballard opened scoring for the East County visitors on a 15-yard touchdown reception. The hosts tied the game, 6-6, on a 16-yard catch by junior Jaidon Castillo.
Junior quarterback Tyler Holmes later connected with junior A.J. Hooker on an 18-yard pass play for a 20-12 Grossmont lead.
The Mustangs pulled closer on a 53-yard run by senior David Smith but the Grossmont defense was able to close out the game without losing the lead.
Grossmont reaches the midpoint of the season with Friday’s home game against Mira Mesa (3-1). The Foothillers are ranked No. 31 in the section, No. 3 among Division III teams while the Marauders are No. 38 overall, No. 10 among Division III teams.
Fifteen teams remain undefeated in the section. The Foothillers are among 14 section teams with one loss.
“I’m feeling great about our season,” Lawrence said. “We would have loved to have been able to pull it out against La Jolla (40-28 loss on Sept. 12) but it is what it is. We’re facing a good Mira Mesa team this week, then we hit our league schedule.”
Matador pride
Mt. Miguel claimed a hard-fought 35-32 victory at Poway last Friday in a match-up of top 15 teams in the section rankings. With the win, the Matadors (4-1) remained at No. 8 in the while Poway (2-3) slid from No. 10 to No. 11.
It was bombs away for the East County visitors as junior signal-caller Jeremiah Loper passed for 275 yards and five touchdowns, including two to senior A.J. Logan. Senior Brandon Arrington (83 yards) and junior Delontay Williams (55 yards) each scored on long pass completions while junior Gianni Portillo scored on a 12-yard pass play to wrap up Loper’s five TD night and push the Matadors ahead by 10 points, 35-25, on the scoreboard.
Senior Luke Jorgensen was a force for the host defending Division II champion Titans with 263 rushing yards, three touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
Jorgensen scored on a 58-yard breakaway run with 4:20 remaining in regulation play to narrow the score to three points, 35-32, but the Mt. Miguel defense nixed Poway’s final two drives to secure the non-league victory.
The Matadors have now won three consecutive games, but their schedule doesn’t get any easier as they travel north to tackle No. 15 Oceanside (1-3) this Friday. Take note: the Pirates, who have played an exceeding tough slate, defeated No. 16 Helix, 41-14, two weeks ago.
“We faced some adversity but the coaches told us to keep a positive mind-set,” Logan told a crew from KUSI-TV after the game.
