The San Diego Section football playoffs are set to kick off Friday with 12 East County teams in tow, a bit higher than in previous seasons.
The 12 qualifiers include Granite Hills (third seed) in the Open Division, Helix Charter (fourth seed) in the Open Division, Steele Canyon (ninth seed) in Division II, West Hills (third seed) in Division III, Grossmont (fourth seed) in Division III, El Capitan (ninth seed) in Division III, Mt. Miguel (first seed) in Division IV, Santana (fourth seed) in Division IV, El Cajon Valley (third seed) in Division V, Monte Vista (fifth seed) in Division V, Valhalla (eighth seed) in Division V and Foothills Christian (first seed) in Division VI (eight-person).
The four Open Division qualifiers include No. 1 Lincoln (10-0), No. 2 Carlsbad (10-0), No. 3 Granite Hills (10-0) and No. 4 Helix Charter (9-1). Lincoln will host Helix on Friday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m. while Carlsbad will host Granite Hills that same night at 7 p.m.
The Open Division championship game is slated Saturday, Nov. 18, at Snapdragon Stadium.
West Hills, Grossmont, Mt. Miguel, Santana and Foothills Christian are the only East County teams that have a bye in the opening round. All seven other local teams kick off single-elimination play either this Friday or on Nov. 10 for the Open Division semifinalists.
Locals only
Grossmont Hills League champion Granite Hills and league runner-up Helix will represent the region in the four-team elite Open Division playoff field. Granite Hills enters the playoffs riding a cumulative 19-game winning streak over the past two seasons while Helix’s lone loss this season was to Granite Hills (44-43 in double overtime on Oct. 20).
Freshman quarterback Zachary Benitez has held up all season, throwing for 200 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-22 doubling of host Grossmont in the regular season finale for both teams on Oct. 26. The Eagles rolled up 360 total offensive yards in the victory, including 160 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Junior Max Turner rushed for 91 yards on five carries, scoring twice on the ground, while senior Alejandro Tejeda scored on a one-yard run.
Senior Josh Zander (nine catches, 73 yards) caught two touchdown passes while junior Brenden Lewis (one catch, four yards) had the other receiving score.
Granite Hills used several big plays to break the game open. Senior Brandon Flores had one catch for 49 yards while Turner also had one pass grab for 40 yards while sprinting 45 yards on a rush. Junior Pablo Jackson’s longest run on the night measured 36 yards.
Senior Robert Petrich collected nine kicking points on six PAT conversions and a 19-yard field goal.
On the season, Benitez has passed for 1,677 yards with 19 touchdowns against just two interceptions while Turner has rushed for 992 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Jackson has rushed for 587 yards and nine TD while Lewis has reeled in 40 passes for 547 receiving yards and eight scores.
You want defense? The Eagles have plenty of that, too.
Senior Jordan Glaze tops Granite Hills with 68 tackles while senior Damarrion White and junior Jonathan Deleon are the team co-leaders with 3.5 sacks. Junior Parker Vance has five interceptions.
The Eagles will be facing a Carlsbad team coming off the Avocado League championship and which has not lost since last year’s Open Division championship game. Key players include senior quarterback Julian Sayin (1,916 passing yards, 20 touchdowns) and senior Mason Walsh (799 rushing yards, nine touchdowns).
“We have to stop Mason Walsh — the offense runs through him even though they have a great quarterback,” Granite Hills head coach Kellan Cobbs said.
Despite being steamrollered by Granite Hills, Grossmont will have a bye week to prepare for its quarterfinal Division III playoff game, which it will host on Nov. 10. The Foothillers will play the winner of Friday’s first-round game between fifth-seeded Santa Fe Christian (5-5) or 12th-seeded San Diego (4-6), the City Central League champs.
Helix tuned up for top-seeded Lincoln by running past Steele Canyon, 51-14, to conclude league play last Friday.
Senior quarterback Ryland Jessee completed three touchdown passes — one each to senior receiver Jackson Daniels, senior Gordon Meredith and sophomore Brandon Arrington — while seniors Kevin Allen III, Markel Wright and Jason Sisneros each scored rushing touchdowns.
Quarterback Norman Lester completed a fourth passing TD for the hosts to junior Harlem Harris.
The Highlanders should present a challenge to Lincoln with a balanced passing-rushing attack and stout defense. The Scotties have allowed fewer than 14 points in four games this season and have out-scored opponents 451-190.
Top performers include Jessee, Allen and Daniels.
Through nine games, Jessee had passed for 1,298 yards and 14 touchdowns while Allen had rushed for 1,227 yards and 21 touchdowns. Senior Jackson Daniels leads the Scotties through the air with 423 yards and nine touchdowns.
The defending state champion Hornets counter with junior quarterback Achilles Smith Jr. with 1,975 passing yards and 23 touchdowns and junior Aden Jackson at running back with 574 yards and 12 touchdowns. Junior Dreyden Garner leads the team’s receivers with 578 yards and seven touchdowns.
Lincoln’s arsenal is deep. Eight players have scored at least one receiving touchdown while seven players have scored at least one rushing touchdown.
Former Eastlake signal-caller Johnny Limon has passed for 492 yards and six TD as a member of the Hive this season.
Steele Canyon (5-5) enters the Division II playoffs with a first-round game on Friday at eighth-seeded Oceanside (6-4), a tri-champion in the Valley League with Valley Center and San Pasqual. The winner tackles top-seeded Del Norte (8-2) the following week in the quarterfinals.
Johnathan Sablan makes the Cougars go with 1,307 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns as one of the top running backs in East County.
Steele Canyon has had an up-and-down season with a string of rotating wins and losses. The Cougars hope to roll back into the win column after the loss to Helix.
Three Grossmont Conference teams will vie for the right crown themselves Division III champions: West Hills, Grossmont and El Capitan.
West Hills (6-4) is coming off last Friday’s 14-0 win over crosstown rival Santana and will return to action as a reward for winning back the rights to this year’s Jack Dale Mayor’s Cup with a quarterfinal match-up against either sixth-seeded La Jolla Country Day (7-3) or 11thseeded Morse (4-6).
Junior quarterback Joseph Hamilton passed for 115 yards and one touchdown to sophomore Kyler Oberg to help guide the Wolf Pack past the Sultans.
“West Hills is excited that our performance during the regular season has resulted in earning a bye and, we are looking forward to hosting a quarterfinal game,” Wolf Pack head coach Casey Ash said.
El Capitan, the runner-up team in the Grossmont Valley League, enters its playoff opener also on a winning note after squeezing past host El Cajon Valley, 31-28, in a game played on Thursday, Oct. 26. The Vaqueros (6-4) will kick off postseason play at eighth-seeded Patrick Henry (5-5).
The winner advances to meet top-seeded Mission Bay (7-3) in the quarterfinals.
Junior quarterback Brandt Barker passed for 373 yards with four touchdowns in the win over El Cajon Valley, including a pair each to senior Jonathan Biffle (130 receiving yards) and senior Julian May (eight catches, 178 yards). Junior Aaron Altaminaro keyed the Vaqs defense with 11 tackles.
“For us to be successful we need to play as a team the entire game,” El Capitan head coach Ron Burner said. “We are coming off some injuries, but mostly are healthy for Patrick Henry. We have to limit our mistakes and just make plays.”
Henry’s leaders include junior Cody Ceppellitti with 11 rushing touchdowns and senor Quino Bracamontes with five receiving touchdowns.
Grossmont’s top performers this season include senior quarterback Hudson Herber and senior receiver Cody Bigley. Herber has thrown for 2,486 with 30 touchdowns Bigley while ranks as the team’s top pass-grabber with 53 catches for 1,079 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Sophomore Noah Walker has 460 receiving yards and nine touchdowns to his credit.
Grossmont Valley League champion Mt. Miguel (9-1) is likely the biggest winner in the section in the turnaround department under new head coach Verlain Betofe. The Matadors turned in their first winning season in a decade as proof of their potency Mt. Miguel, which has outscored opponents 450-91 this season, will host the winner of Friday’s first-round game between
eighth-seeded Calexico (5-5) and ninth-seeded Escondido (2-8) in the quarterfinals. The Matadors enter the playoffs riding a five-game winning streak.
Mt. Miguel sewed up this year’s league championship with a 48-0 bombardment of visiting Monte Vista last Friday
Senior Matthew Barton passed for 311 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed two times for 43 yards and one touchdown to help light up the scoreboard.
Sophomore Parris Vernon (four catches, 106 yards) and senior Jeremiah Castillo (five catches, 102 yards) each caught two touchdown passes.
The numbers posted by the Matadors this season don’t lie: 2,814passing yards and 38 touchdowns by Barton and 994 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns by Castillo.
Santana, which finished at the bottom of the Grossmont Hills League standings, will host the winner of Friday’s first-round clash between fifth-seeded Crawford (7-3) and 12th-seeded Orange Glen (6-4).
The Sultans finished 0-5 in GHL play but are 4-1 in nonleague games. Top players include sophomore quarterback Jayden Goldman, senior running back Linden Benson and senior receivers Michael Valenzuela and Trent Taylor.
Goldman passed for 87 yards while junior Kaedyn Hallman had four catches for 41 yards and rushed nine times for 33 yards in the loss to West Hills.
East County also boasts three teams in the Division V playoffs: El Cajon Valley, Monte Vista and Valhalla. All three teams will be in action in Friday’s quarterfinals: El Cajon Valley (4-6) will host sixth-seeded Kearny (7-3) while Monte Vista (3-7) will play at fourth-seeded Hoover (6-4).
Valhalla (3-7) will test its fortunes at top-seeded Vincent Memorial Catholic (7-3).
The El Cajon Valley-Kearny winner will play the winner between second-seeded Sweetwater (4-6) and seventh-seeded Southwest El Centro (2-8) in the semifinals while the Monte Vista-
Hoover winner advances to meet the Vincent Memorial-Valhalla winner.
“We’re excited to enter the Division V playoffs,” ECV head coach Nick Osborn said. “We have a tough road ahead of us with Kearny High School which has mobile quarterback who throws really well. He’s going to be a challenge for our secondary.”
Junior Brodie Stump passed for 3,032 yards and 31 touchdowns during regular season play while rushing for 411 yards and six scores.
The Braves will have to make adjustments if they are to come out victorious in the playoff rematch.
Top players for ECV include senior quarterback Darick Dubose (875 passing yards, nine touchdowns 857 rushing touchdowns, seven touchdowns), senior Paris Dixon (615 receiving yards, eight touchdowns) and senior Chris Cosio (352 receiving yards, two touchdowns).
Dubose passed for 167 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to El Capitan while rushing 16 times for 180 yards and two scores. Cosio caught four passes for 74 yards and one touchdown while Dixon had one catch for an 84-yard touchdown.
Defensively, Dixon and senor Cristofer Gonzalez each recorded one interception while seniors Shekaib Ameer Hussain and Enrique Hernandez each logged one sack.
“Our offense has to be consistent and not falter in the red zone,” Osborn said. “It’s the difference in winning or losing most of our games. We have to finish. Defense has play well and I know the guys are ready to put up a fight.”
Monte Vista may be the most under-rated team in the division after coming off a 1-9 season in 2022. Top players include junior Alexander Villanueva and senior Jaidyn Ellison.
“We are excited to be in the playoffs for the first time since 2019,” Monarchs head coach Ron Hamamoto said. “Hoover is a very talented team, and we hope to play well.”
Valhalla enters the playoffs after finishing 1-3 in Grossmont Valley League play. Senior Dominic Silva led the Norsemen with 772 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns through five games.
Foothills Christian (7-2) gets its playoff drive under way Nov. 10 with a semifinal game against the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal game between fourth-seeded Coastal Academy (5-5) and fifth-seeded (and Manzanita League champion) San Pasqual Academy (7-3).
The Knights have relied on a powerful offense for success this season while out-scoring opponents 399-240.
Foothills pounded the San Diego Jewish Academy, 57-36, while scoring eight rushing touchdowns — six by junior Kameron Brown (24 carries, 253 yards) and two by junior Ben Hernandez (11 carries, 137 yards). The Knights rolled up 556 rushing yards in the teams’ final regular season encounter on Oct. 26.
Defensively, the Ocean League champions (5-0 in league) registered five sacks, including two each by senior Logan Hamilton and sophomore Hunter Hamilton and one by senior Dylan Gascon. Foothills also had four fumble recoveries — one each by sophomore Jack Sudi, Gascon and juniors Cameron Dillon and Luke Bennett.
The Division VI championship game is scheduled Nov. 17 at Escondido High School. St. Joseph’s Academy (last year’s division runner-up) is seeded second.
Third-seeded Calvin Christin (6-3) hosts sixth-seeded San Diego Jewish Academy (1-6) in Friday’s quarterfinals, with the winner advancing to meet St. Joseph’s.
East County Football Standings
GROSSMONT HILLS LEAGUE
League/Overall
Granite Hills 5-0, 10-0
Helix 4-1, 9-1
Steele Canyon 2-3, 5-5
West Hills 2-3, 6-4
Grossmont 2-3, 5-5
Santana 0-5, 4-6
GROSSMONT VALLEY LEAGUE
League/Overall
Mt. Miguel 4-0, 9-1
El Capitan 3-1, 6-4
Monte Vista 2-2, 3-7
Valhalla 1-3, 3-7
El Cajon Valley 0-4, 4-6
CITY EASTERN LEAGUE
League/Overall
La Jolla 4-0, 8-2
Pt. Loma 3-1, 6-4
Mira Mesa 2-2, 4-6
Morse 1-3, 4-6
Christian 0-4, 4-6
OCEAN LEAGUE (8-PERSON)
League/Overall
Foothills Christian 5-0, 7-2
St. Joseph Academy 4-1, 7-2
Calvin Christian 3-2, 6-3
Coastal Academy 2-3, 5-5
Victory Christian 1-4, 3-6
SD Jewish Academy 0-5, 1-6
San Diego Section Championship Games
OPEN DIVISION
Saturday, Nov. 18 at Snapdragon Stadium, 7 p.m.
DIVISION I
Friday, Nov. 24 at Southwestern College, 7 p.m.
DIVISION II
Saturday, Nov. 25 at Southwestern College,7 p.m.
DIVISION III
Saturday, Nov. 25 at Southwestern College, 2 p.m.
DIVISION IV
Friday, Nov. 24 at Southwestern College, 2 p.m.
DIVISION V
Friday, Nov. 17 at Escondido High School, 7:30 p.m.
DIVISION V-AA
Saturday, Nov. 18 at Escondido High School, 1 p.m.
DIVISION VI (8-PERSON)
Friday, Nov. 17 at Escondido High School, 4:30 p.m.
