East County can claim one San Diego Section football champion for the 2021 fall campaign after top-seeded Helix Charter rallied from a 21-14 halftime deficit to top the thirdseeded Lincoln Hornets, 28-21, in last Saturday’s Division I title game at Escondido High School.
It’s said that defense wins championships. A bit of welltimed offense certainly doesn’t hurt, either.
The Highlanders (9-3) posted a second-half defensive shutout and used a pair of clutch touchdowns in the final six minutes of regulation play to come full circle. The Scotties scored the game-winning touchdown with just 1:13 to play in regulation to highlight the dramatic turnaround victory.
The Highlanders have appeared in seven consecutive section championship games, winning four. Helix has appeared in 23 CIF finals overall, winning 11.
History has a way of repeating itself.
“The offense showed up when we needed it to,” said Helix head coach Robbie Owens, who was appearing in his fifth CIF final with the team. “We played well in all three phases. We knew the defense had to make a stop. Then we got the turnovers. I’m really proud of our defense.”
Senior running back Christian Washington scored all four Helix touchdowns, including the last two on one-yard runs.
The Highlanders led once in the game, 7-6, late in the first quarter after Washington scored from three yards out. The Scotties later tied the game, 14-14, on a six-yard run by Washington.
The Hornets (8-4) scored with 10 seconds to play in the first half to take a one touchdown lead. But they would not enter the end zone again.
The Highlanders turned the game around in their favor in the latter stages of the final quarter.
After missed a 26-yard field goal attempt midway through the fourth quarter, the reigning Grossmont Hills League champions got a second chance at punching the ball across the goal line when junior Adren Parker returned a punt 39 yards to the Lincoln 16-yard line. The Scotties stayed with their money man as Washington carried the ball six times, eventually punching in the ball from a yard out with 6:03 to play.
A fumble recovery by Helix sophomore Kairo Kahananui at the 27-yard line set up Washington’s one-yard sweep to the right in the dying seconds for the game-winner.
An interception by Helix sophomore Ezriel Noa on fourth-and-five with 20 seconds to play sealed the Hornets’ fate.
“Our goal was just getting that last touchdown and being physical when they weren’t,” said Washington, who has scored 10 touchdowns in three playoff games this season. “We wanted to really dominate. It was a do-or-die situation we were in.”
Owens believes his team’s tough early season schedule set the team up for postseason success.
“We played Servite, which was ranked second in the nation, we played Mission Viejo (ranked eighth in the state) and we played Cathedral Catholic (San Diego Section Open Division champions),” Owens said. “We’ve definitely been through a challenging schedule throughout the season that has made us the team we are today.
“We play a lot of young guys. We matured over the season. We’ve gotten better and better. In a CIF championship game, you’ve got to play your best football to win.”
The Scotties did just that.
