SD Prep Sports:

2007 Grossmont Conference

Prep Football Preview

Team spotlight:
Mt. Miguel Matadors

The Mt. Miguel Matadors finished the 2006 season with a 5-6 overall record but lost five regular season games by a total of 28 points. The Mt. Miguel defense held 10 of its 11 opponents at or under their season scoring average. With 11 returning starters and 15 players who started at least three games, the Matadors look to build on that this season, according to head coach Tom Karlo.

Top returners include defensive back Samatre Jones, quarterback Aaron Bryant, wide receiver/defensive back Judge Evans, running back Elliot Taylor, linebacker Brandon Kaimuloa, offensive tackle Chidozie Ekweozor, offensive lineman Onasai Solo, corner back/kick returner/running back Rico Smith and offensive lineman Shawn Montiel.

Taylor (5-9, 175) is the team’s top returner after earning first team all-league honors last season on the strength of 1,358 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
Jones (6-0, 190) made 67 tackles last season en route to earning second team all-league honors while Bryant (6-0, 210) threw for 891 yards and seven touchdowns, completing 61 percent of his passes to earn honorable mention recognition.

Evans (5-11, 175) had 16 catches for 303 yards on offense and made 22 tackles on defense. Kaimuloa, a second team all-league pick, made 39 tackles while Smith made 31 tackles, grabbed three interceptions and amassed 417 yards on 20 kickoff returns to receive honorable mention honors.

Ekweozor, a second team all-league selection in 2006, stands 6-5 and weighs 305 pounds while Solo is 5-11 and 285 pounds and Montiel is 6-2 and 280 pounds.

Karlo listed the Matadors’ impact newcomers as sophomore outside linebacker Khaalid Abdulah (5-11, 190), sophomore offensive limeman David Carrillo (6-0, 275), sophomore defensive lineman Braxton Falaniko (6-2. 255), junior wide receiver Ahmaad Nunley (5-11, 165) and sophomore running back Derall Hunter (5-9, 170).

Mt. Miguel kicks off its season with an Aug. 31 home game against Monte Vista Christian from Watsonville.

Team spotlight:
Granite Hills Eagles

The Granite Hills Eagles finished 6-5 in 2006, placing third in the Grossmont South League standings behind Helix and Steele Canyon and losing to Avocado League co-champion El Camino in the first round of the Division I San Diego Section playoffs. Coach Randy DeWitt said the team is looking to improve on that this season.

“We’re looking to improve to at least eight wins, including a win in the playoffs,” DeWitt said.

Top returners include senior defensive lineman Landon Turley, senior quarterback Justin Montgomery, senior running back Brendon Carter, senior running back Bradley Carter, senior running back Richie Beswick, senior offensive lineman T.J. Kidder, senior offensive lineman Casey Beatty, senior linebacker Eddie Minear, senior defensive back Nick D’Amico, senior defensive back Jake Castillo and senior kicker Collin Cresap.

Both Turley and Montgomery (at tight end) earned second team all-league honors last season as juniors. Montgomery is moving to the center of the line to take over the signal-calling position this season.

The Eagles’ impact newcomers include junior defensive back Brandon Huskey, junior running back Aaron Harris, junior wide receiver Mike Misensol, junior tight end Erik Krajnak and junior defensive lineman Kenny Krajnak.

Granite Hills kicks off its season with an Aug. 31 non-league game at Mission Bay.

Who will carry the CIF torch in 2007?

Last year, two East County football teams advanced to the San Diego Section finals, with the second-seeded Christian Patriots defeating the top-seeded Francis Parker Lancers, 14-10, to win the Division V championship and the second-seeded Helix Highlanders falling, 14-7, to the top-seeded Oceanside Pirates in the Division II championship tilt.

An East County team — specifically a Grossmont Conference team — has advanced to the section finals every year since 1998. That’s an unbroken string of nine years involving 14 teams.

El Cajon Valley’s Braves finished runner-up to Oceanside in the 2005 Division II title contest while Christian placed second to Francis Parker in the inaugural Division V championship matchup. Oceanside topped Helix in the 2004 Division II final while the 2003 Division II title contest saw an all-East County matchup as Monte Vista shaded Helix.

Christian captured the 2002 Division IV championship banner while Helix finished second once again to Helix. The Highlanders won Division II titles in both 2000 and 2001 while Christian placed runner-up in Division IV in 2001.

Helix won the 1998 Division II crown while Monte Vista finished second in 1999.
During that span, the most successful team has been the Highlanders with three championship titles and seven finals appearances.
Who will carry the torch in 2007?

The up-and-coming Steele Canyon Cougars might be a good guess, though Helix might have enough firepower to make yet another run at a Qualcomm Stadium appearance.

What about the El Capitan Vaqueros and the Santana Sultans, both of which had breakout seasons in 2006? Will the Grossmont Foothillers complete a rebuilding process?

Will Christian make it three title game appearances in as many years as one of the section’s entrenched powers in the fledgling Division V level?

The rankings makers will not have long to wait, with regular season games slated to start Aug. 31.
Twelve East County teams will kick off their seasons on the opening weekend of regular season competition, including a trip to Hawaii by both El Capitan and West Hills.

The 2007 season kick-off features nine local games on Aug. 31: Granite Hills at Mission Bay (3 p.m.), Foothills Christian at Calvin Christian (4 p.m.), Sweetwater at El Cajon Valley (6:30 p.m.), Grossmont vs. Horizon Christian (7 p.m. at Helix), Helix at Oceanside (7 p.m.), Monte Vista (Watsonville) at Mt. Miguel (7 p.m.), Steele Canyon at Cathedral Catholic (7 p.m.), Santana at Patrick Henry (7:30 p.m.) and Valhalla at Brawley (7:30 p.m.).

El Capitan will tackle King Kekaulike in Maui on Aug. 31 at 9 p.m. PDT. West Hills also will be in Maui taking on St. Anthony, also at 9 p.m. PDT.
Christian opens defense of its CIF title Sept. 1 with a non-league game against Bassett from La Puente at Valhalla. Kick-off is 4 p.m.

Are you ready for some East County high school football?

Posted Aug. 30, 2007
Perhaps to no one’s surprise, Carlsbad, Oceanside and Helix have earned recognition as the top three ranked teams to kick off the 2007 high school football season. Likely with good reason.

Carlsbad is the defending San Diego Section Division I champion and is currently working on a 20-game unbeaten streak. The Lancers enter the season ranked 13th in the state by CalHiSports.com.

Oceanside is the section’s defending Division II champion and is the owner of three consecutive division titles, 13th straight semifinal appearances and six CIF titles overall in the program’s illustrious history — a mark that stands among the section’s most elite squads. The Pirates enter the 2007 season ranked 25th in the state.

Helix finished second to Oceanside in last year’s Division II title game, losing 14-7. The Highlanders finished 10-3 overall last season after going 5-0 in Grossmont South League play. The Scotties are ranked 43rd in the state to open the season.
All three teams rate to be power houses once again.

Carlsbad returns All-Avocado League selections Vince Ewing, a first team defensive pick, Justin Morales and Nick Pascarella, both second team offensive picks.

Oceanside returns four all-league selections: Sam Brenner (first team offense), Lamont Enyard (second team offense), Matthew Segi (second team defense) and Frankie Zimmerman (second team defense).

Helix dominated last year’s All-Grossmont South League team with 17 selections (first or second teams). Among them were junior linebacker Chris Peterson and sophomore linebacker Anthony Larceval, both first team defensive picks, and junior defensive back Jamar Taylor (second team defense). Taylor is ranked among California’s top 100 players entering this season.

What other teams seem worthy of earning top 10 rankings to kick off the 2007 campaign — specifically what about other East County teams?

Patroits pride
Christian returns to defend its Division V championship title after finishing 9-3-1 a year ago. The Patriots, who look to be guided by sophomore signal-caller Erick Allen this season, defeated host San Ysidro, 34-0, in the second game of this year’s CIF Kick Off Classic last Friday. Cousins Lawrence Walker and Manny Walker each scored rushing touchdowns while Allen threw two touchdown passes (one each to Matthew Fields and Manny Walker). Charles Thompson also scored one rushing touchdown.

Lawrence Walker rushed for 1,222 yards and 14 touchdowns last season as a junior after rushing for nearly 2,000 yards and 17 TDs in a spectacular sophomore season.

Linebacker Pat Kelly lead Christian’s defense. He earned First Team All-Coastal League defensive honors last season in the Patriots’ championship drive. After Christian defeated top-seeded Francis Parker in last season’s CIF title contest, Kelly’s tears flowed freely to demonstrate just how much emotion he puts into his game.

Kelly and Lawrence Walker (second team offense) are two Patriots who earned All-Coastal League honors in 2006 as other underclassmen.

Christian kicks off its season with a non-league game against Bassett of La Puente Sept. 1 at Valhalla High School. Kick off is 4 p.m.

Grossmont South League
Steele Canyon, keyed by running back Jamie Dale, looks to be among the serious challengers for supremacy in Grossmont South League play this season. Dale led all East County rushers with 1,613 and 17 touchdowns in helping lead the Cougars to the Division III semifinals (dropping a 28-21 decision to Point Loma). Offensive lineman Rory Zavrid also earned all-league honors last season as an underclassmen (second team offense).

Mt. Miguel, which will host a special 50th anniversary gala Oct. 19 as part of homecoming festivities, returns 11 starters and 15 players who started at least three games, according to head coach Tom Karlo. Among the returners is explosive running back Elliot Taylor, who rushed for more than 1,300 yards and scored 13 touchdowns last season.

Running back Elliot Taylor was named to the All-Grossmont South League first team offensive unit last season. Joining Taylor were three underclassmen teammates on the all-league team: offensive lineman Chidzoie Edweozor (second team offense), linebacker Brandon Kaimuloa (second team defense) and defensive back Samatre Jones (second team defense).

Granite Hills posted its first winning season (6-5) since 1995 en route to landing a berth in the Division I playoffs. The Eagles return much of that talent and look to have something to say in the order of finish in this year’s Grossmont South League standings.

Tight end Justin Montgomery and defensive lineman Landon Turley both earned second team all-league honors last season as underclassmen. Montgomery is being groomed for the quarterback spot this season.

Valhalla, which advanced as far as last season’s Division III quarterfinals, will be regrouping under new head coach Steve Sutton, who achieved much success (112 wins in 17 seasons) while running a passing-oriented offensive scheme at West Hills. Norsemen who earned all-league honors as underclassmen included running back Zack Romero and offensive lineman Jose Cortez, both second team offensive picks. Sophomore quarterback Pete Thomas (6-5, 195 pounds) was among the preseason favorites to take over the team’s signal-calling reins.

Valhalla had three underclassmen earn honorable mention honors last season: Jon Fortuna, Chris Brown and Tanner Hitt.
Sutton indicated he expects the Norsemen to catch on rather quickly to the new offensive scheme despite its complexity.

Grossmont North League
El Capitan won 11 games last season before finally tasting defeat in the Division III semifinals. The Vaqueros lost a lot — 13 first and second team all-league and four all-section picks — to graduation but will still have a solid foundation on which to build. But it seems unlikely that the Lakeside team can duplicate last season’s electrifying 10-0 regular season run.
Six Vaqueros were recognized as all-league first or second team picks last season as underclassmen: running back Ben Wilkins (second team offense), wide receiver Anthony Lybarger (second team offense), offensive lineman Deryck Beveridge (second team offense), punter Tanner Rust (first team defense), defensive back Garrett Jarvis (second team defense) and linebacker Jake Steuermann (second team defense).

Among the remaining Grossmont North League squads, Santana, West Hills and Grossmont all qualified for last year’s section playoffs. Santana — enjoying one of its best seasons in many years — advanced as far as the Division IV semifinals. West Hills (now under the sideline leadership for Wolf Pack alum Casey Ash) and Grossmont could rise up to fill any power vacuum left by the departure of Ryan Lindley & Co.

West Hills running back Raleigh Sevier (first team offense) led the list of underclassmen who were named all-league last season. Joining him were Grossmont wide receiver Josh Simms (first team offense), West Hills offensive lineman Dominic LaRussa (first team offense), Grossmont running back Khalid Waters (second team offense, second team defense), Santana wide receiver Kyle Romero (second team offense), Grossmont offensive lineman Grant Simpson (second team offense), West Hills linebaker David Hernandez (first team defense), West Hills defensive lineman Rudy Ortega (second team defense) and Santana defensive lineman Nik Hodge (second team defense).

El Cajon Valley’s Braves won three games last season after playing at the Q in 2005. The Braves saw head coach Jason Trexler leave for an assistant job at Helix following the end of the 2006 campaign. ECV, obviously mired in a rebuilding season, had two underclassmen earn all-league honorable mention last year: Brad Meyers and Tyler Wetzel.

Around the section
In the South Bay, Eastlake could be the top team. The Titans, led by quarterback Derek Witte (named among the top 50 QBs in the nation) and All-CIF defensive back Dyson Waddles, are coming off an appearance in last year’s Division II semifinals (losing to top-seeded Oceanside), finishing 8-4 overall. Eastlake, which moves up to the Division I level this season, will test Steele Canyon on the Cougars’ turf on Sept. 21 in what should be one of the most highly-anticipated matchups in non-league play.

Chula Vista and Otay Ranch, which shared last year’s Mesa League title with Eastlake, also look to be highly competitive again. Chula Vista and Otay Ranch, which shared last year’s Mesa League title with Eastlake, also look to be highly competitive again. Chula Vista is anchored by one of the section's top backfields in tailback Matt Stacy and fullback Taimi Tutogi while Otay Ranch is led by second team all-section quarterback Marcus Vasquez -- one of the Metro Conference's top collegiate recruits.

In the City Conference, St. Augustine, Point Loma and Mission Bay all made it to Qualcomm Stadium last season. St. Augustine topped Point Loma for the Division III title while Mission Bay, which earned the No. 1 seed in the Division IV playoffs, finished runner-up to Santa Fe Christian.

Top returners for St. Augustine include Leighland Koonce (second team offense) , Nick Sowa (second team defense) and Derek Holsapple (second team defense) while Point Loma is driven by three All-Western League underclassmen picks in 2006: Josh Wade (first team offense), Josh Canup (second team defense) and Alex Blair (second team defense).

Wide receiver Dillon Baxter (second team offense) returns as an All-CIF pick for Mission Bay. The Bucs had five more underclassmen earn all-league honors last season: Evan Taylor (first team offense), Mike Kennedy (second team offense), Gavin Boger (second team offense), Chase Bove (second team offense) and Victor Johnson (second team defense).

Point Loma shared last year’s Western League title with Mission Bay and Hoover while Mira Mesa edged St. Augustine for the Eastern League banner and Coronado won last year’s Central League title.

North County powers include Escondido (Valley League champion and Division I semifinalist), La Costa Canyon (Palomar League champion and Division I semifinalist), Poway (Division I runner-up), Mission Hills (Division II semifinalist) and Torrey Pines (Division I quarterfinalist).

El Camino, led by All-CIF pick Nelson Rosario at wide receiver, tied Carlsbad for last year’s Avocado League championship. Besides Rosario, the Wildcats finished the season with two other underclassmen who earned all-league honors: Ian Moore (first team offense) and Justin Williams (first team defense).

Other top returning North County top players include Mission Hills senior defensive end Jamaar Jarrett, Poway senior tight end Ryan Deehan, Oceanside senior defensive lineman Marcus Williamson, Santa Fe Christian senior defensive back Danny Breihan, Poway senior defensive back Jared Relyea and Valley Center junior defensive back James Johnson.

Friday Night Lights
Channel 4 San Diego will showcase prep football once again but the schedule moves from Thursday to Friday nights this season in an effort to broadcast the best matchups. The local sports cable channel has announced the lineup for the first five weeks and, perhaps not surprisingly given their run of success in recent years as well as more affluent population base, it is heavily slated toward North County teams.

The TV game of the week kicks off Aug. 31 with a non-league matchup pitting Division I champion Carlsbad against Division III champion St. Augustine (at Mesa College). Division II champion Oceanside visits defending Palomar League champion La Costa Canyon on Sept. 7, followed by Carlsbad’s prime time collision at Helix on Sept. 14, a North County battle pitting defending Valley League champion at Rancho Buena Vista on Sept. 21 and an all-East County matchup featuring Grossmont at Valhalla on Sept. 28.

All five games will be telecast immediately following Padres games.

The sports channel’s remaining schedule will be announced at a later date as the standings in the section’s various leagues take shape. Visit www.4SD.com.

Preps
Non-League
Friday, Aug. 31
•Granite Hills at Mission Bay, 3 p.m.
•Foothills Christian at Calvin Christian, 4 p.m.
•Sweetwater at El Cajon Valley, 6:30 p.m.
•Monte Vista Christian (Watsonville) at Mount Miguel, 7 p.m.
•Grossmont vs. Horizon Christian at Helix High School, 7 p.m.
•Steele Canyon at Cathedral Catholic, 7 p.m.
•Helix at Oceanside, 7 p.m.
•Santana at Patrick Henry, 7:30 p.m.
•Valhalla at Brawley, 7:30 p.m.
•El Capitan at King Kekaulike (Hawaii)

Saturday, Sept. 1
•Bassett (La Puente) vs. Christian at Valhalla High School, 4 p.m.
•West Hills at St. Anthony (Hawaii)
•Monte Vista (bye)