Scotties break from Eagles’ scare

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 26, 2019

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

HELIX 49, GRANITE HILLS 27

EastCountySports.com staff report

LA MESA – The Granite Hills Eagles put an October scare in the top-ranked Helix Highlanders on Friday night.

After Helix jumped out to a 28-0 first-half lead behind three touchdowns by senior Keionte Scott, but Granite Hills scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to pull within 35-27.

However, the Scotties shut the Eagles out the rest of the way as sophomore Christian Washington scored three rushing touchdowns in the second half in a 49-27 Grossmont Hills League win.

The victory sets up a showdown with fifth-ranked Steele Canyon next week in Spring Valley for the league championship.

Senior Delshawn Traylor had a 69-yard rushing touchdown right away as it looked to have the makings of one of those nights.

The Highlanders scored on their next drive, as well, capped by a 7-yard touchdown reception to Keionte Scott, who finished with three touchdown receptions on the night.

After the Scots made a stand on a fourth-and-2 try by the Eagles, Helix turned a short field into a three-score lead as Scott caught a 5-yard touchdown pass near the end of the first quarter.

Scott scored a third consecutive touchdown on a 17-yard play when he caught the ball from Traylor on a short flip. Tim Christopher had a pair of big-gain receptions on the scoring drive.

With Helix having a 28-0 advantage and the way this Highlander team is playing, you would think ‘game over,’ right?

But Granite Hills used a series of big gains to move quickly down the field and get into the end zone with under a minute to go before halftime.

Junior quarterback Justus McComb connected with Juni Harris on a 4-yard scoring with 13 ticks left on the clock.

The Eagles moved swiftly again for a score to start the second half, making it 28-12 after a blocked conversion try, as McComb passed to senior James Johnson, who was wide open in the end zone.

Washington scored on a 17-yard touchdown run with five minutes left in the third quarter to make the score 35-12.

McComb threw a pass to Matthew Keely for an 80-yard score to bring it back to 35-19.

The Eagles then started the dice roll and came up with an onside kick recovery, if anybody remembers what those are.

Granite turned the possession into points with a good drive, capped by a 3-yard rushing score by freshman Jaylen Hall.

The Eagles had just made it a one-possession game when they picked up the two-point conversion with three minutes to go in the third quarter.

Word was beginning to spread fast outside of La Mesa that the Highlanders may be on the way to squandering a four-touchdown lead.

Washington had a 4-yard rushing touchdown with eight minutes remaining in the game to put Helix back up by a 42-27 count.

After a turnover on downs following a trip into the Helix red zone with three minutes left, Washington scored his third touchdown of the night on a rushing touchdown.

Granite Hills’ Austin Smith had an interception early in the second quarter.

“Helix is a really good football team,” Granite Hills head coach Kellan Cobbs said. “It was a one-score game in the fourth quarter. We have to get better at running the football and get the yard or two when we need to against good football teams.”

McComb was 23-for-31 for 307 yards.

Helix senior quarterback Kamryn Brown was 10-of-17 passing for 171 yards and 2 TDs.

Washington rushed 21 times for 183 yards.

Scott caught six passes for 79 yards.

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