The Granite Hills High School football team appears to have picked up right from where it left off after defeating the host Oceanside Pirates, 45-29, last Friday to kick off the 2025 season flying high.
The Eagles defeated the San Marcos Knights, 42-25, to claim last year’s San Diego Section Division I championship banner as part of an ongoing threepeat. The East County kingpins rolled over another strong North County opponent on the road to a potential championship four-peat.
Junior quarterback Zachary Benitez turned in a spectacular season debut by passing for 451 yards and four touchdowns as part of a 652-yard total offensive assault by the visitors.
Benitez threw one scoring pass each to junior Zhedan Smith (six catches, 94 yards), junior Elijah Arzu (one catch, 10 yards), senior S.J. Wilkins (six catches, 55 yards) and senior Emilio Vera (two catches, 21 yards).
Junior Eurijah Schutza (three carries, 14 yards) tacked on two rushing touchdowns.
Benitez accounted for 472 yards in total office by adding 15 rushing yards and one catch for six yards.
“Our passing game was really clicking and Zac had some great timing and hit seven different receivers throughout the game,” said Granite Hills head coach Kellen Cobbs, whose team led 31-7 at halftime.
“Pass protection was excellent against one of the top rushers in the county. We didn’t give up one sack in 50 drop-back plays,” Cobbs said.
Senior Noah Walker had two receptions for 92 yards, including a long catch-and-run that measured 72 yards, to key the Eagles’ receiving corps while senior Rocket Demery had 83 yards on seven catches. Senior Tristan Diaz had eight catches for 75 yards.
Junior Davion Williams led the Granite ground game with 70 yards on 15 carries while senior Kylan Vicars was next with 62 yards.
Senior Jacob Nunez contributed nine kicking points.
Oceanside scored four touchdowns — one each by sophomore S.J. Puomele (four catches, 115 yards), senior Mykah Faletoi (six catches, 82 yards), sophomore Neke Letuli (eight carries, 41 yards) and senior Kymani Nua (five carries, 112 yards).
Anthony Barquinero passed for 275 yards and two TDs and one interception (by senior Kali Young) to lead the Pirates through the air.
Oceanside racked up 360 total yards in the setback. The Eagles’ schedule doesn’t get any easier by hosting Division II section runner-up Mater Dei Catholic on Friday, Aug. 29. The Crusaders opened the season with a 52-7 non-league setback at Cathedral Catholic last Friday.
Cathedral Catholic enters this week ranked No. 2 in the section behind No. 1 Lincoln while Granite Hills is ranked No. 5 and Mater Dei Catholic is ranked No. 8.
“Next game we take on an athletic Mater Dei team at home.,” Cobbs said. “We are looking to continue to build our defensive packages and continue to create turnovers. On offense we will continue to spread the ball around.”
COUGAR COUNTRY
Steele Canyon kicked off its season with a 23-13 non-league win over visiting Ramona last Friday.
Junior quarterback Gavin Caha completed 16 of 26 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Nico Jara scored two touchdowns — one on a 29-yard pass reception and another on an 85-yard kickoff return.
Jara accumulated 204 total yards in the game — 165 yards on kick returns, 29 receiving yards and 10 yards on punt returns.
Junior Abel Lopez also had a short touchdown grab coming out of the backfield to help seal the victory.
Senior Ace Woolf split the uprights on a 35-yard field goal in the first half while the hosts parlayed stingy defense, including a goal-line stand, and employed field position and time management in the second half to secure the season-opening victory.
Senior Noah Ramirez and junior Luke Rode keyed the Steele Canyon defense with nine tackles apiece while junior Gunner Minich logged six defensive stops.
The Cougars next host the Madison Warhawks (0-1) Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. Madison is coming off a 30-20 non-league loss in its season opener last Friday at Santa Fe Christian.
SAGA NOTES
The visiting Valhalla Norsemen deployed an eight-touchdown attack to sink San Jacinto Valley Academy, 51-27, last Friday. Senior Ahmed Husaini (14 carries, 56 yards) scored three of Valhalla’s six rushing touchdowns while senior quarterback Jackson Newman rushed for 118 yards and two scores while also passing for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
Newman finished the nonleague game with 188 total yards.