Highlanders mighty against Saints
- Updated: September 20, 2021
Helix sophomore Travis Ford carries on Friday. / P.J. Panebianco
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
No. 10 HELIX 35, ST. AUGUSTINE 14
EastCountySports.com staff report
LA MESA – The Helix Highlanders continue to play like one of the top teams in the county.
The eighth-ranked Highlanders dismissed another challenge from a section rival on Friday night, turning away the visiting St. Augustine Saints, 35-14, at Hart Stadium.
And Helix senior running back Christian Washington continues to play like one of the best two-way players in the county, if not the hardest-working top star.
Washington had a 70-yard touchdown run just 15 seconds into the third quarter and 163 yards of total offense, catching six passes, as Helix improved to 3-1. He also recovered a fumble.
Helix sophomore quarterback Ryland Jessee passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns, including a 43-yard score to speedster Adren Parker down the left side in the first quarter to tie the game, 7-all.
Junior linebacker Puka noa made his most thrilling play so far as a Scottie, jumping for a short pass right in the middle of the field for an interception and returning it straight ahead for a 7-yard touchdown return to give Helix a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.
Saints tied the game and sent the teams into halftime at 14-all when they scored on a swing pass that Isaiah Pressley took the house with 1:48 before intermission.
Helix extended a 20-14 lead with a touchdown on a screen pass to Quincy Herron for 67 yards. A swing pass to Washington on the conversion put Helix back up 28-14.
Washington added a 1-yard run following a few plays after the Saints had a bad punt snap just outside the Helix 20.
Xavier Van and James Johnson also had interceptions for Helix. Van’s pick came in the third quarter.
Senior Felix Barraza had two sacks for the Highlanders, while senior teammate Adrian Davis also recorded a sack.
St. Augustine (1-4) had 241 yards of total offense to the Scotties’ 321.
Helix, which moved up one notch to No. 7 in the latest media poll, will travel to face the No. 3-ranked team in the state next Friday when it faces Servite (4-0).
