The fifth-ranked Steele Canyon High School Cougars were honored with the top-seed in the Division I playoffs following the GHL title-game loss to the Helix Highlanders.
Steele Canyon junior quarterback Elia Kirisimasi rushed for two touchdowns in the second quarter en route to the halftime lead and senior Antoine Walker opened the scoring in the first quarter with a one-handed catch in double coverage that might’ve been the best grab in the conference this season.
Senior linebacker Cam Ewert recorded the safety that gave the Cougars a chance to still win the game. Junior Colton Guerrero had an interception as Steele seriously stymied Helix’s passing game outside of the long play that Traylor created against them.
The Cougars have allowed the second-fewest points of all section teams this season.
Senior quarterback Jeremy Mendez-Gal could return to the lineup this week after the mending of a finger injury, but should he not prove ready, Kirisimasi appears to be a equally-capable starter with a great outlook for next season, as well.
The 13th-ranked Pirates are obviously a playoff-ready defense, having shutout Eastlake, 10-0, on the road in a first-round game last Friday. The Titans managed just 80 yards.
Oceanside has a top star in junior Kavika Tua, who rushed for over 100 yards and scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter with 1:41 left in the game.
(5) Grossmont (8-3) at (4) Madison (6-4) – This is the deciding match for the seniors involved in this recent instant rivalry.
The Foothillers defeated the host Warhawks in one of the top games of the season last year in the first round of the Division I playoffs. Grossmont senior Brody Schicker caught the game-deciding touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jaime Odom in the fourth quarter in one of the clutch moments of last season.
However, eighth-ranked Madison has already come back in 2019 with a dominating second half in a 34-13 win over Grossmont back on Sept. 17, handing the 14th-ranked Hillers their first loss of the season.
Grossmont trailed 6-3 at halftime. Senior Axel Gonzalez, the East County leader in field goals, had two three-pointers in the contest.
This season, the stakes are a notch higher in the Division I quarterfinals back at Madison High.
Odom, who had 261 yards of total offense in the loss two months ago, had 276 yards total in last Friday’s 34-20 first-round win over visiting San Marcos. The score was tied at 20-all after three quarters.
Robert Tucker returned from a one-game absence due to an injury and had over 200 yards of total offense against the Knights, including a 47-yard touchdown.
Schicker had five catches, including a 22-yard touchdown from Odom, while senior Chris Alba had 11 tackles, a forced fumble with recovery, and a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown.
Grossmont senior Austin Wittmeyer had eight tackles and an interception in last week’s win.
Madison senior Ke’ontae Springs, a candidate for the county Player of the Year, had over 200 yards a pair of touchdowns against the Hillers in the first meeting and he had over 150 yards of total offense in the playoff matchup in ‘18. He has over 1,750 yards and has scored 18 touchdowns this season.
The Hillers may just be a touchdown underdog or more here, but the winner of this game will face the winner of the Steele Canyon-Oceanside quarterfinal.
Christian (6-5) at Vista (7-3) – Christian High became the smallest enrollment school to win an SDS-CIF Division II playoff game when it defeated visiting Otay Ranch, 24-21, at Valley Stadium in a first-round game last Friday.
Freshman kicker Nathan Provience kicked a 20-yard field goal with 1:32 left in the game for the deciding score.
Moments later, freshman defensive back Chris Acreage had a pass breakup, then intercepted a pass near the front of the end zone on the game’s final play to send Christian into this Friday’s quarterfinal against the county 10th-ranked Panthers.
Christian High junior quarterback Gabe Krug rushed for 150 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown. He also threw a touchdown pass to senior Todd Beezer, who had a big night, adding an interception, a sack and a two-point conversion reception to his credit.
The Palomar League champion Panthers, who had a seven-game winning streak snapped by Open contender Carlsbad in their season finale, have rushed for nearly 4,000 yards this season. Senior backs Desmond Taua and David Flores have combined for 28 touchdowns this season.
(9) West Hills (7-4) at (1) Scripps Ranch (10-0) – Senior Steven Cristini recovered a squib kick, caught a touchdown reception and had an interception to lead the Wolf Pack to a 21-14 SDS-CIF Division III first-round win at Valhalla last Friday, West Hills’ first playoff win in five years.
Senior Kole Klingerman caught his 12th touchdown pass of the season right after the onside recovery, and later in the third, threw the scoring toss to Cristini, which put West Hills ahead, 21-7.
The reward is a meeting with the division’s top-seed, Scripps Ranch, which has allowed the fewest points of any team in the section and is one of just two county undefeated squads.
For the Norsemen, who won four games this season after snapping an 18-game losing streak, senior Kegan Baker had 126 yards rushing in his final game, while junior Josh “Crazy Magic” Meredith scored both touchdowns.
(8) Escondido (6-5) at (1) Santana (9-1) – The Sultans, in search of a first-ever section title in football, earned the top-seed in the SDS-CIF Division IV playoffs and will host the Escondido Cougars at Community Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m.
