It’s hard to gauge how a season will turn out based on one game, especially a season-opening game. But it appears East County football teams should be able to hold their own this season.
Of the 13 local squads that took the gridiron in Week 1, seven came away victorious, including the Granite Hills Eagles, Santana Sultans, Steele Canyon Cougars, El Capitan Vaqueros, Mt. Miguel Matadors, Christian Patriots and Mountain Empire Red Hawks.
Granite Hills (28-17 over host Mission Hills) and Mt. Miguel (47-15 over host Long Beach St. Anthony) likely turned in the most impressive victories among teams picked to finish near the top of the San Diego Section rankings.
Both the Eagles (Open Division) and Matadors (Division IV) were coming off CIF division championships when last season ended.
Santana (20-7 win at Canyon Hills), El Capitan (21-14 over visiting Mira Mesa), Steele Canyon (51-41 win at Ramona). Christian (22-21 win at Linfield Christian) and Mountain Empire (8-6 win over visiting Anza Hamilton) each kicked off the new season on an upbeat note.
Granite Hills and Mt. Miguel both ended the 2023 season in the Southern California regional playoffs. Both teams will be shooting for postseason honors in 2024.
Max Turner gained 203 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns on the ground to lead No. 2 Granite Hills past No. 3 Mission Hills. The host Grizzlies kept answering scores by the visiting Eagles to keep the score close throughout.
The reigning Open Division champions racked up 442 to tal offensive yards in the non-league contest — 234 passing yards and 208 rushing yards.
“It was a good team win,” Granite Hills head coach Kellan Cobbs said. “We had to rotate a lot of guys in our front six between the defensive line and linebackers. They are a good team, so it was good to get out with a win. On offense, we moved the ball well; we just had too many turnovers.”
Turner scored on touchdown runs of three, 36 and 18 yards.
Sophomore quarterback Zac Benitez passed for 237 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Senior Brendan Lewis had eight catches for 98 yards while senior Lathan Fry had five catches for 46 yards and one touchdown.
Junior Tristan Diaz had six catches for 37 yards while Turner added five catches for 27 yards.
Seniors Parker Vance and Trevor Smith supported the GH win with key interceptions in the fourth quarter.
Smith killed a Mission Hills drive with his pick while Vance intercepted a pass in the end zone.
Senior Giovanni Harte rushed for 140 yards for Mission Hills while senior Ryder Tinoisamoa had four catches for 53 yards. Defensively for the Grizzlies, senior Daniel De La Cruz had a fumble recovery while junior Quinn Chavez and sophomore Xavier St. John each had interceptions.
Granite Hills plays at No. 13 Mater Dei Catholic on Friday, Aug. 30, to continue non-league action.
The Crusaders are coming off a 56-28 non-league setback to No. 4 Cathedral Catholic last Friday.
